I have just inherited an Ender 3 Basic Machine as I am completely new to 3D printing. I have been in touch with Creality who have given me some help. I am waiting for an SD Micro Card reader so I can transfer any designs that I have drawn in SketchUp, transferred to Creality Print from my 2019 MacBookPro. I will no doubt have lots of questions as I proceed so forgive my innocence.
I have produced an image in SKUP and saved it as an STL file and then opened it in Creality Print. Do I save the file on the SD Micro card as the G Code File or the STL file? Which one do I then select to start my first print out?
I have a lead to connect to the USB and 3D printer but for some reason this is not recognised. Any thoughts on how I can connect via this lead?
Thank You in advance
Hello @user9532211356 
Welcome to the Creality Forum…! 
Creality Ender 3 printers do not print directly from the STL file. The STL file is the 3D model, but the printer needs a G-code file to know how to print it.
When you open the STL file in Creality Print and slice it, the program creates a G-code file. That G-code file is made for your specific printer settings, such as your Ender 3.
It is a good idea to save the original STL file. That way, if you ever get a different printer, like a Creality K series printer, you can open the STL again and slice it for that printer. The old G-code may not work correctly on a different machine because each printer can have different settings.
I’m not sure how much memory your Ender has, but most basic Ender printers usually print from the micro SD card. If you keep the micro SD card with the printer, you can save your G-code files on it and reprint them later without slicing the STL again.
Hopefully that makes sense.
That is brilliant and is starting to make some sense so thanks for your very speedy reply. I have also inherited several filament roles of PLA ? I have also read that ABS can be used as well as it may be more robust? I presume the print parameters will have to be changed when I produce the design but more of that later. Just waiting to get my card reader so I can make a start. Hopefully it will arrive 2moro
Cheers again 
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Let me add that ABS will need a heated chamber to print successfully. Something like a K2 Pro for example. Get comfortable learning about the printer starting with the PLA. If you search this forum you will learn how important it is to keep filaments dry. Depending on the humidity in your work area it’s something to be aware of.
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Cheers for that extra info. I’m just waiting on a card reader to arrive so I can test out a design.
There was a card that came with the machine and so I printed out an example using PLA. There seemed to be quite a few small holes at various places almost as if the material didn’t quite come though the extruder. And some of the layers haven’t bonded that well together leaving the whole thing rather fragile. It was a pipe fitting so was hollow with a screw thread inside by the looks of it. It broke up very easily so I’m not overly impressed at the moment but early days.
I would imagine I will have to adjust the heat, extrusion rate and travel rate to prevent all those things from happening so I will be experimenting with all that when I get time over the next week or so.