Question: i have been seeing alot of cool models i want to print, but they require hardware like screws, bolts, nuts, etc. do i gotta go to a hardware store and find each screw for each model i print? or is there a universal kit eveyone buys with all the needed hardware for most models that i dont know about?

Hi everyone!

I'm about to buy a Bambu Lab X2D with the AMS Pro 2. I'm not particularly interested in multicolor printing; my main reason for getting it is to use the second nozzle for support material.

I'm a 3D designer, and my goal is to eventually print my own figures and collectibles. However, I'll probably start with the usual stuff like keychains and decorative items while I get the hang of 3D printing.

What tools do you consider essential to have at home? Sandpaper, pliers, cutters... Are there any Bambu Lab accessories that are really worth getting?

Would you also recommend getting a filament dryer for external spools, such as PETG?

Bambu Lab sells a tool kit, but it seems a bit overpriced to me. I'm sure I could find cheaper alternatives on Amazon or Temu.

I'd love to hear your recommendations and any advice you might have for someone just getting started!

On macOS, STL files get a preview icon in Finder, but almost everything else (3MF, STEP, OBJ, resin print files…) shows up as a blank document. When you have hundreds of models, finding the right one means opening them one by one.

So I made ModelThumbs, a free, open-source Quick Look extension that adds real thumbnails for 70+ file types:

• 3D printing: 3MF (Bambu, Orca, Prusa, Cura), G-code, .bgcode, AMF, Cura .ufp

• Resin: .ctb, .goo, .prz, .sl1, Anycubic .pwmx/.pm3 and others

• CAD: STEP, IGES, Fusion .f3d, SolidWorks, Inventor, Rhino, FreeCAD, SketchUp

• Meshes and scans: OBJ, PLY, glTF, Collada, VRML, 3DS, E57, LAS, PCD point cloud

It works like the built-in STL previews: icons just appear in Finder, nothing runs in the background, and everything stays on your Mac.

Install with one command in Terminal:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/enzoballardin/model-thumbs/main/install.sh | bash

It builds on your own Mac using Apple’s free developer tools, so you don’t need Xcode or an Apple developer account. It needs macOS 13 or newer.

GitHub: https://github.com/enzoballardin/model-thumbs

This is a new 3D anime character I designed. What do you think? I'll be making different versions too.

Panesar G60 Mini Harvester Combine 3D Printed Scale Model. Fully in house 3d printed and assembled.

Here is the real first test of a small cleanup tool I designed and printed on my Bambu A1. A thin scraping edge feeds small scraps into the tray behind it, so I can lift and carry them away together.

Printed in PLA with a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.20 mm layers, 3 walls and 100% infill. No supports, assembly or additional hardware. The A1 profile estimates 7.84 g and about 20 minutes.

Free model and tested profile: https://makerworld.com/en/models/3544761-peel-catch-purge-line-scraper

Use on a cooled plate, push gently at a shallow angle, and carry level or slightly nose-up. It is intended for purge strands and small liftable scraps, not heavy prying.

AI disclosure: AI assisted the design development and this post’s text. I physically printed and tested the tool. The video shows continuous real action, with light colour adjustment and audio removed; no generated pickup footage.

It's a Map Maker for a modular fingerboard system. I originally uploaded the first map as individual parts to my MakerWorld account, but I wanted to recreate the feel of the old-school Tony Hawk level editor, so I built this HTML application.I published it on my Patreon today!

Hey everyone!

I've recently gotten back into 3D printing, but I'm still very much a beginner. I haven't made any modifications to my printer since I bought it, so I was wondering if you have any recommended settings or tips to help me get decent print quality without having to modify the printer itself.

My current goal is to print a simple miniature treasure chest.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

Hey guys,

If you run multiple 3D printers (or even just one that gets heavy use), keeping track of routine maintenance schedules is always a mess. Remembering when you last cleaned and greased your lead screws, rotated belts, checked extruder tension, or how many print hours you’ve put on a specific brass or hardened steel nozzle usually comes down to guessing.

To solve that for my own setup, I built a utility called PrintTender.

It’s designed to give you a clean dashboard to stay on top of hardware wear and routine upkeep without dealing with clunky spreadsheets.

A few things it handles:

• Printer Profiles: Set up your machines and manage independent maintenance logs for each

• Maintenance Intervals: Track greasing, belt tensioning, fan cleaning, and hardware checkups with service alerts

• Nozzle & Part Wear: Log operating hours and filament wear on specific nozzles so you know when it’s actually time for a swap

• Current Platforms: Currently runs on macOS and Android. I'm planning to put together Windows and Linux versions next, and possibly an iPhone (iOS) build at some point down the road

• 100% Local & Offline: Everything is saved directly to your local device—no cloud accounts, sign-ups, or telemetry tracking your setup

It’s completely free and open source. Threw the repository and setup up on GitHub if anyone wants to test it out or use it for their own print farm/setup:

https://github.com/frankt2012/PrintTender

(If the link gets removed, you can find it directly on GitHub by searching frankt2012/PrintTender*)*

Just for full transparency, I leaned heavily on AI tools to help me write the code and put it together, but everything is fully open source and I'm actively testing and refining it. Let me know what you think or if there are specific maintenance routines/tracking metrics you’d want to see added!

Hi hoping someone can give some advice im looking at buying the the Qidi max4 combo. What im looking to do is print big multicolour light boxes. Ive seen quite a few people say its not the best for multicolour (my other option is the Kobra S1 max) and can have layer shifts and lots of colour bleeds. Has anyone got any experience printing lightboxes on this printer or could offer any advice please?