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3D printer tool
Essential tools for every 3D printing professional
Lana Lozova15 December 2020
News
To get the best from your 3D printer, you need to be armed with the right tools for the job. From removing support material to improving build plate adhesion, here’s a list of must-have tools, all designed to make your life easier.
The essential 3D printer owner’s toolkit
There are certain tools that most 3D printer users possess. These vital pieces of equipment ensure that your prints run smoothly, and that you get the best results possible. You don’t necessarily need to invest in them all at once – but over time, it’s likely you’ll end up adding them all to your tool collection.
Glue stick
Build plate adhesion is an important part of creating great 3D prints. Glue sticks come in particularly handy when you’re trying to get your print to stick – simply cover your print bed with soluble glue, and the adhesion will improve immediately. Some people favor hair spray, but we’d personally recommend glue, as you can be more precise with the application, plus there’s less risk of accidentally spraying the gantry or moving parts. For material-specific adhesion guidelines, check out this support article.
Spatula or palette knife
On occasion, you might find that your 3D print has stuck a bit too well to your build plate. When this happens, a spatula or palette knife normally solves the problem. All you’ll need to do is ease it gently under the print and carefully lift it up.
Over time, you’ll probably get a collection of different palette knives. To start with, we’d recommend getting a palette knife that’s stiff, and one that’s flexible. Titan’s stainless steel scrapers have a tapered tip, which we find works particularly well.
Deburring tool / knife and cutting mat
A deburring tool is great for cleaning up modeled holes, and for removing small pieces of plastic from your printed parts, especially brim. You’ll also need knives to tidy up your prints, as they seldom turn out completely perfect. A deft flick of the knife can remove unsightly plastic blobs or filament strings, making the end result look smoother and cleaner.
We recommend investing in a knife with exchangeable blades (such as an X-Acto knife), and a cutting mat too.
Pliers
Pliers have a variety of uses, from print core maintenance to fixing your 3D printer. Look for a good quality pair of pliers with a rubberized, slip-resistant grip. You’re likely to need more than one type – we’d recommend needle nose and wire-cutting pliers (which are particularly useful for snipping away support material or trimming filament).
Blue tape
Masking tape is one of the most basic tools you’re likely to own, and also one of the most widely used. Adding masking tape to the print bed is a simple, effective way to help your 3D printed object adhere to the print bed. It also makes removing the finished print far easier, and it protects your print bed from scratches.
Make sure you choose masking tape with a width of at least 50mm (2 inches). When the tape’s wide, it means you’ll need fewer strips to cover your print bed – something you’ll be grateful for if you need to resurface your print bed on a regular basis!
Magnalube and Unilube
Sometimes, you’ll need to lubricate the X and Y axles, just to ensure they keep running smoothly.
The best lubricant to use is Unilube, and all it takes is a single drop to resolve any issues with dryness. For the Z trapezoidal leadscrew, use Magnalube.
It’s important not to use WD40, as this affects the axle coating and can cause damage to your printer. Read more about it here.
Digital caliper
A digital caliper has many applications in 3D printing. It’s useful for checking the precision of your prints, and you can also use it to dimension parts to replicate in CAD software. Calipers are also handy for checking filament measurements – as filaments aren’t often manufactured to exact measurements. Simply measure it at a few different positions, average the readings, then adjust the filament diameter in your slicing software if necessary.
Analogue calipers work too, but don’t offer the same precision.
Tweezers
Tweezers are useful to have to hand whenever you’re printing. They’re great for plucking oozing filament from the extruder nozzle before it starts printing (which means no more burnt fingers).
They’re also handy for cleaning up your print afterwards. We’d recommend purchasing a set of tweezers in various shapes and sizes, to ensure you’re covered for every eventuality.
Sandpaper
It’s a good idea to have a selection of sandpaper in a variety of different grits. These will all prove useful when you’re post-processing your 3D prints. Our recommendation? Have a selection from coarse (220 grit) to fine (1000 grit), and invest in well-known brands such as 3M, as they’re likely to last you longer than cheaper, inferior types.
Screwdrivers / hex key screwdrivers
Most people already own a good selection of screwdrivers and hex keys. If you don’t, it’s worthwhile getting some, as you’ll periodically need to re-tighten the gantry screws and the stepper motors of your 3D printer. Hex nuts and bolts are widely used in 3D printer assembly, so it’s also a wise idea to have a set of hex key screwdrivers and wrenches.
