Buying your first 3D printer is exciting. You see amazing models online, colourful dragons, custom keyrings, cosplay helmets, fidget toys, signs, gifts, and all sorts of clever designs. It is very easy to think, “I’ll buy a printer and start making all of that straight away.”
But before you spend your money, there are a few important things every beginner should understand.
3D printing is brilliant, but it is not always as simple as pressing print and walking away. The right printer can open up a whole new hobby, side business, or creative skill. The wrong choice, or going in without the basics, can lead to frustration, failed prints, wasted filament, and a machine sitting in the corner gathering dust.
So before you buy your first 3D printer, here are the main things I think beginners should learn.
1. What Type of 3D Printer Do You Actually Need?
Most beginners will be looking at FDM printers. These are the machines that use rolls of filament, usually PLA, and build models layer by layer.
They are great for things like:
Custom gifts
Keyrings
Signs
Toys and figures
Fidgets
Home organisation items
Cosplay parts
Practical fixes and brackets
Decorative models
There are also resin printers, which are brilliant for very detailed miniatures and figures, but they involve chemicals, washing, curing, gloves, ventilation, and more careful handling.
For most complete beginners, an FDM printer is usually the best place to start. It is cleaner, easier to learn, and more suitable for general everyday printing.
2. Bigger Is Not Always Better
One of the first things people look at is build plate size. A bigger printer sounds better because it means you can print bigger things.
But bigger printers also need more space, more setup, more filament, and sometimes more patience.
If you mainly want to print small gifts, keyrings, fidgets, toys, or simple home items, you may not need a huge printer straight away. A smaller, reliable printer can be a much better first step.
Before buying, ask yourself:
What do I actually want to print?
How big are those items?
Do I have enough space for the printer?
Will I be printing as a hobby, or for a small business?
It is better to buy a printer that fits your real needs than one that just looks impressive on the box.
3. Learn the Basic Materials
Most beginners start with PLA filament, and for good reason. PLA is easy to print, comes in lots of colours, and is suitable for many simple projects.
But not all filament is the same.
Some common materials include:
PLA, which is beginner-friendly and good for most basic prints
PETG, which is stronger and more heat resistant, but can be trickier
ABS, which is tougher but needs more care, ventilation, and temperature control
TPU, which is flexible but harder for beginners
Before buying a printer, it helps to understand what materials it can print and what you actually need.
For most beginners, PLA is enough to get started.
4. Understand That Failed Prints Are Normal
This is a big one.
Every 3D printer owner gets failed prints. Even experienced users still get them.
Prints can fail because of:
Poor bed adhesion
Wrong temperature
Wet filament
Bad supports
Incorrect slicer settings
Clogged nozzles
Uneven first layers
Speed being too high
The model not being designed well for printing
This does not mean you are bad at 3D printing. It just means there is a learning curve.
The best thing you can do before buying a printer is understand that troubleshooting is part of the hobby. You are not just buying a machine. You are learning a skill.
5. Learn What Slicing Means
A slicer is the software that turns a 3D model into instructions your printer can understand.
This is where you choose settings like:
Layer height
Print speed
Infill
Supports
Temperature
Bed temperature
Wall thickness
Quality settings
A lot of modern printers and slicers make this easier than it used to be, but it is still worth learning the basics.
Many beginners think the printer does all the work. In reality, the slicer settings can make a massive difference to how strong, smooth, clean, or successful your print is.
6. Know Where You Will Put the Printer
Before buying a printer, think about where it is going to live.
You need to consider:
A stable surface
Enough space around the machine
Noise levels
Room temperature
Ventilation
Access to plug sockets
Storage for filament
Safety around children and pets
A printer tucked into the wrong space can quickly become annoying. It might be too loud, too hot, too cramped, or awkward to maintain.
A good setup makes printing much easier.
7. Learn About Filament Storage
Filament can absorb moisture from the air. When that happens, prints can become stringy, rough, weak, or messy.
This catches a lot of beginners out.
Even if your printer is working perfectly, wet filament can make the print look terrible.
Before buying a printer, it is worth learning how to store filament properly. Simple storage boxes, sealed bags, silica gel, or filament dryers can all help.
Good filament storage saves money, time, and stress.
8. Understand Maintenance
3D printers do need looking after.
Basic maintenance can include:
Cleaning the build plate
Checking the nozzle
Removing filament jams
Keeping rods and rails clean
Checking belts
Updating software
Replacing worn parts
Making sure the printer is calibrated
You do not need to be an engineer, but you do need to be willing to learn the basics.
A printer is a tool, not a magic box. Like any tool, it works best when it is looked after.
9. Think About What You Want to Make
Before buying, make a simple list of the things you want to print.
For example:
Do you want to make toys?
Do you want to make cosplay helmets?
Do you want to make gifts?
Do you want to make useful home items?
Do you want to sell prints?
Do you want to design your own models?
This matters because different goals need different printers, materials, and skills.
Someone printing small figures will have different needs from someone printing large helmets or practical workshop parts.
The clearer you are about your goal, the easier it is to choose the right printer.
10. Decide Whether You Want to Design or Just Print
You do not have to design your own models to enjoy 3D printing. There are lots of model websites where you can download ready-made files.
But if you want to create custom names, logos, parts, signs, or personal designs, then learning basic design software will help.
Beginner-friendly tools like Tinkercad are a good starting point.
Before buying a printer, ask yourself:
Do I just want to download and print models?
Do I want to customise designs?
Do I want to learn full 3D design?
There is no wrong answer, but it helps to know what direction you want to go in.
11. Be Realistic About Cost
The printer is only the first cost.
You may also need:
Filament
Spare nozzles
Build plates
Tools
Glue or bed adhesive
Storage boxes
Filament dryer
Replacement parts
Software or model subscriptions
Safety equipment
You do not need everything on day one, but it is worth knowing that the printer itself is not the only thing you will buy.
Start simple, then add tools as you learn what you actually need.
12. Learn Before You Spend Big
One of the best things you can do is learn the basics before buying the machine.
Watch beginner videos, read guides, ask questions, visit a local 3D printing shop, or take a lesson if you can.
A little bit of learning before you buy can help you avoid the wrong machine, the wrong materials, and the wrong expectations.
It can also make the whole hobby much more enjoyable from the start.
Final Thoughts
3D printing is one of the most creative hobbies you can get into. It lets you make things that are personal, useful, fun, and completely unique.
But the best beginners are not the ones who buy the most expensive printer. They are the ones who take time to understand the basics.
Before buying your first 3D printer, learn what type of printer you need, what materials you will use, where the printer will go, how slicing works, and what problems you may need to fix along the way.
Once you understand those things, buying your first printer becomes much less confusing.
And when that first successful print comes off the bed, it feels brilliant.
At Gift & Receive, we help beginners understand 3D printing in a simple, friendly way. Whether you are thinking about buying your first printer, learning how to use one, or trying to improve your prints, we are here to help you get started properly.