Upgrades · Maintenance and finishing
3D Printing Tools: Start Here
Most printers ship with the hex keys and tools needed for basic maintenance. Add tools for the jobs you actually do: trimming filament, removing prints, cleaning up parts, and following your printer's maintenance procedures.
Where to go next
What matters most
Use the maker's specified tools
Maintenance procedures name specific tools and sizes. Using the wrong hex key can strip fasteners.
Surface-safe print removal
Some surfaces should never be scraped with metal. Prusa, for example, warns against metal spatulas on textured sheets.
Finishing tools
Flush cutters and deburring tools speed up clean-up. Keep blades away from powered, moving, or hot equipment.
Check before you buy
- Which maintenance procedures does your printer's manual describe, and which tools do they require?
- Is your scraper safe for your build surface?
- Will you post-process parts (deburring, sanding)?
Sources
- Textured steel sheet, Prusa Research
- Flexible steel sheets (guidepost), Prusa Research