Adhesion sheets
Adhesion sheets are compatible with most materials, and boost adhesion to the build plate.
They’re a good replacement for a glue stick, as they’re easy to remove and can be used multiple times. Another advantage is that they’ve been specially developed to cope with high temperatures, unlike masking tape. However, it’s important to check that the sheet is applied correctly, as air bubbles mean you won’t have a flat printing surface. You can find out how to apply the sheet here.
Desiccant and re-sealable bags
3D printer filament absorbs water over time. This causes degradation, that eventually leads to complications during printing. To avoid water absorption, simply store your filament in a sealed container or plastic bag, and add some desiccant to ensure all moisture is removed from the environment. Silica gel works perfectly. Here are some more storage recommendations to help you. For a more automated solution, the Ultimaker S5 Material Station was developed to store and deliver material in optimal conditions for 3D printing.
Permanent marker
Permanent markers (such as Sharpies) are useful for marking 3D prints, especially when you’re running multiple prints of the same model, but with different slicer settings.
Simply note down the sequence and settings for each print on the finished objects, and you’ll be able to tell them apart later on. Even leading architects do this: The team at Killa Design draw on their models to note where their design can be improved.
Advanced 3D Printing Kit
The Advanced 3D Printing Kit for Ultimaker 2+ contains two 0.4mm nozzles, two TFM couplers, 25 adhesion sheets and a door. These keep your 3D printer running smoothly for longer. The nozzles and TFM couplers are convenient replacements, the adhesion sheets are great for keeping your models in position, and the door keeps warmth inside the printer, which prevents certain materials from warping and delaminating. Find out more here.
Other useful tools
The following tools might not be as essential as the list above, but they’re certainly useful to have around. Obviously, it depends on what you’ll be using your 3D printer for, as some are more suited to particular jobs than others.
Flashlight.
If your 3D printer already has integrated lighting, you won’t need this. Otherwise, it’s a useful tool to have, even in well-lit areas. The inside of an enclosed 3D printer can be dark, which makes it different to judge print quality on detailed models. A compact LED light works perfectly.Paper towels. Paper towels are always useful for cleaning and drying your build plate, and best of all, they’re cheap too!
Pencils and paper. You’ll inevitably need to jot down dimensions and make sketches while printing, so it’s a good idea to have paper and pencils to hand at all times.
Wire cutter. Wire cutters are excellent for removing support and creating a cleaner, neater finish.
Dremel. A Dremel is a handheld, high-speed rotary tool, which features a range of accessories. These accessories let you undertake a variety of applications, including cutting, sanding, carving and grinding. When you’re 3D printing, it can be used to remove support material, sand down rough edges, or polish 3D prints made from metal-containing filaments.
Extra filament. It’s always useful to have an additional filament spool to hand. A spool lasts a while, but won’t keep you printing forever! Also, it’s nice to have a variety to choose from, depending on your requirements.
Extra glass plate. If you are printing 24/7, having a spare glass plate could really speed up your workflow. It allows you to quickly swap glass plates when starting a new print, instead of having to wait until the build plate has cooled down to remove the print.
Dissolving kit (bucket of water and pump). You’ll need to be able to remove your water-soluble PVA after printing – and a bucket of water does the job nicely! A pump ensures PVA supports dissolve faster.
With the right tools, the chances of producing a flawless 3D print are greatly increased. A 3D printer and a computer do most of the hard work, but it’s the tools that polish and perfect the models afterwards!
Show off just how powerful 3D printing is at work with this expert guide.
Insights include:
• How to get buy-in from everyone in the office
• Important and practical setup considerations
• 3 workflow options that will save development time
• And lots more handy tips and tricks!
3D Printing Tools 2022 - Top 32 Essentials, Optional and Safety Tools
When we bought our first printer we didn’t realize that there is a number of essential 3D printing tools to come with it. There are tools for the printing process and also for safety. Day by day we kept filling our toolbox with more essentials and now we have a neat workshop in a spare bedroom. It is important to know what’s needed in order not to overspend money. We have put together a list to give an idea of what’s required and to help find the right items.
Disclaimer: The links are affiliate links – at no additional cost for you we will receive a commission if a purchase happens.
