1)What's the first thing you're going to print and why?

I would like to 3D print neoprene seal to utilize it in my profession as a plumber

2) What are we missing from this list?  Any special tools/procedures/secrets that you use to get the best 3D prints?

user's guide I guess

1) What's the first thing you're going to print and why?

I would 3D print antennas!!

Yes! You read it correct. 3D printed antennas are gaining popularity among researchers and there already are multiple papers published on 3D printed antennas and other electronic devices.

Since, my area of research is Antennas, I would like to 3D print one, (might as well fetch me a good paper publication ).

So, the way this is done is, instead of using conventional substrates like FR-4, RO4350B, etc for antennas, an artificial dielectric medium can be printed using a 3D printer and later it can be coated with conductive inks to get a working antenna.

Not just antennas, but even microwave lenses for focusing microwave beams are being 3D printed nowadays. Quite an interesting application!

What's missing from the list?

1. Though the list has a dremel rotary tool, sometimes a sandpaper comes in handy where manual polishing is required.

2. A surgical blade/sharp knife for cutting any leftover material from the edges of the print.

3. Lastly, a hot wire cutter and a soldering iron for smooth finishes and create holes in the 3D printed design for holding nuts for screws (in case of enclosures, etc).

My first next thing to print will most likely be custom enclosures for sensor projects I'm working on.

It could also be an artsy frame for my wife's projects.

Missing from the list is definitely the precision side-cutters, as I often need to snip the filament a certain way to get it started in the printer.

Maybe also a spatula/scraper to help pop the print off the bed.

Good choices colporteur That style of craft knife is by far the most useful tool in 3D printing. Lots of blades are needed as PLA will dull the blades quite quickly. The flush side cutters would be the next most useful, followed by a sharp edged putty knife for removing prints form beds. Other useful items are a sanding block, files, a rubber jaw vise, a nozzle spanner and a chisel. Has anyone ever found a set of rubber-jawed vise grip pliers?

I don't "need" another 3D printer right now, but filament and 3D printing accessories are always useful.

One of my bucket list of printer projects is to design and build a filament spool holder that will prevent all tangles and jamming of filament on the spool. The most common cause for my prints to fail is a filament jam on the spool. It doesn't happen on every spool, but needless to say, encountering a jam near the end of a long unattended print can be vey disappointing. When the filament coming off gets gets caught under another layer that loosened off, puling on the filament just tightens the "knot" and the filament can no longer come off the reel. This is a glaring gap in 3D printer technology offerings - they don't even have an alarm or automatic pause when a knot happens.

3D printing for me would be enclosures. Small unique boxes to fit electronic projects.

I'm frustrated having to spend money on project boxes. I never find one that fits just right. I usually have to find something that is close and live with it.

I dream of a selection of box templates of different sizes. Length, width and depth are all customisation. The cover is four screw minimum at the corners and for boxes of greater length the option to add additional holes. Inside the box you can conveniently position mounting holes to secure a printed circuit board of point to secure a cable tie.

If I was to purchase a 3D printer I suspect there would be a proliferation of boxes of all shapes and sizes.

Since I have no experience with 3D printing, I'm pitching two tools I find extremely useful when working with plastic models. I have also had reason to use them on 3D printed items I have ordered online. The Exacto Knife and sidecutters.  They are great for extracting items and cleaning of any small plastic burrs.

3D printers don’t make precise holes, especially on vertical sides, so a drill and bits / step bits are useful.  A pin vise and small set of bits works well for small holes. I now use 3mm heat set threaded inserts on builds that need to be taken apart and reassembled frequently.  And from time to time it is necessary to glue parts. For that I prefer two part epoxy for the strength.

1) I've bought a couple of printers over the last couple of years - an Anycubic Photon resin printer and a Creality Ender 3 to replace a very old FDM printer that broke. One of the first things I printed was a gear bearing. I find it's a good test of a printer's capabilities and it's an interesting fidget spinner style desk trinket. It also prompts questions from people who aren't familiar with 3D printing. It's interesting as it would be impossible to create any other way. The cogs are free to move but permanently captured by nature of their herringbone design.

2) One things that seems to get forgotten in the world fo 3D printing is how to create the STL files for the thing syou're going to print. Sure - some people might be happy downloading things from Thingiverse and printing someone else's design, but there comes a point where you need to create something unique. There's a huge range of options depending on what you're trying to do. If you're making an artistic sculpture there's products like ZBrush. For a more CAD-like process there's Fusion360 which also works well alongside Eagle PCB design. I'm a coder, so I feel more comfortable with a scripted tool like OpenSCAD. There's no right tool for 3D printing as they are all aimed at a different process. It i simportant to get a feel for what one suits your style and the object you're trying to create.

The first thing I am going to print is a case for my Android Auto Pi4 display.

One tool(s) missing is a scraper. Sometimes no matter how much bed preparation you do, you need to carefully scrape you part off the bed...