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IT Support & Hardware · Foundational

3D Printer

A device that builds physical objects layer by layer from plastic filament or liquid resin.

Definition

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers extrude melted filament such as PLA, while resin (SLA/MSLA) printers cure liquid resin with UV light. Models are sliced into G-code. Common issues include bed leveling, clogged nozzles, and warping; resin requires ventilation and gloves.

Example

Slice an STL model in Cura and print it with PLA filament on an FDM printer.

Exam tip

FDM = filament; resin = UV-cured liquid. Bed leveling is a common fix for poor first layers.

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