Top 10 Essential 3D Printing Tools
Pre-Made Tool Sets
First of all, we do recommend to explore and search for tool sets.
You may need to add more tools in due course. These kits became available just recently and may variate in price greatly. Remember, that bulk price for the set doesn’t always mean it is cheaper than buying particular items separately, some items may never be used and the quality of other items may deteriorate.
3D Printer Tool Kit
Amazon
3D Print Tool Kit
AliExpress
Print Removal Tool – Spatula
Helps to remove newly printed objects from the build plate. A blade easily slides underneath the prints. New spatulas are thin, strong, and durable. Especially good for gently removing the large 3D prints. In some tough cases, all 3 spatulas can be used at once.
3D Print Removal Spatulas
Amazon
3D Printer Spatula
AliExpress
Nozzle Cleaning Kit
Part of 3D printer maintenance routine. The extruder nozzle cleaner is an essential item for any 3D printer owner. Every extruder nozzle must be cleaned regularly as part of maintenance.
Nozzle Cleaning Kit
Amazon
Steel Cleaning Needle
AliExpress
Knife Clean-Up Kit
Multi-blade knife set to clean prints. Easily removes supports, raft and other excess material from your 3D printed objects.
Steel Collet Knife Set
Amazon
Blades Knife Set
AliExpress
Tweezers
Helps to remove oozing filament from a hot nozzle and to remove support. Great for removing 3D printed support material or cleaning up 3D Printer hot ends. Fine ends let you easily get to hard-to-reach places.
Tweezers Set
Amazon
Stainless Steel Tweezers
AliExpress
Glue Stick
An adhesive is required to keep an object in place during printing. It can be glue or hair spray. Stick glue is recommended for use on a build plate, heated or not heated. Prevents warping. A strong type of glue stick works better.
Glue Stick
Amazon
Washable Glue Stick
AliExpress
Pliers
Must have tools.
Preferably a set for all kind of tasks: to cut, clean, adjust, etc. These are used to cut the filament and to remove support. Different size of plier ends helps to get hard-to-reach parts.
Pliers
Amazon
DIY Plier Set
AliExpress
Spanners and Wrenches for Nozzle Change
A spanner is used when changing the nozzle. Yet again, as you planning to change the nozzle it’s more likely you will need replacement. There are all kinds of sets available (spanners+nozzles) for affordable prices.
Spanners
Amazon
5 in 1 Wrench
AliExpress
Nozzles
Instead of trying to clean the nozzle, in most cases, it is better just to replace it. There are a few types of 3D printer nozzles that can be bought in bulk. Before buying, make sure that the nozzles are compatible with your 3D printer. For example, MK8 nozzles are compatible with the following 3D Printers: Creality CR10, Ender 3 v2, Ender 5 PRO, Makerbot, Ultimaker 2, Anet ET, Tevo Tornado, Anycubic i3 Mega …
Nozzles (MK8)
Amazon
Nozzle Sets (E3D V5 V6)
AliExpress
Desiccant Dehumidifiers – Silica Gel Packets
It is very important to store filament correctly.
Extra moisture ruins the quality of 3D printing material. Desiccant should be always added to airtight containers where the filament is stored. Excess moisture changes the quality of filament.
Silica Gel 20g Packs
Amazon
Silica Gel 10g Packs
AliExpress
Masking Tape, Sticker Sheets
For those printers, which do not have a glass bed or smooth printing surface or bed got damaged masking tape or stickers are essential. Wide range of all kinds of stickers sheets specially for 3D printing.
Sticker Sheets
Amazon
Heat bed Sheets Sticker
AliExpress
Flexible Magnetic Sheets for 3D Print Beds
To have a magnetic flexible 3D print bed is a new normal for many desktop FDM 3D printers. Once you try it, it’s hard to go back to the caption tape, stickers, or even a glass bed. As technology advances, we see a wide range of functional and convenient magnetic 3D print surfaces on the market.
235x235mm Flexible Magnetic Bed
Amazon
Spring Steel Sheets – All Sizes
AliExpress
Alcohol Wipes
Helps to clean glass and other types of print beds.
