UNDERSTANDING YOUR PRINT
New to 3D printing? This guide explains each setting so you can make the right choices for your project. If you're unsure, the defaults (PLA, 0.20mm layer, 20% infill) work well for most hobby prints.
WALL LAYERS
Wall layers (also called perimeters or shells) are the solid outer rings that form the surface of your print. More walls means a stronger, more solid exterior — fewer walls prints faster with less material.
2 Walls
3 Walls
4 Walls
2 Walls: Fastest and lightest. Good for decorative prints or prototypes where strength isn't critical.
3 Walls: The recommended default. A solid balance of strength, surface quality, and print time for most parts.
4 Walls: Maximum wall thickness. Best for functional or load-bearing parts that need extra rigidity.
INFILL PERCENTAGE
Infill is the internal structure inside your print. A 100% infill part is completely solid, while lower percentages use a honeycomb-like pattern inside, saving material and time.
10%
20%
50%
100%
10–15%: Light and fast. Fine for decorative items, display models, or anything that won't bear load.
20%: The default. Good all-round strength for most hobby prints. This is what we recommend if you're unsure.
30–50%: Stronger. Use for parts that need to handle some force — brackets, mounts, enclosures.
75–100%: Very strong and heavy. Solid or near-solid. Only needed for mechanical/structural parts under real stress.
MATERIAL
We offer three FDM filament types. Each has different properties suited to different uses.
PLA
· Easy to print
· Biodegradable
· Low heat resistance
· Best for hobby & display
PETG
· Strong & flexible
· Moisture resistant
· Food-safe variants
· Best for functional parts
ABS
· Heat resistant
· Impact tough
· Can be sanded/glued
· Best for engineering
PLA is the most popular choice for hobbyists. It's affordable, easy to print, and comes in many colours. Perfect for display models, cosplay props, figurines, and prototypes. It's not great in heat (softens above ~55°C) so don't leave PLA prints in a hot car.
PETG is tougher and slightly flexible. It handles moisture and chemicals better than PLA. Use it for outdoor items, water-adjacent parts, or anything that needs more durability.
ABS is the strongest option. It's heat resistant, impact tough, and can be sanded or acetone-smoothed for a polished finish. Best for mechanical parts, enclosures, or anything that needs to survive rough handling.
SUPPORT MATERIAL
3D printers build layer by layer from bottom to top. If your model has overhangs or bridges (parts that stick out with nothing underneath), the printer adds temporary support structures to hold those sections up during printing.
With supports
Supports removed
After printing, these supports need to be snapped or cut off. You have two options:
Leave supports on (default): We ship the part as-printed with supports attached. You break them off yourself — it's usually easy with pliers or by hand. This is the cheapest and fastest option.
Remove supports (+ 20%): We carefully remove all support material and clean up the part before shipping. The surface where supports were attached may show minor marks, but the part is ready to use out of the box.
COLOUR
We stock a range of filament colours that you can browse on the quote page. The colour you see on screen is a close representation but may vary slightly from the physical filament — this is normal with 3D printing. If exact colour matching is critical, reach out to us before ordering.