If you're building a printer you designed yourself, awesome.

If you're building a printer someone else designed, good luck ;)

If you're building a kit you purchased, don't be shy about bothering the manufacturer.

If your printer is already fully assembled and ready to go it's still a good idea to skim through here as an educational thing.

• Read the instructions all the way through before starting
• Keep good notes
• Measure twice, cut once
• Don't take risks with your eyes and hands
• Respect the danger of things that get hot, power tools, and fumes in confined spaces

• The linear motion elements must be rigid (no flex), consistent (same dimension everywhere), and tough (high wear resistance)
• all moving parts must be properly lubricated
• all fasteners must be properly tightened
• all wires must be secured so that they do not catch on moving parts, rub on edges, or bend too sharply
• anything that heats up must be isolated (distance, active cooling or insulation)
• anything that heats up must be allowed to expand and contract

• anything that comes in contact with molten plastic will wear out sooner or later

• The X, Y and Z axis must be perfectly aligned
  • If there are two linear controls for one axis they must be parallel
  • Each axis must be perpendicular

• http://reprap.org/wiki/Build_instructions
• http://reprap.org/wiki/General_FAQ
• http://reprap.org/wiki/Category:Tutorials
• http://reprap.org/wiki/User_Manual:_Firmware