Homework one: set up, level, load filament, slice a test model, watch the first layer and learn from the result.
This is your first homework. By the end you’ll have printed a small test model and learned the steps you’ll repeat on every print after it. It assumes a filament (FDM) printer and a spool of PLA. Read your printer’s manual alongside it, since every machine differs a little.
Step 1: Set up somewhere sensible
Choose a stable table away from drafts and direct sun, with space around the printer. Keep it in a room you can ventilate and where you can keep an eye on it during the first prints.
Step 2: Assemble and check
Follow the assembly guide carefully. Then check belts are snug, screws are tight and the frame doesn’t wobble. Many early print problems come from a loose bolt.
Step 3: Level the bed
Whether your printer levels itself or you turn knobs by hand, the goal is the same: an even, small gap between nozzle and bed across the whole surface. Many people use a sheet of paper that should drag slightly under the nozzle. Then fine-tune the Z-offset during the first layer.
Step 4: Load the filament
Heat the nozzle to the PLA temperature on the spool label. Cut the filament end at an angle, feed it into the extruder and push until plastic comes out of the nozzle in a smooth thread.
Step 5: Slice a test model
Pick a small calibration model, such as a cube or a simple test print, from your slicer’s samples. In the slicer, choose your printer profile and PLA, keep layer height and speed at the defaults, and add a brim. Export the file to the printer’s card, USB stick or network connection.
Step 6: Watch the first layer
This is the most important minute of any print. Lines should be flat, slightly squished and touching their neighbours. If they’re round and loose, lower the nozzle a little. If they’re scraping, raise it. Our page on first layers that won’t stick explains more.
Step 7: Let it finish, then remove it
Stay nearby. When it’s done, let the bed cool before removing the print. Many beds release parts on their own once cool. Flexing a removable sheet usually pops parts free.
Step 8: Inspect and take notes
- Are the sides smooth and the corners sharp?
- Any stringing between parts?
- Is the top surface closed, without gaps?
- Does it measure close to the intended size?
Write down the settings and what you saw. These notes become your personal reference.
What’s next
Try the same model in a second orientation, or change one setting at a time to see what it does. Then carry on with Unit 2 on the lessons page. When you’re ready for a tougher material, read PLA or PETG.