3D Lexicon

The most common 3D printing method—it melts plastic filament layer by layer.

Aliases: Fused Deposition Modeling, FFF, Fused Filament Fabrication

Resin-based 3D technology that uses a UV laser to cure the resin.

Aliases: Stereolithography

Resin-based 3D technology with an LCD display as the mask—a popular, affordable option.

Aliases: Masked SLA, LCD printing

Resin-based 3D technology with a DLP projector—fast and precise.

Aliases: Digital Light Processing

The heating element of the printer, where the filament is melted before being extruded through the nozzle.

Aliases: print head

A small metal part at the end of the hotend from which the molten filament flows out.

Aliases: nozzle

A motor with a gear that feeds filament into the hotend.

Aliases: filament feeder

An extruder configuration in which the motor is separate from the hotend and the filament is fed through a hose.

Aliases: Bowden extruder, Bowden setup

A configuration where the extruder is mounted directly on the print head—better for flexible materials.

Aliases: direct extruder

A heated plate on which the model is built up layer by layer.

Aliases: bed, pad, printing plate, heatbed

Automatic alignment of the print pad using a sensor.

Aliases: Auto Bed Leveling, automatic pad alignment, BLTouch, CRTouch

Print head movement method – affects the printer's speed, accuracy, and price.

Aliases: kinematics, CoreXY, Cartesian

A type of kinematic system in which both X and Y axes are driven by two motors—enabling high speeds.

Special surface of the printing mat—the model comes off easily once it has cooled.

Aliases: PEI, PEI sheet, flex plate

Software that converts a 3D model into print instructions (G-code).

Aliases: alignment software, PrusaSlicer, Cura, Bambu Studio

"Pulling" the filament back into the nozzle.

Aliases: retraction, stringing

The nozzle pops up when the vehicle drives over it.

Aliases: z-hop, lift z, travel lift

The collar vs. the entire floor beneath the model.

Aliases: brim, raft, collar, base

How "full" is it inside (as a percentage)?

Aliases: infill density, filling, fill percentage

The number of "layers" or walls.

Aliases: perimeters, wall count, number of walls, shell

How much plastic flows out of the nozzle (flow rate).

Aliases: flow rate, extrusion multiplier

"Bridging" – printing in the air between two points.

Aliases: bridging

Stop extrusion just before the end of the line.

Aliases: coasting, seam

"Elephant's foot" – a flattened first layer.

Aliases: elephant foot compensation, elephant leg compensation

Smoothing the top surface with a hot air nozzle.

Aliases: ironing, ironing the top layer

3D printer instruction language – includes movements, temperatures, and material flow.

Aliases: G code, print file

The most widely used 3D file format—the model's surface is described using triangles.

Aliases: STL file, .stl

A modern 3D file format—it includes colors, materials, and print settings.

Aliases: 3MF file, .3mf

A test model for determining the optimal printing temperature for a given filament.

Aliases: temperature tower, temp tower

Plastic filament wound onto a spool—the basic material for FDM printing.

Aliases: print string, material, coil

The most popular material for 3D printing—easy to print, eco-friendly, and available in a wide variety of colors.

Aliases: Polylactic Acid, PLA+, PLA filament

A durable and flexible material—a compromise between PLA and ABS.

Aliases: Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol, PET-G

A sturdy, heat-resistant material—requires a closed printer and ventilation.

Aliases: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

UV-resistant ABS – ideal for outdoor use.

Aliases: Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate

Flexible, rubber material – suitable for flexible components.

Aliases: Thermoplastic Polyurethane, flexible filament, TPE, rubber filament

A strong, flexible, and durable material—hygroscopic; must be dried before printing.

Aliases: PA, Polyamide, PA-12, PA-6

Liquid photopolymer resin for SLA/MSLA 3D printing—cures with UV light.

Aliases: resin, UV resin, fotopolymer

Filament that absorbs moisture from the air—causes cracking and poorer print quality.

Aliases: moist filament, hygroscopic filament, filament drying

A sealed container for storing and printing filament without exposure to moisture.

Aliases: dry box, filament spool, filament box

Set a uniform distance between the print nozzle and the substrate across the entire surface.

Aliases: bed leveling, pad calibration, leveling

The distance between the print nozzle and the build plate—a key parameter for the first layer.

Aliases: Z offset, nozzle height, babystep

The most important layer in 3D printing—it determines the adhesion and the outcome of the entire print.

Aliases: first layer

The thickness of each printed layer—affects surface quality and print speed.

Aliases: layer height, layer thickness

Internal structure of the model – affects strength, weight, and material consumption.

Aliases: infill, filling, internal structure

Temporary structures printed under overhangs—removed after printing.

Aliases: support, supports, support structures

Filament retraction during head movement – prevents stringing.

Aliases: retraction

Curing the resin print with UV light after removing it from the printer.

Aliases: UV curing, urination, post-cure

Post-printing model finishing—sanding, painting, gluing, curing.

Aliases: post processing, finish, model modifications, grinding

Fine plastic filaments between different parts of the print—caused by improper retraction or temperature.

Aliases: stringing, fine fibers, cobwebbing, oozing

The corners or edges of the print lifting off the substrate—caused by thermal stresses.

Aliases: warping, lifting the corners, peeling corners

The bottom of the model is spilling out to the sides—caused by a Z-offset that is too low or by the temperature.

Aliases: elephant foot, elephant's foot, the first coat has been applied

The part of the model that protrudes without a base—up to ~45°—prints without supports.

Aliases: overhang, protruding part

Printing horizontal material across a gap—does not require supports when set up correctly.

Aliases: bridging, bridges

A thin, flat rim around the base of the model for better grip on the surface.

Aliases: adhesive edge

A stronger base structure under the model—better adhesion and compensation for unevenness.

Aliases: foundation slab, base plate

The outer printed layers of the model—their number affects strength more than the infill.

Aliases: perimetr, wall, shell, number of walls

A visible line on the surface of the model—the point where the printer begins and ends each contour.

Aliases: seam, layer join, start/end point