How to Program a 3D Printer

There’s a lot of positive buzz around the best 3D printers. And for a good reason, because not only are they great for making affordable parts, they are a new frontier of the creative landscape. However, selecting the best printer for your needs takes more than knowing which model to get. You also need to understand how to use the software to create exactly what you want. So, below we’ll give you tips on how to program a 3D printer.

We also have a bunch of other helpful 3D-printer-related articles. For example, we have one that explains how to monitor a 3D printer remotely. And another explaining how to remove the supports from a 3D printer.

How Do You Program a 3D Printer?

Programming a printer can go a million different ways, depending on what you’re trying to accomplish. However, there is a way to break it down so you can follow some transparent best practices when programming a 3D printer.

First, it’s essential to know that programming has two main elements: the graphics and the printer itself. With both of these, there are some general tips to be aware of, which can help save valuable time in the long run.

For additional guides full of helpful tips and tricks, feel free to check out our articles covering things like how to update your 3D printer’s firmware.

Tip 1 – Know The Differences Between Graphics Design Software

When understanding how to build computer 3D designs, there is a wide range of 3D modeling programs, each catering to different talents. The primary type of graphics program allows the graphic artist to build their vision for their object via a drawing-based design system. However, some graphics programs allow those with coding expertise to build a model through a coding language instead.

For more insight on the graphic design portion of 3D printing, check out our article explaining how to create a model for printing.

Tip 2 – Choosing Printer Programming Method

Every printer uses a coding language so the machine can understand the instructions communicated from the graphics model. And to be able to successfully adjust many of the settings and parameters around the print process, users must be familiar with this code.

However, some printers remove the need to program the printer via code by creating their own software. Once downloaded, the software can be accessed and controlled through a straightforward user interface, allowing anyone to program the printer code-free.