Intro to 3D Printing: How to Set Up for Your First 3D Print on the Ender-3 V2

3D printing technology has been around for several decades, but it has only recently become more widely available and affordable for consumers. Furthermore, it can be overwhelming to navigate the options and terminology after buying a 3D printer for the first time. This 15-to-20-minute tutorial is aimed to help beginners understand the process of getting 3d printing files ready for the printer to read. This guide will help you learn about common files that are used and how to get those files into your Ender-3 V2. We will be using 2 types of files. The most common 3D printing file format is called STL. STL contains the design of the 3D model that is going to be printed. You can create your own STL models on software such as Onshape or Tinkercad. But to keep things simple, we will be obtaining our STL files from a website called Thingyverse. The second file type is called G-code. G-code is a programming language that instructs the 3d printer on how to print the model step by step. We will be converting our STL file in order to get our G-code. This conversion will be done in 3D printing slicer software. We will be using Prusa Slicer for the tutorial.

1. Ender 3 V2 Printer
2. 8GB or higher micro-SD card
3. Micro-SD card reader USB adapter with card slot
4. Prusa Slicer (should have the program downloaded and installed)
5. Thingyverse

Go to Thingyverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/search?type=things&q=&sort=makes&page=1. Pick any creation you would like to print. For this tutorial, I will be using this Trex creation.

Click on the “thing files” tab located below the creation example pictures. Download the file that ends with .stl and download into a known folder.

Set the "print settings" located on the right side of Prusa window to 0.16mm Optimal. This setting will tell the printer how much filament is going to get pushed out.

Set "filament" setting to the type of filament you have purchased. I will be using the most generic filament which is PLA.

Next set the printer to “Creality Ender-3 v2”. Start by clicking “Add/remove printers”, followed by “Add/Remove Presets” (figure 6.1).

Click the other vendors tab and check “Creality” and click the Next > button on the bottom (figure 6.2).

Click on our printer “Creality Ender-3 V2” and click Finish on the bottom (figure 6.3).

Click the “add” button located on the bar above the work place.

After clicking the add button, file explorer will pop up on screen. Find and open the STL file we downloaded from Thingverse. The model will be shown on the bedplate.

Using the "scale" button located to the left side of the screen, we can make the Creation smaller or bigger. Disclaimer the larger the model, the more time and filament it will take.

Set “Supports” setting located on the right side of the screen to "none". For the T-rex model print we will not be using supports. Disclaimer If your creation has overhanging sections, set supports to "everywhere". Supports are lightly printed scaffolding around a print model to help hold up overhanging/floating parts. 

Set the infill setting to 20%. This is located below the supports setting. Disclaimer The higher the infill percentage, the more time and filament used. Infill is the percentage of the density or how hollow the print will be.

Click “Slice now” button located in the bottom right corner of the screen. After the software slices the STL file, the window will provide printing information such as printing time, layers and parts. 

Plug in your micro-SD card reader into your computers USB port.

Click the "Export G-code" button located on the bottom right corner of the screen. This will make file explorer window pop up.

Find the location of your SD card on file explorer and click save.

Press the “eject drive” button that will appear on the bottom of the Prusa Slicer window after the export finishes. Or you can eject the USB using file explorer. Warning removing the USB from computer without ejecting can corrupt or damage the SD card. 

This micro-sd slot is located in the front left side of the printer. Disclaimer if the sd card does not slide in, make sure to flip the card and try the other side.

Once your printer is started, use the printers screen to find the print tab in the main menu. Here you will find all your g-code files that are ready to be printed. Once you click the file, the printer will start printing! Disclaimer My v2's screen is upgraded and uses JyersUI firmware. Factory firmware will look different from the pictures above.

Congratulations, now you know the process of slicing stl into g-code and how to get your print on the Ender-3 V2 started!

If your prints are failing and not printing well, always check that your printer bed is leveled. If the bed is not leveled parallel to the printer nozzle, the filament won't stick securely onto the bed. If the prints continue to fail, check on the stl file on Prusa slicer for any design problems or wrong print settings.

Now that you know what is needed to start 3d printing, you can build your knowledge and upgrade your printer. Welcome to the 3D printing world!