As a 3D printing enthusiast, you’ve probably faced the quality vs. speed dilemma. We’ve all been there—you’re printing a beautiful model with curves and slopes, but when it’s done, the surface is full of those telltale “stepped” layers.

That’s where adaptive layer height comes to the rescue like a superhero and saves the day by balancing speed and precision. Orca Slicer has an amazing tool to fine-tune your layer heights and get smoother prints in less time.

This guide will cover everything you need to know to master adaptive layer height and get better 3D prints.

Ever seen those little strings hanging off your 3D print like tiny spider webs? Or the nozzle scratching over a beautiful layer? If you’ve experienced these issues, you’re not alone—and there’s a fix. Enter Z-Hop, a feature in Orca Slicer that will take your 3D prints from good to great.

Whether you’re new to 3D printing or a hobbyist, getting the settings right makes a huge difference. In this guide, we’ll be exploring Z-Hop—what it is, how to use it, and why it’s a game changer.

Let’s get started!

Introduction​

If you have a Bambu Lab 3D printer, you’ve already opened the door to a world of creativity, precision, and innovation. Bambu Lab printers are known for being reliable and high quality, so they’re a favorite among users all around the world.

But even great printers can be made better with a bit of customization. With the right printable accessories, you can make your Bambu Lab printer even more efficient, more versatile, and more fun to use. In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best 3D printable accessories to get the most out of your Bambu Lab 3D printer.

Whether you want to reduce vibrations, manage your filament better, or tweak your AMS system, these upgrades offer practical and easy-to-print solutions that you can print directly with your Bambu Lab printer.

Let’s get started and see how these upgrades can improve your 3D printing experience.

Let’s talk about the 3D Benchy, the little boat that has taken the 3D printing world by storm. At first glance, you may think that it’s a fun toy, but this little tugboat is actually one of the most powerful tools for testing and fine-tuning your 3D printer. Whether you’re new to 3D printing or an experienced user, the 3D Benchy can greatly help you with troubleshooting your 3D printer.

Let’s dive deeper and understand how this model can improve your printer performance.

If you are into 3D printing, you must have used Cura or PrusaSlicer to slice your models. These tools are necessary for converting any 3D model into G-code, which contains instructions your machine can execute to actually print your model. However, there is always room for new software that provides different features and options.

Orca Slicer is what you need. It’s free and built on Bambu Studio. It gives you more ways to customize, control, and get precise results for your prints. If you’re a beginner looking for ready-made profiles or an experienced user looking for advanced settings, Orca Slicer has you covered.

Orca Slicer started as a fork from Bambu Studio, which in turn is based on PrusaSlicer, one of the most widely used open-source slicing software. It was developed by SoftFever. It rapidly gained traction due to the increased number of printer profiles and more advanced print calibration options. It's particularly helpful if you want more control and detail over how your 3D models turn out.

3D printing has come a long way, and one of the most exciting advancements is the ability to print with multiple colors or materials in a single go. This makes it possible to create detailed, colorful, and functional models without having to manually paint or assemble them afterward. Whether you're making parts that need different materials or designing colorful, intricate models, multi-material 3D printing can really take your projects to the next level.

As the technology has improved, more options have become available, each with its own benefits for different users and experience levels. In this article, we'll look at some of the top multi-color 3D printing systems, including the Bambu Lab AMS, Prusa MMU, Enraged Rabbit Carrot Feeder (ERCF), and new systems like the Tradrack and 8-Track. We'll break down how each system works, their pros and cons, and which users they’re best suited for.

Introduction​

In the world of 3D printing, the slicer software you choose can significantly impact the quality, speed, and efficiency of your prints. Two popular slicers making waves in the community are Orca Slicer and Bambu Studio. Both of these slicers offer a robust set of features tailored to different users, but which one is right for you?

In this guide, we’ll compare both slicers, covering installation, user interface, standout features, community support, and more.

Whether you're new to 3D printing or experienced, this will help you choose the right slicer for your needs.

Introduction​

The Sovol SV08 is a standout 3D printer in the current market, offering a mix of advanced features, precision, and versatility that caters to both beginners and experienced makers. By integrating it with the Obico platform, an AI-powered, open-source system, users can significantly enhance their 3D printing experience through remote monitoring, control, and AI failure detection.

This guide will take you through setting up your Sovol SV08 with Obico, including firmware updates, WiFi connections, and integrating the Obico system. We will also look at some advanced features provided by Obico, like Nozzle Ninja AI, which takes first-layer monitoring to another level, as well as the new built-in online slicer.

Introduction​

3D printing is a fast-moving field, with new developments constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible. One such development is the partnership between Obico and BigTreeTech (BTT), which brings Obico's advanced AI capabilities within reach of 3D printer enthusiasts through the BTT Pi 2.

This guide gives complete step-by-step instructions on how to install Klipper onto your BTT Pi 2 and then integrate Obico AI onto it. It includes detailed instructions for setting up an Ender 3 V2 3D printer as an example. Additionally, we will provide guidance on configuring other printer models to ensure all users can benefit from this setup. Whether you're a novice or an experienced user, this guide aims to simplify the process and enhance your 3D printing experience.

Introduction​

The technology of 3D printing has revolutionized the manufacturing process by enabling the production of intricate designs and personalized parts with relative ease of operation. However, like all technologies, 3D printing has its fair share of challenges. Print failure is one of the most significant, leading to material waste as well as a loss of time and money.

Fortunately, advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems have come up with new techniques for early detection and prevention of such failures, which can be done by alerting users, modifying the print depending on the intensity of the error, or even stopping it completely before wasting more resources. Here we will go through some AI-based failure detection solutions for 3D printing provided by Obico, Bambu Lab, Creality, Octoprint Nexus AI, and OctoEverywhere.