Even though such wipes may not be as green as alcohol in the bottles due to the foil paper packaging, for a casual 3D printer user, such wipes are justified in terms of alcohol volume (one wipe is just enough to clean the whole surface) and safety (no risk of spillage or from the fumes).
Antiseptic Wipes
Amazon
Alcohol Wipes
AliExpress
Hex aka Allen Key Set
An important tool for the maintenance of 3D printers. It is needed when changing the extruder, adjusting the belts, fixing the heated build plate, etc. We found that a hex key with a handle is especially comfortable to work with when dealing with a DIY 3D printer kit like Original Prusa i3 MK2. In such cases, it is not recommended to use electric screwdrivers as there is the risk of damaging the fragile 3D printed parts.
Hex aka Allen Key Set
Amazon
Universal Key Hexagon
AliExpress
The list is sorted by: Essential, Safety and Optional 3D printing tools.
As we went along and got deeper into 3D printing there were more and more items that became part of the whole process. We will be adding tools for decorating the prints, photo equipment, scanning stations, acetone vapouring products, etc.
Disclaimer: The links are affiliate links – at no additional cost for you we will receive a commission if a purchase happens.
Safety Tools
Goggles
This is a necessary protection during nozzle cleaning. Blocked nozzle may accumulate pressure inside which can cause a burst of molten filament.
Anti-Fog Safety Goggle
Amazon
Multi-purpose Safety Goggles
AliExpress
Goggles for Laser Engraving/Cutting
For laser engraving and cutting, we need the special laser safety goggles. Laser engraving/cutting is a real hazard for the eyes, and some manufacturers, Snapmaker for example, provide such safety googles together with the laser modules.
There is a big range of such goggles available on the market with different levels of protection, which are defined by the type of a job at hand, from hair removal procedures to CO2 laser cutting.
Violet/Blue/Red Laser Safety Goggles
Amazon
Laser Safety Goggles
AliExpress
Smoke Detector
Make sure there is a smoke detector within proximity of your 3D printer. There are both a complex electical device and high temperatures involved in the process.
Smoke Detector
Amazon
LED Digital Gas Smoke Alarm
AliExpress
Fire Extinguisher
Fire Extinguisher ABC class.
Fire Extinguisher
Amazon
Dust Mask
Can be used when sanding and spray painting for example.
Dust Mask
Amazon
Face Mask
AliExpress
Disposable Gloves
Disposable gloves are good for any sort of messy work including postprocessing and spray-painting 3D prints. Wearing gloves is a must when handling resin 3D printers, like Elegoo Mars, for example.
Gloves and goggles are worn as protection from a possible accidental contact with the resin.
Single Use Gloves
Amazon
Safety Disposable Gloves
AliExpress
3D Printing Tools – Top 10 Essentials, Optional and Safety Tools
(Photo: 3DWithUs)
Disclaimer: The links are affiliate links – at no additional cost for you we will receive a commission if a purchase happens.
Optional 3D Printing Tools
Cutting Matt
A wide range of self-healing protective mats is available. Sometimes support removing can be hard, that’s when these mats come to rescue.
Cutting Matt
Amazon
DIY Craft Cutting Mat
AliExpress
Heat Gun
Helps to clean your prints from strings caused by oozing. Especially with a thin focusing nozzle – helps to make curves to thin objects – for example, spiders’ legs.
Heat Gun
Amazon
Hot Air Gun
AliExpress
Soldering Iron
Easily embeds metal items into your plastic print, for example, bolts.
Soldering Iron
Amazon
Soldering Iron Kit
AliExpress
Sandpaper
Sandpaper helps to smooth out your prints. Please note that it may discolor and leave dark marks on your object. If a print is decorated further, sandpaper is one of your essential tools.
Sanding Sheets
Amazon
Sandpaper
AliExpress
Electronic Digital Caliper
Good for measuring filaments and objects. High precision measuring device. Offers extreme accuracy. The numbers displayed on the LCD screen are clear, large, and easy to read. Can be used to measure length, depth, external and internal scope.
Electronic Digital Caliper
Amazon
Digital Display Stainless Steel Caliper
AliExpress
Phone or Camera Holder
For amazing time-lapse videos.
Bed Gooseneck Mount
Amazon
Phone or Camera Holder
AliExpress
Photo Studio
Mini photo studio for the best pictures.
