FIG. QWorkshop notes · From the printer
Notes from
the workshop.
Short, specific guides on the parts of FDM 3D printing that matter when you're sending a job through. No marketing fluff — actual numbers from the printer.
FIG. Q.00Index
- FIG. Q.02
3D printing materials in Malaysia: PLA, PETG, and TPU
A workshop-pov guide to the three filaments we run most, with notes on what Malaysian humidity actually does to your spool, where to buy them locally, and which one to pick for the job you have.
Materials8 MIN READ2026-05-14
- FIG. Q.05
Catalog or custom: which path fits your job
A workshop-pov decision-aid for choosing between buying a ready-designed catalog item and sending a custom-quote request. Covers cost, lead time, design control, quantity, and what we tell customers when they're not sure.
How we work4 MIN READ2026-05-14
- FIG. Q.01
Designing for FDM: tolerance and layer height, explained from the printer
A workshop-pov primer on FDM tolerance (~±0.3 mm), layer height tradeoffs (0.12 vs 0.2 vs 0.28 mm), and the small design moves that make the difference between "fits first try" and "had to file it down."
Design for manufacturing6 MIN READ2026-05-14
- FIG. Q.07
FDM print finishes: sanding, sealing, and the food-safety question
A workshop-pov guide to post-processing FDM 3D prints. Covers when layer lines need attention, sanding grits, food-grade sealers, and the honest answer to whether a 3D-printed coaster is safe under a sweating glass.
Finishing8 MIN READ2026-05-14
- FIG. Q.04
First time ordering a 3D print: what to expect
A workshop-pov walkthrough for anyone who has never bought a 3D-printed object online. Covers what's in our catalog, how the custom-quote flow works, how DuitNow payment lands in the workshop, and what to do when the print arrives.
Getting started5 MIN READ2026-05-14
- FIG. Q.03
From elevation data to tabletop: how the Mt Kinabalu coaster gets made
Behind-the-design of the workshop's most-requested catalog piece. SRTM satellite elevation data, a Python conversion script, and a single print orientation decision that took three tries to get right.
Process notes4 MIN READ2026-05-14
- FIG. Q.08
Print-in-place mechanisms: how the articulated dragon comes off the bed assembled
Behind-the-design of a catalog item where the joints print fully assembled. Tolerance, clearance, orientation, and the geometric tricks that let 28 movable joints come out of the printer in one continuous part.
Process notes4 MIN READ2026-05-14
- FIG. Q.06
Where to buy 3D-print filament in Kuala Lumpur
A workshop-pov sourcing guide for buying PLA, PETG, and TPU filament in Malaysia. Covers Sungai Buloh warehouses, Shopee shops, brands we trust, brands we avoid, and how to store filament in tropical humidity.
Sourcing in MY7 MIN READ2026-05-14
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