Getting Started with 3D Printing
Article author:
Eolas PrintsArticle published at:
June 17, 2026
Almost every 3D printing problem has a known cause and a reliable fix. We've put together a complete set of practical guides covering the issues makers actually run into — from a first print that won't stick, to dialling in a perfect filament profile. This page is the index: find your symptom, jump to the guide, fix the problem. Bookmark it.
Start Here: New to 3D Printing
If you're just getting started, begin with the fundamentals and work outward as problems come up.
- PLA Settings & Your First Print — the complete beginner's guide: settings, a pre-print checklist, and how to read your first layer.
- Best Print Settings for PETG, TPU & ASA — when you're ready to move beyond PLA.
Bed Adhesion & First-Layer Problems
The most common failure of all — and the foundation of every successful print.
- First Layer Not Sticking? Fix Bed Adhesion — Z-offset, levelling, bed temperature, cleaning, adhesives, and brims.
Surface & Quality Defects
Prints that stick but don't look right — strings, blobs, gaps, ripples.
- Fix Stringing & Oozing — those wispy threads between parts.
- Under-Extrusion — gaps, thin walls, and weak layers.
- Over-Extrusion, Blobs & Zits — rough, swollen, oversized prints.
- Layer Shifting & Ghosting — prints that jump sideways, or faint ripples near corners.
Warping & Engineering Materials
The challenges specific to ABS, ASA, and other high-shrinkage materials.
- How to Stop Warping (ABS & ASA) — curling corners and cracked layers, and how to prevent them.
Calibration: From Good to Great
Once your prints are reliable, calibration is what makes them excellent. These tests dial in your printer and filament.
- Orca Slicer & Orca-Flashforge Calibration — the full sequence: temperature, flow, pressure advance, retraction.
- Temperature Tower — find your filament's ideal temperature.
- Flow Test — get extrusion amount and dimensions accurate.
- Retraction Test — eliminate stringing at the source.
- Extruder Calibration — confirm your extruder pushes the right amount.
Find Your Problem Fast
| What you're seeing | Go to |
|---|---|
| Print won't stick / first layer is a mess | Bed adhesion |
| Wispy threads between parts | Stringing |
| Gaps, thin or weak walls | Under-extrusion |
| Blobs, zits, oversized parts | Over-extrusion |
| Print jumped sideways / surface ripples | Layer shifting & ghosting |
| Corners curling up / cracking (ABS, ASA) | Warping |
| Prints OK but want them perfect | Calibration |
| Just getting started | PLA & first print |
The Common Thread: Good Filament
You'll notice a theme across these guides: a lot of "random" problems trace back to filament — damp, brittle, or inconsistent in diameter. Consistent filament removes those variables so the settings you calibrate actually hold. Our PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, and ASA are made in Spain to tight ISO/REACH tolerances and sealed dry. Pair good material with the guides above and most problems simply don't appear.
Still Stuck?
If you've worked through the relevant guide and a problem persists, get in touch with your printer, material, and a photo of the issue — we're happy to help troubleshoot. And if you're starting to think the real fix is a better-suited printer, browse our Flashforge, Prusa, and Bambu Lab ranges or ask us for a recommendation.