Print Gear Lab · Free Guide
The First-Print Success Checklist
Everything that actually matters for clean, reliable prints — and the cheap mistakes to skip.
Most failed prints come down to a handful of fixable things. Run through this before you hit print, and you'll skip the frustration most beginners hit in week one.
Before every print
- Bed leveled (or auto-level run) and nozzle gap dialed in.
- Bed clean — wipe with isopropyl alcohol; oils from fingers ruin adhesion.
- Filament dry and feeding freely (damp filament = stringing and pops).
- Right first-layer height and a slow first layer.
- Slicer profile matches your filament type.
PLA starting settings (a safe baseline)
- Nozzle: 200–210°C. Bed: 60°C.
- First-layer speed: 20–25 mm/s. Print speed: 50–60 mm/s.
- Cooling fan: off for layer 1, then 100%.
- Retraction: ~5–6 mm (Bowden) / ~1 mm (direct drive).
5 beginner mistakes to avoid
- Printing too fast too soon — slow down until it's reliable.
- Skipping bed leveling "just this once."
- Ignoring wet filament — buy a cheap dry box early.
- Over-tightening the nozzle while cold (do it hot).
- Chasing perfect before you understand the basics.
Gear that matters first (vs. nice-to-have)
- Matters first: a good glue stick/PEI sheet, calipers, spare nozzles, isopropyl alcohol.
- Soon: filament dry box, better bed springs or silicone spacers.
- Later: enclosure, hardened nozzle (only if printing abrasives), upgraded extruder.
Print this and tape it near your printer. For honest gear reviews and buying guides, visit printgearlab.surge.sh.