You no longer have to spend a fortune to get a quality, automated, hands-off 3D printer. This is a sentence I didn't expect to write just a few years ago, but it's reality today. Here's how I used an off-the-shelf, untuned cheap 3D printer to print something that even my more expensive printers would have struggled with.

Basic 3D printing filament is relatively affordable, but nobody likes wasting their money. Avoiding disaster requires that you not fall into the trap of making rookie mistakes. Knowing what these are can save you filament, money, and time.

Metal 3D printers are pricey machines that make aerospace-grade parts and cost an absolute fortune. You can make your own “metal” 3D prints at home, out of regular filament, without the massive spend.