Common 3D Printing Terms Explained
Plain-English glossary of common 3D printing terms — FDM, resin, slicer, infill, supports, overhang, bridging, stringing, layer height and dozens more.
3D printing has its own vocabulary and it's not always intuitive. This glossary covers the terms you'll see in slicers, maker quotes, YouTube tutorials and online communities. We've grouped them by topic so you can browse or search.
Technologies
FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling): melted-filament printing. Also called FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) — same thing.
SLA (Stereolithography): laser-cured resin printing.
MSLA: LCD-mask resin printing — the cheap consumer kind.
DLP: projector-based resin printing.
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering): laser-fused nylon powder.
MJF (Multi Jet Fusion): HP's infrared-fused nylon powder process.
DMLS / SLM: laser-fused metal powder.
Binder jetting: liquid binder + powder, sintered later — common for sandstone full-colour parts.
Files and software
STL: triangle-mesh file format, the universal standard.
3MF: modern replacement for STL with units, colour and settings.
STEP / IGES: CAD interchange formats preserving parametric geometry.
G-code: printer instructions output by the slicer.
Slicer: software that converts a 3D model into G-code (Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer, Cura, Lychee, Chitubox).
CAD: Computer-Aided Design software (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Onshape, Blender, TinkerCAD).
Mesh: a 3D surface made of triangles or polygons.
Manifold / watertight: a mesh with no holes — required for printing.
Printer parts (FDM)
Nozzle: the brass or hardened-steel tip that extrudes filament. Usually 0.4 mm.
Hotend: the heated assembly the nozzle attaches to.
Extruder: the motor and gears that push filament into the hotend. Direct-drive (on the print head) or Bowden (remote, via a tube).
Build plate / bed: the flat surface the print sticks to. PEI, glass, magnetic flex plates.
Bed levelling: making the nozzle equidistant from the bed at every point. Auto-bed-levelling probes do this automatically.
Z-axis, X-axis, Y-axis: vertical, side-to-side, and front-to-back movement.
CoreXY / Bedslinger: two motion-system styles. CoreXY moves the head in X and Y while the bed only moves in Z; bedslingers move the bed in Y and the head in X and Z.
Print settings
Layer height: the thickness of each layer. 0.2 mm is typical FDM, 0.05 mm typical resin.
Infill: the internal lattice that gives a print rigidity without filling it solid. Usually 15–60%.
Perimeters / walls: the outer shells of a print. More walls = stronger part.
Top / bottom layers: solid layers at the top and bottom of the print.
Supports: scaffolding that holds up overhanging features during printing. Removed afterwards.
Brim / raft / skirt: extra material around the first layer for bed adhesion.
Retraction: pulling filament back to prevent stringing between print moves.
Speed: how fast the head moves. Faster = quicker but lower quality.
Temperature: nozzle and bed temps. Material-specific.
Geometry and features
Overhang: a part of the print with no material directly beneath it. Steep overhangs (over ~45°) need supports.
Bridge: a horizontal span between two raised points. Prints surprisingly well in air.
Chamfer / fillet: angled or rounded edges.
Tolerance: how loose or tight a fit is. ±0.2 mm typical for FDM.
Print-in-place: a multi-part assembly printed as one piece with clearances designed in.
Print defects
Stringing: thin hairs between separated print areas. Caused by under-retraction or wet filament.
Warping: corners lifting off the bed. Caused by uneven cooling on ABS/ASA or poor bed adhesion.
Elephant's foot: the first layer squishing outward. Caused by too-low first-layer height.
Layer shift: an axis losing position mid-print, offsetting the rest. Caused by belt issues or hitting an obstruction.
Spaghetti: a failed print where the model detached from the bed and the printer kept extruding into mid-air.
Ringing / ghosting: ripples next to sharp features. Caused by vibration.
Stringing, blobs and zits: small cosmetic defects from retraction or seam placement.
Materials
Filament: the spool of plastic FDM printers consume. 1.75 mm or 2.85 mm diameter.
Resin: liquid photopolymer used in SLA/MSLA/DLP.
PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, PA (nylon), PC (polycarbonate), PEEK: common FDM materials.
Composite filaments: base material reinforced with carbon fibre, glass fibre, wood or metal particles.
Hygroscopic: absorbs moisture from the air. PETG, nylon, TPU and PVA all need drying.
Post-processing
Curing: UV-treating a resin print to reach full strength.
Washing: cleaning uncured resin off a print with isopropyl alcohol (IPA).
Vapour smoothing: exposing ABS or ASA prints to acetone vapour for a glossy finish.
Annealing: heating a finished part to relieve stress and increase strength (common with PLA, PA, PC).
Media blasting: shot-peening SLS or MJF parts for a smooth matte finish.
Business and workflow
Maker: someone who runs printers and accepts jobs. The term used on Printit4Me.
Bureau / service bureau: a professional 3D printing business.
Escrow: holding payment until the customer confirms the job is complete. Standard on Printit4Me.
Lead time: how long from order to delivery.
Tolerance stack-up: cumulative dimensional error across multiple parts in an assembly.
Rapid prototyping: using 3D printing to iterate physical designs quickly.
FAQ
What does 'print-in-place' mean?
A multi-part assembly printed as one piece with clearances built into the design — common for fidget toys, hinges and jointed figures.
What is a Benchy?
The 3DBenchy boat — a torture-test model used to calibrate and benchmark 3D printers.
Why does the maker care about wall count?
Wall count (perimeters) is one of the biggest factors in a part's strength. Two walls is decorative; four or five is functional; eight is heavy-duty.
Ready to get something printed?
Post a job and Australian makers will quote you within hours.