3D Printing for Beginners and Hobbyists: A Complete Guide to Materials, Software, CAD, Slicing, Filaments and Scanning at Home

By Michael Collins

Turn ideas into objects-fast. 3D Printing for Beginners and Hobbyists is the step-by-step playbook that takes you from "curious" to "confident maker," guiding you through the entire workflow-materials, CAD, slicing, printing, and even at-home scanning-so your first prints look great and your next ones look pro.

What you'll learn (and actually use)Pick the right setup: understand FDM printers, beds, nozzles, and must-have accessories-without overspending.Master materials: when to choose PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, Nylon (and how temperatures, bed surfaces, and enclosures change results).CAD made simple: beginner-friendly modeling workflows in tools like Tinkercad, Fusion 360, and FreeCAD to design parts that print cleanly.Slice like a pro: Cura/PrusaSlicer settings that matter-layer height, walls, infill, supports, speed, and temps-with easy "good-print" starting profiles.Calibration & first-layer success: bed leveling, Z-offset, flow, retraction, and cooling for crisp walls and reliable adhesion.Home scanning, simplified: phone/turntable scanning basics and STL cleanup for printable models.
Troubleshooting-made easyWarping, stringing, blobs, and layer shifts: quick fixes you can apply in minutes.Under/over-extrusion, clogs, and elephant's foot: tweak-by-tweak guides that rescue prints without starting over.Strength & surface upgrades: orientation, fillets, chamfers, adaptive layers, and annealing tips for tougher, better-looking parts.
Projects & practice that build real skillsPrints that teach: calibration cubes, tolerance gauges, and support tests to dial in your machine fast.Useful, modern builds: organizers, fixtures, functional brackets, and aesthetic decor that show what desktop printers can really do.
What readers expect-and getImage illustrations throughout: clear diagrams, annotated slicer screenshots, and step-by-step photos to copy with confidence.Brand-neutral guidance: settings and techniques that work across popular printers and slicers.Beginner-proof checklists: pre-print, mid-print, and post-print routines that save time, filament, and frustration.Budget-smart upgrades: nozzles, PEI plates, enclosures, and firmware tweaks that deliver outsized results.

If you want reliable, great-looking prints without the guesswork, this guide delivers a complete, friendly path from your first successful benchy to parts you'll be proud to use-and show off.

Author: Michael Collins

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FTWS582C
• ISBN13: 9798268370652
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 154 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.5" x 11.0"