3D Printing

 What is 3D printing?

 

3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that allows one to create three dimensional objects from a digital CAD file. The teaching lab is equipped with 3D printers that print with plastic filament, specifically PLA, ABS, and TPU. A slicing software breaks the CAD file into layers and generates a path for the 3D printing nozzle to follow as it prints. Then, the plastic filament is melted and laid out on the print bed to create the 3D object.

For more information on 3D printing, as well as design guidelines for printed parts, please view our MECE 3D printing guide.

Using the MECE Lab 3D Printers

 

Restricted Use

To ensure the printers stay in working condition and are well maintained, only lab staff, student workers, and superusers are allowed to operate the 3D printers in the MECE lab. This includes removing completed prints from the print bed as well.

Submit A 3D Print Request

Standard Parameters

  • Our standard print parameters are as follows: 20% infill, 0.2mm layer height, and PLA filament (filament color cannot be chosen). Any deviations from this must include a justification.

  • Total print time must be under 12 hours (exceptions can be made, include in your request email).

  • Prints must fit within a 250×210×210 mm (9.84 x 8.3 x 8.3 in) build area. If you have a large print that absolutely cannot be broken down into parts, please speak to lab staff.

Emailing Requests

To submit a 3D printing request, please send the following information in an email titled “Full Name (UNI)” Print (ex: “Bob Stark (rs46) Print”) to mece3dprinters@gmail.com:

  • What is the print for? (Specific class name, personal project, research, etc.)

  • STLs of each part

  • How many copies of each part do you need?

  • Specific print parameters (if not standard)

  • Any other relevant information

Post-Print

Once your print has been started, you will receive an email from one of the trained printer operators letting you know when it will be available for pickup or if there was an issue with your file or design. We encourage communication over email rather than in person to keep the printing process streamlined.

Prints can be picked up in the small side room next to the staff office. If your print is not in the pickup area, please see a staff member to remove it from a printer for you. Printers are only to be used by trained operators.

Prints not picked up in two weeks’ time will be thrown out.

Free vs Paid Print Requests

The detailed protocol for 3D printing requests are outlined in our 3D Print Request document. An overview of key takeaways are detailed below.

Print requests for the Prusa printers are free of charge to all MECE undergraduate students as well as to students printing for MECE courses, such as Robotics Studio or Digital Manufacturing. For our Stratasys printers running ABS and TPU, these students have limited free access. Students looking to utilize these printers will receive one free print per project.

MECE students printing for research labs and any non-MECE students requesting prints on any printer (Prusa or Stratasys) will be charged for material costs, setup and processing time, and a machine fee to assist with maintenance and upkeep costs. The exact rates are detailed in the document linked above.

Lab staff reserves the right to deny any 3d print request.

 

Our 3D Printers

Original Prusa i3 MK3S+

Material: PLA
Build Volume: 25×21×21 cm (9.84 x 8.3 x 8.3 in)

Stratasys Fortus 360mc

Material: ABS w/ soluble support material
Build Volume: 355 x 254 x 254 mm (14 x 10 x 10 in)

Stratasys Fortus 170

Material: ABS w/ soluble support material, TPU w/ soluble support material

Build Volume: 254 x 254 x 254 mm (10 x 10 x 10 in)

3D Printing FAQs

 

  • Printing requests are only available to MECE students and students enrolled in MECE courses. You can submit a 3D print request via email using the above guidelines. Students are not allowed to start their own prints in our lab - this is to ensure our 3D printers stay up and running in order to meet the 3D printing demand of all students. A trained printing operator will run your prints and let you know when your parts are ready for pickup.

  • Prints can be picked up in the small side room next to the staff office. If your part is done printing and sitting on a print bed, please see a staff member to remove it from a printer for you. Printers are only to be handled by trained operators.

  • Generally, our Prusa printers are well suited for most print requests. However, if a print is particularly large and/or needs to be made from ABS, it should be run on the Stratasys.

  • In order to keep up with the demand of prints, we have standardized the color of the printer filament we use. Your print will be printed with black and/or grey PLA depending on filament availability. Please speak to lab staff if a special filament color is specifically required.