I made some mistakes learning how to use the $300 Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D printer, but it didn't take me long to make my first part.

These files generally come in a stereolithography (STL) format, and you’ll need to load them into a slicing program like Cura to generate the actual G-code file that controls your printer.

There’s one that gives you a simple drawing program for making your 2D image, and then produces G-Code so that your 3D printer can extrude the drawing as a single plastic layer.

At this point, you can basically track any G-Code command and also insert arbitrary new G-codes, for example G1 printing moves (for wipe towers) or M280 commands to control a servo.