3D Printing Guides
Expert advice, honest comparisons, and practical guides to help you print better.
New to 3D printing?
Start with our beginner guide. Everything you need to know about choosing your first 3D printer on any budget.
Setup Guides
Complete setup guides for different experience levels
Comparisons
Head-to-head comparisons of technologies and materials
Bambu Lab P1S vs Prusa MK4S: Which 3D Printer Should You Buy?
Bambu Lab P1S vs Prusa MK4S: the P1S wins on speed and convenience, the MK4S on open-source freedom and community. Full comparison with UK prices.
Read guide →Bambu Lab A1 Mini vs P1S: Which Bambu Printer Should You Buy?
Bambu Lab A1 Mini vs P1S: the A1 Mini is the better beginner pick at around £299. The P1S is for serious makers who need an enclosure. Full comparison.
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Bambu Lab A1 Mini vs Creality Ender 3 V3 SE: Which Should You Buy?
Bambu A1 Mini vs Ender 3 V3 SE: the A1 Mini wins for most beginners at around £299. The Ender 3 wins if you want to learn how printers work. Full comparison.
Read guide →FDM vs Resin 3D Printer: Which Should You Buy?
FDM vs resin printer: FDM wins for functional parts and beginners from £170. Resin wins for miniatures with 0.01mm detail. Full comparison of costs and use cases.
Read guide →Bambu Lab X2D vs Creality K2 Plus: Which Should You Buy?
Bambu Lab X2D vs Creality K2 Plus: the K2 Plus wins on availability and big multi-colour prints; the X2D is the sharper dual-nozzle pick. Here is the call.
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PLA vs PETG vs ABS: Which Filament Should You Use?
PLA vs PETG vs ABS: PLA is easiest to print, PETG is stronger and more versatile, ABS needs an enclosure. PETG is the right step-up for most makers.
Read guide →Creality Ender 3 Comparison: V2 vs V3 SE vs V3 KE
Ender 3 comparison: the V3 SE (£170) wins for most buyers. V3 KE (£250) wins on speed. The V2 is best bought second-hand in 2026. Full specs included.
Read guide →Direct Drive vs Bowden Extruder: Which is Better?
Direct drive vs Bowden: direct drive wins for TPU and flexible filaments. Bowden for faster speeds. Most modern printers choose direct drive — find out why.
Read guide →How-To Guides
Learn techniques and troubleshooting
Bed Leveling Guide: Perfect First Layer Every Time
Bad first layers? 90% of the time it's bed leveling. Paper method vs feeler gauge vs auto — which actually works. Step-by-step for Ender 3, Prusa, and more.
Read guide →Multi-Colour 3D Printing in 2026: How It Works
Multi colour 3D printing: Bambu AMS is the most reliable system. Creality CFS is the cheapest entry. Expect 15-25% more filament use per print — find out why.
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3D Printer Maintenance Guide: Keep Your Printer Running
Prevent failures and extend your 3D printer life with proper maintenance. What to check weekly, monthly, and annually for reliable prints every time.
Read guide →Resin Printing Safety Guide: Essential Precautions
Resin printing safety: nitrile gloves and ventilation are non-negotiable. Water-washable resin cuts risk. PPE list, disposal steps, and what to skip.
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Your First 3D Print: What to Expect and How to Succeed
First 3D print guide: start with the included test file, not a downloaded model. Bed level first, use PLA at 200°C, and stay nearby for the first layer.
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Filament Storage Guide: Keep Your Filament Dry
Filament storage guide: airtight containers and silica gel keep PLA dry for months. PETG needs active drying at 65°C. Signs a spool is wet and how to rescue it.
Read guide →Buying Guides
Best picks for specific needs and budgets
Best 3D Printer UK 2026: Complete Buying Guide
The Bambu A1 Mini is the best 3D printer UK buyers can get in 2026 — fast, easy, multi-colour ready. Prusa MK4S wins on reliability. 8 picks compared.
Read guide →Best 3D Printer for Beginners UK 2026
The best 3D printer beginners should buy in 2026 is the Bambu A1 Mini (£200). Ender 3 V3 SE (£170) wins for learning. Full cost breakdown included.
Read guide →Elegoo Centauri Carbon Review 2026: The £239 Verdict
Elegoo Centauri Carbon review 2026: enclosed CoreXY with 320°C hardened steel for around £239. Wins on price-to-capability vs Bambu P1S. The honest case.
Read guide →Best 3D Printer Under £500 UK 2026
Best 3D printer under 500 pounds: Creality K2 SE (£239) for multi-colour, Bambu P2S (£479) for long-term reliability. 5 options ranked by what matters.
