04/15/2026
Things im learning with the assistance and help (so grateful for his knowledge and expertise and his time) from D.J. Mahaffy Menacing Design By Dennis
1. CAD / Design (making parts)
Fusion 360 → parametric, precise parts (your plugs, brackets, mounts)
Blender → organic shapes, sculpting, art
Meshmixer → fixing, cutting, combining models
2. Slicer (turn model into machine instructions)
OrcaSlicer → your main tool
Learning:
layer height, speed, temps
infill types
supports
flow tuning
seam control
3. Printer Control / Interface
Pronterface → direct control via USB
OctoPrint → remote control (Pi setup)
4. Firmware (how the machine thinks)
Marlin
Learning:
steps/mm
acceleration / jerk
EEPROM settings
flashing firmware
5. Hardware (your Anet A8 specifically)
Frame + rigidity issues
Bed leveling (manual + BLTouch)
Belt tension
Stepper motors (X/Y/Z/E)
Hotend (melting plastic)
Extruder (feeding plastic)
Power supply + MOSFET safety
6. Materials (what you print with)
PLA / PLA+ (your main)
PETG (stronger, more heat resistant)
TPU (flexible)
Learning:
temp ranges
cooling behavior
strength vs speed tradeoffs
7. Calibration
Bed leveling + Z-offset
E-steps calibration
Flow rate tuning
Temperature towers
Retraction tuning
First layer dialing
8. Print Quality / Troubleshooting
Layer lines
Stringing
Blobs / seams
Warping
Under/over extrusion
Mechanical binding (your belt issue)
9. Mechanical Understanding (how it actually moves)
G-code basics (what the slicer outputs)
Axis movement (X/Y/Z paths)
Feed rates vs acceleration
How speed affects quality + strength
10. File Workflow (end-to-end)
Design → Export STL → Slice → G-code → Print → Post-process
11. Post Processing
Sanding
Heat smoothing (careful)
Assembly (threads, inserts, glue)
All because I want to create and make my own tool, jigs, organizational, storage, parts... the list goes on. Im so excited to learn and stsrt creating my own 3d models.
Pictured is a design i printed from a file off of the internet.
Stihl weedwacker holder.🖤🖤🖤
