Topics
Browse everything FDM Desk publishes by category and tag: every topic covered here, with the most recent guides listed under each one.
Tags
- #fdm 8
- #calibration 7
- #petg 5
- #pla 5
- #troubleshooting 5
- #tutorial 5
- #filament 4
- #first-layer 4
- #3d-printing 3
- #asa 3
- #abs 2
- #bambu-lab 2
- #bed-adhesion 2
- #creality 2
- #filament-storage 2
- #materials 2
- #orca-slicer 2
- #polymaker 2
- #slicer 2
- #stringing 2
- #warping 2
- #z-offset 2
- #2026 1
- #3d-printers 1
- #bed-leveling 1
- #beginner 1
- #budget 1
- #buyers-guide 1
- #buying-guide 1
- #enclosure 1
- #fdm-printing 1
- #filament-dryer 1
- #filament-drying 1
- #filament-review 1
- #flow-rate 1
- #guides 1
- #hotend 1
- #longevity 1
- #maintenance 1
- #nozzle-temperature 1
- #oozing 1
- #pla-filament 1
- #prusament 1
- #rankings 1
- #retraction 1
- #settings 1
- #sunlu 1
- #temperature 1
- #temperature-tower 1
- #test-print 1
- #tpu 1
- #wet-filament 1
Categories
troubleshooting 4 posts
- FDM Print Stringing: How to Stop It in Four StepsStop FDM print stringing in four steps: dry the spool, drop nozzle temp 5-10 °C, tune retraction with a tower, then fix travel and wipe settings.
- PLA Warping on Bed: How to Fix Lifted CornersFix PLA warping on the bed by matching plate type and temperature, cleaning the surface, tuning the first layer, controlling cooling, and adding a brim.
- Why Are My First Layers Not Sticking? Six Causes and FixesFirst layer adhesion fails for six diagnosable reasons: Z-offset, bed contamination, temperature, slicer settings, moisture, and the wrong surface.
- Oozing vs Stringing: Telling the Two ApartTell nozzle oozing from travel stringing on FDM prints, distinguish residue from a hotend leak, and choose the right next diagnostic check.
tutorials 4 posts
- Orca Slicer Calibration Order: All 9 Tests in SequenceRun Orca Slicer's nine built-in calibration tests, follow the documented sequence for the core five, and save each result to the correct profile.
- 3D Printer Temperature Tower & Flow CalibrationRun a temperature tower first, tune flow with a single-wall or slicer test, verify with a 20 mm cube, and save a profile for each filament spool.
- Best Orca Slicer Settings: 12 Values That MatterStart with 0.2 mm layers, 2–4 walls, 15–40% infill and 30–50 mm/s outer walls, then calibrate temperature, flow and pressure advance.
- First Layer Calibration: Z-Offset, Leveling, and FlowThe first layer determines whether a print succeeds or fails. Here's how to calibrate z-offset, bed leveling, and flow rate to get it right every time.
guides 3 posts
- FDM Filament Types Compared: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, and TPUA practical comparison of the five filaments most FDM printers run, PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA and TPU, covering temperatures, strength, and best use cases.
- Do You Need a 3D Printer Enclosure? And DIY vs BoughtA 3D printer enclosure stabilizes chamber temperature for ABS and ASA but can hurt PLA. The guide compares ventilation, DIY, and commercial options.
- PLA vs PETG vs ASA: Which Filament Should You Actually Use?PLA, PETG, and ASA each have different strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases. Here's how to pick the right material for your print.
calibration 2 posts
- Best Nozzle Temperature for PETG by Brand and HotendStart PETG at 240C, then run a 230-250C tower in 5C steps. Datasheet ranges, PTFE hotend limits and strength data tell you where to land.
- How to Level a 3D Printer Bed Manually — Step-by-StepManual bed leveling sets up every good first layer. Walk through the paper method, the right corner order, and how many passes it actually takes.
filament 2 posts
- How to Dry Filament Without a Dryer: Oven, Bed, DehydratorDry PLA, PETG and TPU with a food dehydrator, kitchen oven or heated bed under a box: exact temps, times, and how to confirm the spool is dry.
- Prusament vs Bambu, Polymaker & 6 Other PLA BrandsPrusament vs Bambu PLA Basic and PolyLite on tolerance, Z strength and price, plus colorFabb, Fillamentum, MatterHackers, Spectrum, Atomic and Fiberlogy.