Read guide →Best 3D Printer Upgrades: What Actually Makes a Difference
Best 3D printer upgrades that pay off: BLTouch (£30), PEI sheet (£25), metal extruder (£15). These three fix first-layer failures. RGB lighting does not.
Read guide →Best Resin 3D Printer UK 2026: Complete Guide
Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra wins the best resin printer UK category — 9K, WiFi, ACF speed at £245. Anycubic Photon Mono 4 delivers 10K detail at £160. Two picks.
Read guide →Best Multi-Colour 3D Printer for Beginners 2026
The best multicolor 3D printer beginners can buy is the Bambu A1 Mini Combo — AMS Lite in the box, 4-colour prints from day one. K2 SE wins on price at £239.
Read guide →Best 3D Printing Books for Beginners and Makers
Best 3D printing books 2026 — 10 ranked picks. Top choice: 3D Printing Failures for troubleshooting, Fusion 360 for Makers for CAD. 4 on Kindle Unlimited.
Read guide →US Guides
Same expert research, with US pricing, retailers, and product availability.
Comparisons
FDM vs Resin 3D Printer: Which Should You Buy?
FDM vs resin printer: FDM wins for functional parts and learning from $199. Resin wins for miniatures with 0.01mm detail. Full comparison of costs and use cases.
Read guide →Creality Ender 3 Comparison: V2 vs V3 SE vs V3 KE (US Guide)
Creality Ender 3 comparison: V3 SE ($199) wins for most buyers with auto-leveling included. V3 KE ($299) wins for 3x faster speed. V2 best bought used.
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PLA vs PETG vs ABS: Which Filament Should You Use?
PLA vs PETG vs ABS: PLA is easiest, PETG is stronger and more versatile, ABS needs an enclosure. PETG is the right step-up for most makers after PLA.
Read guide →
Direct Drive vs Bowden Extruder: Which Is Better?
Direct drive vs Bowden: direct drive wins for TPU and flexible filaments. Bowden for faster speeds. Most modern printers use direct drive — find out why.
Read guide →How-To Guides
Bed Leveling Guide: Perfect First Layer Every Time
Bed leveling guide: 90% of failed first layers come from bed position before anything else. Paper method, ABL, and Z-offset explained step-by-step.
Read guide →3D Printer Maintenance Guide: Keep Your Printer Running
3D printer maintenance guide: nozzle every 500 hours, bed surface yearly, belts every 2 years. These checks prevent most failures before they happen.
Read guide →Resin Printing Safety Guide: Essential Precautions
Resin printing safety: nitrile gloves and ventilation are non-negotiable. Water-washable resin cuts risk. Full PPE list, disposal steps, and what to skip.
Read guide →Your First 3D Print: What to Expect and How to Succeed
First 3D print guide: start with the included test file, not a downloaded model. Bed level first, use PLA at 200°C, and watch the first layer go down.
Read guide →Filament Storage Guide: Keep Your Filament Dry
Filament storage guide: airtight containers and silica gel keep PLA dry for months. PETG and nylon need active drying. Signs a spool is wet and how to rescue it.
Read guide →Buying Guides
Best 3D Printer 2026: Complete US Buying Guide
The Bambu A1 Mini is the best 3D printer for most buyers in 2026 — fast, beginner-friendly, multi-colour ready at $299. Ender 3 V3 SE leads on pure value.
Read guide →Best 3D Printer for Beginners 2026: US Guide
Best 3D printer beginners can use: Bambu A1 Mini ($299) auto-calibrates and prints fast from day one. Ender 3 V3 SE ($199) for tinkerers. 6 picks total.
Read guide →Best 3D Printer Under $500: 2026 US Guide
Best 3D printer under 500 dollars: AnkerMake M5C ($399) wins on reliability and speed. Ender 3 V3 SE ($199) leads on value. 5 options fully compared.
Read guide →Best Resin 3D Printer 2026: Complete US Guide
Find the best resin printer for miniatures, jewelry, and detailed models. Anycubic Photon Mono 4 ($159) leads for value. Full US pricing and safety tips.
Read guide →Best 3D Printer Upgrades 2026: What Actually Matters
Best 3D printer upgrades by impact: BLTouch ($40) eliminates leveling frustration, PEI sheet ($22) fixes adhesion, metal extruder ($15) stops breakage.
Read guide →Best 3D Printing Books for Beginners and Makers
Best 3D printing books 2026: 3D Printing Failures is the practical pick. Fusion 360 for Makers for CAD. 10 ranked by working makers. 4 on Kindle Unlimited.
Read guide →Ready to find your perfect setup?
Our quiz matches you with the right printer, filament, and accessories.
View Beginner Guide