3D printing on Windows: Everything you need to get started

You think it is simple to start 3D printing? Think again.

So you have decided that you want to try your hand at 3D Printing, you've seen all the cool YouTube videos, and you are ready to pick up your first printer. But getting started requires a little more than you might think.

Here's an overview of the things you will need to ensure you can start printing straight away — and have a good chance of those prints actually working.

• A computer
• A 3D printer
• Filament
• Assorted tools
• 3D models
• A slicer

A computer

Not only do you need a computer for finding 3D models and for preparing those models for printing, but a lot of the back end of printing can be done here. From firmware upgrades to running the printer in real time, almost anything can be done from a laptop or PC.

I would recommend making sure you have at least 4GB of RAM and a fairly powerful processor. My Dell XPS 13 runs all of my slicing software and even some of my 3D design software well, but my 2011 MacBook struggles to prepare some of the more complex models for the printer.

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