Intro to 3D Printing

Courses 3D Printing 3DP1

3DP1 Available

Intro to 3D Printing

Learn the fundamentals of 3D Printing using Cura Slicing Software. Take an existing 3D model and prepare it for printing on FDM-style printers like the Sovol SV06 Plus.

Duration

~2 hours

(x2) 1 Hour Sessions

Pathway

3D Printing

Difficulty

Beginner

Requirements

No prerequisites required

This is a foundation course open to all students — no prior experience needed.

What This Course Unlocks

• Computer lab access during sessions
• Sovol SV06 Plus 3D printers
• Eligibility for the next class in the 3D Printing pathway (3DP2)
• Your first FundedYouth badge: Cura 3D Level 1

What You'll Learn

• Understand how FDM 3D printers work
• Navigate and configure Cura slicer software
• Prepare 3D models for successful printing
• Select appropriate print settings for different projects
• Troubleshoot common printing issues
• Safely operate Sovol SV06 Plus printers

Course Curriculum

1. 1

   Slicing Tools and Files

   What does a slicer like Cura actually do? Find a 3D file, download it, and load it into Cura for the first time.

   ~12 min
   Find & Load Your First Model
2. 2

   Move, Scale, and Rotate

   Download the Articulated Lizard from Thingiverse, bring it into Cura, then practice moving it, resizing it, and turning it.

   ~12 min
   Articulated Lizard from Thingiverse
3. 3

   Support Types

   Some parts of a model float in mid-air. Learn the two kinds of supports — Standard and Tree — and when to use each.

   ~10 min
   Standard vs. Tree Supports
4. 4

   Adhesion Types

   Make sure your print sticks to the bed. Learn Skirt, Brim, and Raft — and when each one saves your print.

   ~10 min
   Skirt vs. Brim vs. Raft
5. 5

   Slice and Print

   Slice the model, scrub through every layer to check for problems, then export the G-Code file the printer reads.

   ~15 min
   Export G-Code and Print
6. 6

   Challenge — 3D Printing Workflow

   Your instructor plays a "client" who wants a chess Knight. Confirm the model, prepare it, print it, deliver it.

   ~20 min
   Print a Chess Knight
7. 7

   Challenge — Fidget Something

   The client wants a fidget toy but is undecided. Find three options, let them pick, then download, prep, and print.

   ~20 min
   Print a Fidget Toy
8. 8

   Challenge — Setting the Price

   Each print costs ~8 FYBIT Credits. Find a card kit, print it, and set a price the client will actually pay. Negotiation time!

   ~20 min
   Price It Like a Pro

What Is a “Slicer”?

A slicer is a special program that turns a 3D model into instructions a 3D printer can understand. The slicer you’ll learn is Ultimaker Cura — it’s free, used by makers all over the world, and you’ll be using it like a pro by the end of class.

Think of it this way: the 3D model is a picture of what you want to make. The slicer is the translator that tells the printer exactly how to build it, layer by layer.

What You’ll Build

By the end of 3DP1, you’ll have made at least:

• An articulated lizard (it actually moves!)
• A chess Knight piece
• A fidget toy you picked yourself
• A printed card kit with a price you negotiated

All of it printed by you, all of it yours to take home.

What to Bring

• Yourself — that’s the most important thing
• A water bottle (recommended)
• A good attitude — prints sometimes fail, and that’s part of learning

You do not need to bring a laptop. FundedYouth provides workstations and printers.

For Parents

Time commitment: Two 1-hour classes, in person at FundedYouth. Your child takes Class 1 first, then Class 2.

Age: Appropriate for ages 8 and up. Younger kids may need help reading on-screen menus.

Cost: Enrolling in the course on the portal is free. Each in-person session may use FYBIT Credits — see the credits page for details. Basic Members get the first four courses (including 3DP1) free.

What your kid will leave with: A real 3D print they made themselves, plus the ability to do it again at home if you have a 3D printer (or here at FundedYouth’s lab).

Safety: The Sovol SV06 Plus has a hot nozzle (around 200°C / 390°F) and a warm print bed. Kids are taught not to touch either while the printer is running. Instructors supervise all printer use.

Supporting your kid afterward: Let them print something they actually care about. A toy they want, a name tag for their bedroom door, a phone stand — anything! Thingiverse and MakerWorld have millions of free models to choose from.

Signing up more than one kid? There’s a clever trick using your one email — see the Login & Signup guide for details.

Common Questions

Will my print really work the first time? Sometimes! And sometimes it won’t. That’s totally normal. Every 3D printing pro has had failed prints — figuring out why is part of the fun.

Can I take the print home? Yes! Anything you print in class is yours to keep.

Do I get to pick what I print? In Class 1 you’ll print a specific lizard (so everyone learns the same steps). In Class 2 you get more choice — you’ll pick from several options for each challenge.

Is Cura hard to learn? Not for what we’re doing! The basic tools are very visual — buttons for move, scale, rotate. You’ll be using it confidently by the end of Class 1.

Can I use Cura at home after class? Yes! Cura is free. Just download it from ultimaker.com — works on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

What’s the difference between Cura and Bambu Studio? They’re both slicers, for different printer brands. Cura works with tons of printer brands. Bambu Studio is built around Bambu Lab printers. You’ll learn Cura here in 3DP1, and Bambu Studio next in 3DP2.

What’s Next After 3DP1?

• 3DP2 — Bambu Studio Basics — the next class in the 3D Printing pathway.
• 3DM1 — TinkerCAD 3D Modeling — design your own 3D models from scratch.
• MVP1 — Minimum Viable Product — the capstone. Requires 3DM1 and 3DP2 (which means you also need to finish 3DP1 first).

How to Enroll

1. Sign in to the Portal
2. Open Student → Browse
3. Find 3DP1 and click Enroll (this is free)
4. Open the Sessions menu and register for an in-person session

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