Photo Studio
Amazon
LED Light Box
AliExpress
3D Pen
Good for filling in the holes in your prints or for other decorating purposes.
Check our 3D pen torture test with transparent PLA and different use examples of this tool.
3D Pen
Amazon
3D Printing Pen
AliExpress
Deburring Tool
This tool smooths sharp or rough edges after a brim or support is removed. It is less dangerous to use this tool compared to a knife. It is also less messy than sand paper.
Deburring Tool
Amazon
Handle Burr
AliExpress
Cordless Rotary Tool
This tool is very useful in 3D print post-processing. Heads with many different shapes allow to clean an object without leaving marks.
Cordless Rotary Tool
on Amazon
Drilling Rotary Tool
on AliExpress
Filament Dryers
Such devices may significantly improve the filament quality and 3D print quality by keeping the filament safe and dehumidifying it in the process. Check the guide for filament dryers.
Amazon
Eryone M2 Filament Dryer
AliExpress
Read More: Settings for 3D Printer Nozzle Sizes
Replacing the nozzle on your 3D printer is one of the quickest ways you can make a major impact to your printed parts without making expensive hardware or extensive software changes …
Settings for 3D Printer Nozzle Different Sizes(Photo: Andrew Sink)
Tools needed to maintain the 3D printer
3DPrintStory Reviews Tools needed to maintain a 3D printer
Building a 3D printer from scratch is hard enough, not to mention trying to assemble it without the right tools.
Below we highlight some of the most common 3D printer repair and assembly tools. nine0005
Caliper
Calipers are used to measure the distance between opposite sides of an object. Although used in many industries, including medicine and woodworking, modern calipers in mechanical engineering are often Vernier calipers that offer a high degree of accuracy compared to purely mechanical options. The included digital dials and scales can display measurements to the nearest thousandth of a millimeter/inch. nine0005
Screwdrivers/Hex Keys
The 3D printer is made up of complex individual parts that are held together with a variety of materials and fasteners. In matters of assembly and repair of a 3D printer, screwdrivers and hex keys are crucial. Be sure to stock up on a flat head screwdriver as well as a set of hex wrenches of various sizes. Due to the huge number and variety of mounts, most 3D printers use metric mounts, but this statement is not an unshakable truth, anything can happen, there are a lot of manufacturers of desktop 3D printers.
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Hex keys are simple and small hex head screwdrivers that are very cheap in cost. So it is convenient for both manufacturers and consumers, who can purchase a set of hexagons of various sizes for a small amount and use it not only for a 3D printer, but in general in everyday life.
Wrenches
Although there are dozens of wrenches, each with a specific purpose, for those who work with a 3D printer, hex keys, socket wrenches, spanners and adjustable wrenches will be the most useful. nine0005
Due to the large number of fasteners used in 3D printers, manipulating in tight spaces and applying a lot of force without moving the entire wrench arm is key. To do this, hex keys have a relatively small footprint, and socket wrenches allow you to securely tighten fasteners without swinging the entire socket wrench arm (and likely avoid damaging the 3D printer frame). Adjustable wrenches have the same backlash as adjustable pliers, allowing precise control of fasteners in tight spaces.
keys like these will be useful for working in and around the 3D printer's extruder. nine0005
Wire strippers/wire crimps, soldering iron
Often included in the same tool, wire strippers and wire crimps are used to strip wires and connect crimp connectors, respectively. While any pliers with sharp inside jaws can strip the wire, the process is more difficult than using a good wire stripper. Similarly, sharp-tipped pliers can be used to terminate crimp connectors at the ends of wires, although this requires more skill and patience than using crimp pliers. nine0005
3D printers often include dozens of wires, and having clean connections between various electronic devices ensures they last a long time. Along the same lines, a soldering iron may sometimes be required when assembling and maintaining the printer. However, solder joints can serve as replacements for crimp connector bodies, although the solder joint is not as flexible/modular if changes need to be made.
Please note that most solders cannot withstand the temperature of a 3D printer's hot end. Crimp connectors should only be used in areas of the printer that can become very hot. This applies to the greatest extent to the connections of the heating element and the hotend thermistor. nine0005
Pliers
When building your basic 3D printing tool kit, don't overlook a good pair of pliers. They will definitely come in handy for scraping off excess filament from the hotend and bed, or for fixing parts of a 3D printer and attaching wires. Due to the extreme temperatures around the hot end, you should never manually adjust components under the X carriage while the printer is heating up or cooling down. Pliers (and to some extent wrenches and screwdrivers) will allow you to manipulate the hot parts of a 3D printer without getting burned. nine0005
Lubrication
With many moving axles, bearings and carriages, a 3D printer is nothing more than a finely tuned dynamic machine.
