0.2mm is the standard starting point for most FDM printers and materials. It balances print speed with visible layer lines, and it's the setting most slicer profiles are tuned around before you start experimenting.

No, but it helps eventually. Free sites like Printables and Thingiverse have thousands of ready-to-print models, so you can slice and print without designing anything yourself while you learn the basics.

It depends entirely on the brand and material. Some budget filaments perform excellently, while pricier ones sometimes underdeliver on consistency. Always check independent reviews and diameter tolerance ratings before assuming price equals quality.

FDM melts and extrudes plastic filament layer by layer, while resin printing cures a liquid photopolymer with light. Resin gives finer detail but needs more post-processing, ventilation, and careful handling of uncured resin.

Most people get dialed-in results within a few weeks of consistent practice. Bed leveling, nozzle temperature, and retraction settings are usually the biggest factors behind early print failures, and they're worth mastering first.