Phase 1: Make it Visible

"The first magic of 3D printing is seeing something you imagined appear in your hands."

What You'll Learn

This is where it all starts. You're going to take ideas from your head and turn them into physical objects you can hold, use, and share. No fancy mechanics yet—just the pure satisfaction of creating something real from nothing but digital instructions.

You'll learn the fundamentals: how to think in 3D, how to design with thickness and size in mind, and most importantly, how to watch that critical first layer go down. These skills might seem simple, but they're the foundation for everything else you'll make.

Core Skills

[ ] Design basic shapes and text in CAD software (Tinkercad or similar)
[ ] Work confidently in millimeters—understand what 2mm vs 5mm actually feels like
[ ] Add proper thickness to designs (minimum 2mm for walls, 0.8mm for flat pieces)
[ ] Export STL files and load them into your slicer
[ ] Start a print and watch the first layer like a hawk
[ ] Recognize when a first layer is going well vs. going wrong
[ ] Remove finished prints safely from the bed

Suggested Projects

Nameplate or Door Sign - Your name in 3D letters with a border. Perfect for your desk or door. Teaches text extrusion and basic sizing.
Custom Keychain - A small design (initials, favorite shape, mini logo) with a hole for a keyring. Teaches designing holes and small-scale thinking.
Clay/Playdough Stamp - A raised design that you can press into soft materials. Teaches reverse thinking (what sticks out will press in).
Desk Organizer Dividers - Simple rectangular dividers that fit into a drawer or container. Teaches measurement and practical functionality.

Success Criteria

You've completed this phase when you can:

Design a simple object from scratch without help
Confidently measure something with a ruler and convert to millimeters
Start a print, watch the first layer, and know if it's sticking properly
Explain what "layer height" and "infill" mean in your slicer
Complete at least 3 successful prints that you actually use or display

Tips & Tricks

Size matters: Start small! A 50mm x 50mm nameplate prints in 30 minutes. A 200mm one takes 3 hours. Test your ideas small first.

The first layer is everything: If the first layer looks messy, stop the print. A bad first layer means a bad print—don't waste filament hoping it'll get better.

Thickness saves prints: If your design is flimsy, make it thicker. When in doubt, 3mm walls are your friend.

Orientation is your secret weapon: The same object can print great in one orientation and fail in another. If something doesn't work, try rotating it 90 degrees.

Watch time estimates: Your slicer tells you how long something will take. Use that to plan when to print (after school vs. overnight).

Easter Egg 🥚

Hidden challenge: Design something that uses exactly 10 grams of filament. Your slicer shows the weight estimate—can you hit 10.0g on the nose? Closest print wins bragging rights!

Remember: Every expert was once a beginner watching their first layer with nervous excitement. You've got this.

Make It Visible

Make it Visible