It is very important to properly lubricate the parts with a few drops of machine lubricant. Silicone-based compounds or those containing PTFE are best for protecting the rods, bearings, and bushings that allow the printer to print. Lubricant and timely maintenance of the mechanics of a 3D printer will definitely help protect your brainchild from unnecessary and unpleasant breakdowns. nine0005
Spirit level
A simple water level can help calibrate the 3D printer bed, X carriage and frame components. Mostly used during assembly. It can also be used to check the alignment of parts after a long period of use or during troubleshooting.
Cable Ties (Cable Ties)
Fully assembled 3D printers rarely require additional cables, but do-it-yourself 3D printers and printers assembled from scrap materials and assemblies will require adequate cable management. In addition, many 3D printer parts use cable ties as structural elements - again, with the exception of most prefabricated assemblies.
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Material spool holder
A clean material feed to the 3D printer is very important as it helps to maintain the integrity of the extruder and the mobility of the extruder carriage. It also prevents jamming during long 3D prints where it is simply not possible to be present during the entire print. So if your 3D printer did not come with a holder for a spool of material, you definitely need to make it yourself.
nine0000 3D printing tools. What you need to have on hand.If you have a 3D printer, then you will have to master the intricacies of 3D printing. And to facilitate this process, you need to acquire some tools (Tools for 3D printing).
Today we will talk about what kits and tools you may need.
Spatula, scraper…
You may need a spatula and scraper to get started. These can be painting or artistic devices that help to remove the finished model from the working platform. They are especially indispensable in cases where you print with difficult-to-separate plastic.
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To remove the model with the blunt end of the spatula, try to pry the model from one side. Once you succeed, try to delete the model manually. If this does not work, then try to squeeze the spatula between the table and the model and slightly raise it.
It is important to be very careful not to scratch the surface of the table and injure yourself.
Deburring tool
This tool is the most indispensable tool of all. It really makes it easy to remove supports, clean up the model. At the same time, the tool is safe, and it is much more convenient to use it than to wield a knife. This tool will be especially useful when cleaning round holes. nine0083
Utility knife
This is a knife used for cutting appliqués, sometimes called a hobby knife. This tool is ideal for precise cutting of ABS, PLA and other popular plastics. It is important that this knife is very sharp. But it is also important to follow safety measures when working with the tool.
Pliers, round nose pliers
These tools are extremely useful when removing supports. At the same time, pliers are also useful for the 3D printer itself and for post-processing. Supports can be cut a little with a sharp knife and then with pliers it will be easy to remove them not one by one, but in blocks. nine0083
Wood carving set
This set is very useful for fine cleaning of models. The tips in this set have a variety of shapes, which allows for high-quality cleaning of models of any geometry and even in hard-to-reach places: corners, roundness, etc.
Super Glue
In fact, the choice of adhesives is now simply huge, and their possibilities are almost endless. Be sure to get superglue, as it is suitable not only for repairing or filling gaps, but also for gluing individual printed nodes. Be sure to focus on the viscosity of the composition, and also select the right tool. If you need to fill gaps, then we recommend choosing denser compositions than for assembling small parts.
An important note - superglue works great with plastics such as ABS and PLA. nine0083
Files
A set of mini files will come in handy. Various forms of tools will allow grinding and smoothing of various surfaces.
Sanding (sanding) paper
With the help of grinding, surfaces can be significantly smoothed, achieving the ideal state of the models. Especially grinding will be relevant if in the future the model will be stained. Sandpaper with a grit size of 120-200 will be the ideal solution for all types of plastics. Models made of ABS are particularly suitable for sanding. nine0083
Instead of a conclusion
All the 3D printing tools that we reviewed above will not gather dust on the shelf, waiting in the wings. If you are into 3D printing, then all of them will be in your favor. This is, in fact, the base that any 3D printer should have. Many manufacturers equip their 3D printers with a set of tools that can help with their work.
