I’ve been around 3D printers for about a decade, mostly in an industrial setting. Back in the early days, Stratasys held the patent on FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printing until 2009. Once that expired, the world of 3D printing exploded. Suddenly, printers were affordable, and innovation started to take off—especially from companies like Bambu Lab.
For years, I waited for the day when 3D printers would be less of a pain to operate—no more fiddling with endless calibrations, bed leveling, and failed prints. In 2023, Bambu Lab released the A1, and that changed everything. I didn’t get to see it up close until 2024, when a coworker brought one into the office, but it was finally what I’d been waiting for: plug-and-play, hassle-free printing (well, mostly).
3D Printing Isn’t Just for Nerds Anymore
Sure, you’ll still occasionally deal with common issues—filament not sticking to the plate, spaghetti prints—but if you can thread a sewing machine, you can troubleshoot a 3D printer. The mechanics are surprisingly similar. Instead of thread, you’ve got filament, which is just plastic on a spool. And today, a beginner can get in the game for about $200 if you catch a sale on the Bambu A1 Mini. It’s compact, fast, and a perfect entry point to see if 3D printing fits into your lifestyle.
Personally, I believe that within 5 years, every household in America will have a 3D printer. Like a microwave, it’ll become a standard tool. Why order small plastic items from overseas when you can print them at home in under an hour?
Take this example: I was sewing my Ginger Jeans and needed a point turner. Instead of waiting one day for Amazon, I downloaded a free file from MakerWorld, printed it in 35 minutes, and used just 12g of filament—about 21 cents worth—compared to $5 for the same item online.
My Filament & Printer Setup
I’ve had the best luck with Overture and Bambu Labs filament. Cheap filament can lead to adhesion issues and failed prints, which is just not worth the savings.
If you find yourself wanting to print larger, multi-color designs, consider upgrading to the A1 with AMS (Automatic Material System). It runs around $450 on sale. I originally hesitated, but after running my printer non-stop for six months, I wish I’d just gotten the AMS from the start. Now it mostly runs on weekends, and I genuinely love it.
But heads up: 3D printing does give off a bit of that burnt plastic smell. Opening a window isn’t always a great fix because temperature fluctuations can mess with your prints. Our workaround? We use an air filter—the same one we use during California fire season—which doubles as a white noise machine (bonus because the printer sits next to our bedroom). My husband still wishes it was hooked to an external exhaust system… maybe I’ll get the X1C for Christmas?
My Craft Room Printer Station
My printer lives in my craft room closet, perched perfectly on an IKEA drawer unit. It’s the ideal height, and each drawer fits six filament spools. I even 3D printed an attachment to mount the AMS on the A1 directly, so it doesn’t hog countertop space.
Designing My Own 3D Prints
Once I got comfortable printing, I set a new goal: learn how to create my own 3MF files. My first design was to fix a broken Halloween decoration. I’ve come a long way since.
Here’s how I learned:
- Downloaded Fusion 360 for personal use (free)
- Completed every lesson in the “Learn Fusion in 30 Days” YouTube series: Watch it here
- Day 10 (the phone case) is the hardest—I actually repeated it as my final challenge.
- Took a free remote 3D printing class through my local community college
Now, I’m super comfortable designing and printing. I even upload my models to MakerWorld:
🔗 Check out my designs here
Final Thoughts
3D printing isn’t just a nerdy hobby anymore. It’s empowering, useful, and surprisingly fun. Whether you’re fixing things around the house, sewing, organizing, or just curious—there’s something for you in the world of 3D printing. And if you’re anything like me, your printer will become one of your favorite tools in no time.
Have a question about setup or design? Drop it in the comments!
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