PrintPal

Search everything on PrintPal for a 3D-printing query: community 3D models, free tools and calculators, wiki troubleshooting articles, OpenSCAD/AI-CAD docs, video tutorials, build guides and Academy courses. Returns ids accepted by `fetch` for the full content. Suited to general 3D printing questions such as "why is my first layer not sticking", "PETG temperature" or "3D printed phone stand".

Fetch the full content of a PrintPal item returned by `search` (or any id of the form `model:<uid>`, `tool:<slug>`, `wiki:<slug>`, `doc:<slug>`, `resource:<slug>`, `project:<slug>`, `course:<slug>`). Returns the complete text (article body, transcript, build steps, BOM, model description and files) plus the canonical URL for citation.

Find printable 3D models (STL/3MF/OBJ) in the PrintPal community library by keyword — e.g. "articulated dragon", "headphone stand", "Raspberry Pi 5 case". Returns cards with thumbnail, author, tags, likes and a link to the model page where the files can be downloaded. Searches existing uploads only; new models are made by `generate_3d_model` (AI mesh) or `design_parametric_cad` (exact dimensions).

Get full details for one PrintPal model by uid: description, license, file formats, author, stats, and the page URL to download it. Accepts a uid from `search_3d_models` results or a printpal.io/model/<uid> URL.

Recommend the right free PrintPal browser tool for a task: print cost / resin cost / layer height (magic numbers) / E-steps / flow rate / volumetric flow / filament spool / drying / shrinkage / Vref / Etsy profit calculators; generators for lithophanes, vases, name plates, 3D text, QR codes, bins, puzzles, mold boxes, flexi models, fidget clickers, Desk Pal, terrain maps, Minecraft maps; mesh repair, model splitter, converter, viewer, G-code viewer, AMS/multicolor painters; AI generators. Returns matching tools with links. Pass an empty task to list every tool.

Estimate what an FDM print costs (material, electricity, machine wear, labor, failure allowance) and a suggested selling price. Needs the print weight in grams and time in hours from the slicer; all other inputs have sensible defaults (1 kg spool at $20, 120 W printer, $0.12/kWh, 5% failures).

Convert filament grams to metres (and back), compute volume and cost, and estimate how much is left on a spool from its gross weight. Knows densities for PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, Nylon, PC, CF blends. Give either `grams` or `meters`.

Compute the Z-axis "magic number" layer heights for a printer from its stepper step angle, microstepping and lead-screw pitch/starts, filtered to what suits the nozzle. Defaults match most Ender/Prusa-style printers (1.8°, 1/16, T8 2 mm × 4 starts → 0.04 mm steps).

Check whether a hotend can keep up: volumetric flow (mm³/s) = layer height × line width × speed, compared against the hotend limit, plus the maximum safe speed. Accepts a hotend preset name (stock, v6, bambu, volcano, rapido, high-flow, goliath…) or an explicit max flow.

Find step-by-step PrintPal build guides: Arduino/ESP32 electronics + 3D-printed enclosures, robots, functional prints, printer mods, STEM classroom projects, props and toys. Each result lists difficulty, time, cost, part/file/step counts. Filter by category (electronics-robotics, functional-prints, home-workshop, stem-education, printer-mods, art-props, toys-games) or difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced). Leave query empty to browse featured guides.

Read a full PrintPal build guide by slug: summary, bill of materials with quantities and links, downloadable files (STL/3MF/code), every build step, callouts and code blocks. Use when the user wants to actually follow or adapt a project.

Search PrintPal's how-to content: the vendor-neutral 3D printing wiki (print quality, filaments, slicer settings, maintenance, error codes, safety), OpenSCAD + AI-CAD docs, short video tutorials with transcripts, and free Academy courses with certificates. Use `type` to narrow. Results include ids accepted by `fetch` for the full article text.

Turn a text prompt or an image into a print-ready 3D mesh (STL/GLB/OBJ geometry) with PrintPal's AI generator. Without a PrintPal API key this returns a link that opens the generator on printpal.io with the prompt prefilled; nothing is generated until the user clicks it. With an API key header (`Authorization: Bearer pp_live_…`) it submits the job to the user's own account, spends that account's credits, and returns a `generation_uid` that `check_3d_generation` accepts. Suited to organic/sculptural objects (figurines, animals, props); exact-dimension mechanical parts are handled by `design_parametric_cad`.

Poll a PrintPal AI generation started with `generate_3d_model` in API-key mode. Returns status (queued/processing/completed/failed) and, when completed, a time-limited download URL for the mesh.

For mechanical / functional parts with exact dimensions — brackets, enclosures, adapters, gears, bins, knobs, mounts — open PrintPal's AI CAD agent with a ready-to-run brief. The agent writes editable OpenSCAD with parameter sliders, live 3D preview and STL/3MF/STEP export. This tool improves the user's description into a precise CAD brief (dimensions, tolerances, mounting, print orientation) and returns the link; the user clicks it to generate.

Explain what is free on PrintPal, how AI generation credits and the CAD agent are priced, API access and the on-demand 3D printing service — with links to sign up, buy credits or subscribe. Call when the user asks about cost, limits, subscriptions or how to get more generations.

Takes no parameters.