help getting started....

[curious aardvark]

what he said.

You need a cad package - lots of free ones - to produce the model and output it as an .stl (stereolithographic) file.

That file is then opened in a slicer (software that slices the model into the layers the printer will actually print) which processes it into a .gcode file.
And it's the gcode file that the printer actually uses to produce your model.

have a look at the monoprice mini: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Sel...ice+mini&psc=1
Good bit of kit. And for the money an ideal entry into 3d printing.

[rb salyer]

thanks for the advice....

rb

what he said.

You need a cad package - lots of free ones - to produce the model and output it as an .stl (stereolithographic) file.

That file is then opened in a slicer (software that slices the model into the layers the printer will actually print) which processes it into a .gcode file.
And it's the gcode file that the printer actually uses to produce your model.

have a look at the monoprice mini: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Sel...ice+mini&psc=1
Good bit of kit. And for the money an ideal entry into 3d printing.