Core terms used in the course. Keep this open when reading printer specs or slicer settings.
Filament printing. A plastic filament is melted and deposited layer by layer. This is the beginner default for this course.
Beginner-friendly filament. Easy to print, inexpensive, and good for models and light-use parts, but weak in heat and some mechanical use.
Common second filament. Tougher and more heat-resistant than PLA, but stringier and less forgiving.
Software that converts a 3D model into printer instructions: layer height, walls, infill, supports, temperatures, and toolpaths.
Temporary printed scaffolding for overhangs. Useful, but a beginner complexity multiplier.
The internal structure inside a print. More infill usually means more time and material, not automatically more useful strength.
The extra clearance or interference designed into a part so real printed plastic fits the real object.
The foundation layer. If it fails to stick or is laid down poorly, the whole print is suspect.