3D printing, in plain English
Model reviews, buying guides, fixes that actually work and honest running costs, for makers everywhere, with regional notes where prices and rules differ.
Four materials cover most home printing. Here is what each is good at, what it demands from your printer, and how to choose without overthinking it.
10 October 2026 · 2 min read
The standard 0.4 mm nozzle is a good all-rounder, but swapping size trades detail for speed and strength. Here is what changes and what to watch for.
10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Wet filament causes stringing, rough surfaces and weak parts. Here is how to spot it, three ways to dry it, typical temperatures, and how to keep spools dry afterwards.
10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Stringing is rarely one problem. Work through the causes in this order: moisture, temperature, retraction, then travel moves, testing as you go.
10 October 2026 · 2 min read
Four consumer resin printers from $179 to $499, compared on maker-listed screens, build volumes and speeds. A research-only list, not a test, with the method stated.
10 October 2026 · 6 min read
Resin 3D printing hardens liquid photopolymer with UV light one layer at a time. Here is how SLA, DLP and MSLA differ, typical specs, and what a beginner needs.
10 October 2026 · 5 min read
Four budget FDM printers from $179 to $349, compared on listed specs and US prices from maker pages. A research-only list, not a test, with the selection method stated.
10 October 2026 · 6 min read
Free tool
Filament, electricity at your own tariff, and wear, in your own currency, with an allowance for waste. Put in the slicer's numbers and get a price per part.
Open the calculatorWhen we have printed on it, we say so and show the evidence. When we have not, we say that too.
Prices, stock and warranty rules differ by country. We write for makers everywhere and add regional notes for the UK, US, Canada and Australia.
Checklists in the order you should try things, with the one-line reason for each step.