You might have collected Bitcoin through a trading website and wish to now print it. However, this process isn’t exactly straightforward, and you might be wondering how you can begin printing. We have everything you need to know, so continue reading.

The Standard Triangle Language (STL) is the 3D printing industry standard file type. This printing method uses a series of triangles to manufacture a solid model’s surfaces. All modern Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software allows you to export your original file format and process it into STL. This 3D model then goes through a process called ‘slicing’ and is converted into G-code (machine language) where it’s ready to print.

This is a complex process, especially when you want to prepare your STL file for Bitcoin 3D printing. Let’s take a look at how you can perform this process.

3D printing is complex enough, but then adding Bitcoin into this equation can make this process more complicated. Here’s what you’re bound to need during printing:

• 3D Printer – This is pretty self-explanatory, but you might have a difficult time choosing one. A solid entry-level 3D printer is a good option for printing Bitcoin, but other filament-based ones (FDM) are suitable.
• Filament – PLA is one of the most used materials when it comes to Bitcoin printing.
• Slicing software – To print this Bitcoin, you need to convert this solid 3D model into triangular slices that cab printed through an app known as a slicer.
• microSD Card – Some 3D printers include a USB drive while others have a microSD card that’s used to transfer files. The majority of sliced G-Code files are between 5MB and 15MB. Hence, having a microSD card over 1GB would work perfectly.

The first step to Bitcoin 3D printing is that you should ensure you have an STL model with a size and printing orientation that allows an NFC sticker to be enclosed completely within one part.

After completing this, you should slice your STL. When doing this, it’s recommended to slice with two solid layers before the infill generation. You then place the NFC tag onto these layers. This should be completed before you begin with the infill layers.

Select your G-Code and find the ‘Z up’ move to define the start of your first infill layer. From here, you want to add two new elements to your G-Code. These are:

• An offset in position, which allows you to access this part. Generally speaking, you can simply copy the last G1 command before conducting this layer change while adding 50-100mm to the last Y coordinate shown. Doing this moves the part further away from the extruder.
• Pause this G-Code, so you can insert the NFC tag. Typically, you can conduct this pause for approximately 5-7 seconds.

Once you’ve made the necessary modifications to your G-Code, you should then be ready to start Crypto printing. During this process, you should wait for the special offset command and the requested pause (between five and seven seconds). If you’re able to place this NFC tag inside this G-Code part during this pause, you can then move back and start printing from the tag’s top. From this point on, it would appear to be the same process as a normal 3D print.

One crucial element you should remember is that using very thin layers can be problematic. You may prefer using layers that fall under the 0.2-0.35mm range. However, you can begin using thinner layers once this process is understood and you have practiced a few times beforehand.