Your first FDM printer: try three models before you buy
A practical shortlist built around your parts, materials, workspace and maintenance—not the biggest speed number.
Journal 3D4.us
Notes for
the next layer.
A closer look at 3D models, printing and the choices that turn an idea into an object.
From the journal
4 published articles
PLA or PETG? Choose for the job, not the tougher label
A short decision guide for display pieces, clips and everyday parts, with the settings and limits worth checking.
Do you need multicolor printing? Start with the model
When one spool, a manual color change or an automatic multicolor system makes the most sense—and what to compare in the slicer.
How 3D4.us print estimates work
Read the source, profile, time, and filament figures behind a 3D4.us print estimate, and understand what those figures do and do not establish.