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3D printing glossary — understand every concept from the ground up. Under active development.

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How well the first layer of a 3D print sticks to the build plate — the single most important factor for print success

A 3D printing technique where filament is stretched across a gap between two points without support material underneath.

The mechanism that feeds filament into the hot end of a 3D printer, consisting of a motor, drive gear, and idler bearing

The most common 3D printing technology, which builds objects by extruding molten material through a heated nozzle layer by layer

The instruction language for 3D printers; slicer software converts 3D models into G-code to control the printer

A heated build platform that keeps the first layer warm to prevent warping and improve bed adhesion.

The density and pattern of the internal structure of a 3D printed model, affecting strength and print time

The thickness of each printed layer, a key parameter determining print quality and speed

The small orifice at the end of the hotend through which molten filament is extruded. Nozzle size dramatically affects print speed and detail.

Any part of a 3D model that extends outward beyond the layer beneath it, challenging FDM printers without support

A slicer setting that pulls filament backward during travel moves to prevent oozing and stringing

Uses ultraviolet laser to cure liquid photopolymer resin layer by layer, achieving higher precision than FDM

When the corners or edges of a 3D print lift off the build plate during printing due to uneven cooling and thermal contraction

13 terms · more added regularly