# Please help getting started 3d printing **URL:** \ **Category:** 3D Printing\ **Created:** [August 22, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cookiecad.com/t/please-help-getting-started-3d-printing/289 "2021-08-22T17:55:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![michaelapaigehall](https://community.cookiecad.com/user_avatar/community.cookiecad.com/michaelapaigehall/32/325_2.png) [@michaelapaigehall](https://community.cookiecad.com/u/michaelapaigehall)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cookiecad.com/t/please-help-getting-started-3d-printing/289/1 "2021-08-22T17:55:22Z")
Hi everyone, I haveva huge problem and I need this cutter for next week!. I tried an imprint cutter by using cookie cad and loading on and then dowloaded, it but it will not print at all? It says unsupported format? Am I supposed to format these files? [https://app.cookiecad.com/designer?settings={"purchaseSize"%3A3,"cutterSize"%3A60,"sizeType"%3A"longest","interiorType"%3A"imprint","imprintDepth"%3A4.5,"bladeDepth"%3A12.5,"bladeThickness"%3A"0.9","extraBladeDepth"%3A11.9,"extraBladeThickness"%3A0.4,"baseHeight"%3A"11.9","baseWidth"%3A"0.4","horizontalBarWidth"%3A0,"verticalBarWidth"%3A0,"units"%3A"mm","invertInterior"%3Afalse,"offsetIn"%3Afalse,"offsetInner"%3A0,"forceSolidBar"%3Afalse,"mirror"%3Afalse,"removeImprintBase"%3Afalse,"stampCutterTolerance"%3A0.9,"stampBackHeight"%3A4.5,"stampImprintHeight"%3A3,"deleteOuterPath"%3Afalse,"userSize"%3A60,"currentStlOutputFile"%3A"de22925b49524880b71b7c8b771ca2e3%2050W%20V8.stl","name"%3A"il\_340x270"}](https://app.cookiecad.com/designer?settings=%7B%22purchaseSize%22%3A3,%22cutterSize%22%3A60,%22sizeType%22%3A%22longest%22,%22interiorType%22%3A%22imprint%22,%22imprintDepth%22%3A4.5,%22bladeDepth%22%3A12.5,%22bladeThickness%22%3A%220.9%22,%22extraBladeDepth%22%3A11.9,%22extraBladeThickness%22%3A0.4,%22baseHeight%22%3A%2211.9%22,%22baseWidth%22%3A%220.4%22,%22horizontalBarWidth%22%3A0,%22verticalBarWidth%22%3A0,%22units%22%3A%22mm%22,%22invertInterior%22%3Afalse,%22offsetIn%22%3Afalse,%22offsetInner%22%3A0,%22forceSolidBar%22%3Afalse,%22mirror%22%3Afalse,%22removeImprintBase%22%3Afalse,%22stampCutterTolerance%22%3A0.9,%22stampBackHeight%22%3A4.5,%22stampImprintHeight%22%3A3,%22deleteOuterPath%22%3Afalse,%22userSize%22%3A60,%22currentStlOutputFile%22%3A%22de22925b49524880b71b7c8b771ca2e3%2050W%20V8.stl%22,%22name%22%3A%22il_340x270%22%7D) I have never done this before Please help, thank you all Michaela Paige ---
**Author:** ![CookiecadNathan](https://community.cookiecad.com/user_avatar/community.cookiecad.com/cookiecadnathan/32/145_2.png) [@CookiecadNathan](https://community.cookiecad.com/u/CookiecadNathan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cookiecad.com/t/please-help-getting-started-3d-printing/289/2 "2021-08-22T19:13:57Z")
Hi Michael, When 3D printing you always start with a 3D model, the STL file. This is what Cookiecad gives you. This file then needs to be run through a slicer which turns it into instructions for your specific printer - that is a gcode file. Most people use Cura as their slicer to start, it’s free. You need to set up Cura for your printer. If you have a popular printer model Cura may already have a profile for your printer. Otherwise if you google Cura profile and your printer model you should find instructions or a Cura profile for your specific printer. Once that is done, open the STL in the slicer and then save the GCode. This is the file your printer can print. ---
**Author:** ![michaelapaigehall](https://community.cookiecad.com/user_avatar/community.cookiecad.com/michaelapaigehall/32/325_2.png) [@michaelapaigehall](https://community.cookiecad.com/u/michaelapaigehall)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 5:43am UTC](https://community.cookiecad.com/t/please-help-getting-started-3d-printing/289/3 "2021-08-23T05:43:22Z")
Hi, okay perfect thnk you… is there a step by step somewhere for this? I found this [Ultimaker Cura: Powerful, easy-to-use 3D printing software](https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura) ---
**Author:** ![CookiecadNathan](https://community.cookiecad.com/user_avatar/community.cookiecad.com/cookiecadnathan/32/145_2.png) [@CookiecadNathan](https://community.cookiecad.com/u/CookiecadNathan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 6:14am UTC](https://community.cookiecad.com/t/please-help-getting-started-3d-printing/289/4 "2021-08-23T06:14:05Z")
Yes that is the link to download Cura. There are definitely getting started guides for any printer - you’ll want to look for one for yours. Any getting started guide will go over slicing an STL and sending it to the printer. If you have a Creality Ender then check out CHEP and Tomb of 3d Printed Horrors on YouTube. The basic steps are: First, select a profile for your printer in the slicer. Then import the STL to the slicer, click slice and export the gcode. Then put it on an SD card and print. ---
**Author:** ![michaelapaigehall](https://community.cookiecad.com/user_avatar/community.cookiecad.com/michaelapaigehall/32/325_2.png) [@michaelapaigehall](https://community.cookiecad.com/u/michaelapaigehall)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 7:43am UTC](https://community.cookiecad.com/t/please-help-getting-started-3d-printing/289/5 "2021-08-23T07:43:36Z")
Okay I will go and have a look thank you so much for all your help ---
**Author:** ![pitifulpigeon](https://community.cookiecad.com/user_avatar/community.cookiecad.com/pitifulpigeon/32/200_2.png) [@pitifulpigeon](https://community.cookiecad.com/u/pitifulpigeon)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.cookiecad.com/t/please-help-getting-started-3d-printing/289/6 "2021-08-24T18:10:22Z")
You will be going in the right direction with the slicer it should be easy enough. I think you’ll do fine but keep in mind, that the cookie cad guys can print one and send it to you! Maybe plan b, -I wonder how long it takes to print and ship it?