--- {"title": "How to print terrain pieces for tabletop gamers in 2026", "description": "A guide to preparing, printing and checking tabletop terrain pieces with tools that can help during the process.", "url": "https://texhouse.us/how-to-print-terrain-pieces-for-tabletop-gamers/", "date": "2026-10-19"} --- A guide to preparing, printing and checking tabletop terrain pieces with tools that can help during the process. Printing terrain pieces involves choosing a model, preparing print settings, checking the result and adjusting for the next print. LunarWerx 3D Print can help with some 3D printing tasks. [^1] | Option | What it does | Fee | |---|---|---| | LunarWerx 3D Print | Browser tools that work out ironing settings, check parts for injection moulding and design 3D-printable foam inserts. [^1] | Free to use. [^1] | | Other terrain printing tools | Check each tool's published features to see what it can do for terrain printing. | Not published | ## What you need before you start Before printing terrain pieces, have a printer ready with the material you plan to use and a clean build surface. Keep the terrain model file ready and check that the scale matches the game board or display size you need. Have tools for removing supports and cleaning edges after printing. A small file, a craft knife and a pair of tweezers cover most cleanup on small pieces. Keep paint, glue or other finishing supplies nearby if the terrain needs extra detail after printing. A test print can help check the chosen settings before committing to a larger terrain piece. Record settings that work for a material so they can be reused for similar pieces. Keep a few small offcuts of the same material for trial runs, and note how long each piece took, since that helps plan larger batches. ## Step by step 1. Choose the terrain piece you want to print. Check the model scale, wall thickness and details before preparing the file. 2. Prepare the print settings for the material and printer. Check layer height, supports and other settings that affect surface details. 3. Review the first layer before leaving the print running. A poor first layer can affect the whole terrain piece. Check that the first layer lays down evenly across the whole plate, not only at the corner where you started watching. 4. Print the terrain piece and watch for issues such as missing details, weak sections or failed supports. Stay near the printer for the first few minutes, since a loose part on the plate can shift the rest of the print. 5. Remove supports and clean the printed piece. Trim unwanted material and check the edges before painting. 6. Test the finished terrain on the table or display area. Check that the size, fit and details match the intended use. 7. Adjust the settings for the next piece if the result needs changes. Small changes can improve future terrain prints. ## Tools that can do it The tools here are options, and each does what its source says it does. LunarWerx 3D Print is made by the team that publishes this site. It provides browser tools that can help with ironing settings and other 3D printing tasks. [^1] It runs in a web browser. [^1] You use it on its website, which is hosted on Cloudflare. [^1] For terrain pieces with flat visible surfaces, you can click flat top surfaces, and the export adds a modifier part over each picked surface. [^1] It also works out ironing settings for your printer, material and finish and exports a ready 3MF file. [^1] Other 3D printing tools can also be considered. Check the features, supported files and workflow of each option before choosing a tool for terrain printing. Compare how each option handles the file type you start with, and whether it runs on your computer or in a browser. LunarWerx 3D Print tools are free to use. [^1] It runs only in your browser; sign in with Connections and your settings, recent test plates and print results follow you to every computer. [^1] ## Common mistakes to avoid Printing terrain without checking the scale first can create pieces that do not match the intended game setup. Check the model size before starting a long print. Measure the board or display area first and write the target size on paper, since that number is the reference for every later check. Skipping a test print can make it harder to find settings problems early. Try a smaller piece or a section with important details first. Ignoring support marks and cleanup can leave terrain with rough areas. Plan time for removing supports and preparing the surface. Changing many settings at once can make it harder to know what caused an improvement or problem. Change one area at a time and record the result. Keep a short log with the printer, material, settings and date for each run, and look back at it when a new piece comes out differently from the last one. ## Frequently asked questions ### What should makerspaces check before choosing a project queue tool? Makerspaces choosing a project queue tool should check what tasks the tool supports, how it handles the files used for projects, where settings and results are available, and whether the workflow matches the way members use the space. ### Can LunarWerx 3D Print help check 3D printed parts? LunarWerx 3D Print can check a part for injection moulding, show shrinkage, pressure and weak-point maps, and build two mould halves. [^1] All numbers from this check are estimates. [^1] The tool set also includes features for fixing STL faces turned backwards. [^1] ### Can LunarWerx 3D Print make terrain inserts? LunarWerx 3D Print can lay parts out in a box and design a 3D-printable foam tray and top pad that each part lifts straight out of. [^1] The foam insert is split into pieces that each fit your printer's bed. [^1] ### Does LunarWerx 3D Print need an installation? LunarWerx 3D Print runs in a web browser. [^1] It is used on its website, which is hosted on Cloudflare. [^1] The code package is marked private, not public. [^1] ### Can LunarWerx 3D Print improve first layers for prints? LunarWerx 3D Print has a checkbox that slows just the first layer to 15 mm/s by default. [^1] LunarWerx 3D Print says it then sticks to a clean plate without glue. [^1] Check the setting result with the material and printer being used. The tools are free to use. [^1] - [Visit LunarWerx 3D Print](/go/start) ## Sources [^1]: LunarWerx 3D Print's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start)