3D Printing

3D prints are limited to four hours during the day for both reservations and walk-ins. For print jobs over four hours, reserve the last evening slot for the 3D Printer and we can run the print past closing. Some exceptions can be made for prosthetics, community projects, etc. Ask us about how we can accommodate your project.

We recommend .stl or .obj file types that are smaller than 10mb in size. You can bring your file on a storage device or access it via cloud storage or URL.

A great way to get started 3d modeling is using a free web-based program like TinkerCAD, known for its simplicity and ease of use.

We have a variety of different types of 3d modeling software including Rhino, Blender, and MoI3d.

The Ultimaker S3 uses  Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), also known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). In FDM, a strand of material (in this case thermoplastic) is deposited in layers to create a 3D printed object. During printing, the plastic filament is fed through a hot extruder where the plastic gets soft enough that it can be precisely placed by the print head. The melted filament is then deposited layer by layer in the print area to build the workpiece. 

The Formlabs Form 3 uses Stereolithography Apparatus (SLA), or simply stereolithography. Like FDM, SLA is an additive method: Models are built layer by layer. SLA, however, uses a curable photopolymer – typically a liquid resin – that is hardened by applying focused light or UV light (this process is called curing). SLA printers usually build the models upside-down, that is, the build platform lifts the model upwards, out of the resin bath.

Each of these provide a fairly deep dive into 3d printing, enjoy!

• FDM 3D Printing – Simply Explained from All3DP 

• The Complete Guide to 3D Printing from Xometry 

• Complete Engineering Guide to 3d Printing from 3d Hubs

For our Ultimaker S3 3d printer we only use solid color PLA or polylactic acid. PLA is different than most thermoplastic polymers in that it is derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugar cane. We utilize this material because it is biodegradable, its easy to use, and because it emits very low VOCs or volatile organic compounds compared to other plastics used in 3d printing. 

For our Formlabs Form 3 SLA 3D printer, it uses a light-reactive thermoset material called “resin.” The specific type of resin we utilize is solid in color and referred to as a "draft resin" that prints faster and has a lower fail-rate compare to other types of SLA resins and is great for prototyping.