3D Printer

Two people sit on the floor surrounded by shelves of 3D printers.

Announcements

  • Winter Hours
    The Fabrication Lab will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 20th and will reopen on Monday, January 6th at 10 a.m.
  • Required Training
    Students are encouraged to complete training as early as possible. All returning students, faculty and staff must complete the Fabrication Lab Refresher.
  • Reserving Machine Time
    Reserve Machine Time using the FabJob App. Use a TMP folder for short-term file storage for walk-up use and consultations.

Location: Gund L40, Gund 3rd Floor Studio South, 485 Broadway Workroom (224)

3D printers allow for almost any geometry to be made into a physical object. The GSD facilitates FDM printing with PLA and polyjet printing with UV-cured resins of different durometer, color, and transparency.

Users must prepare printable, water-tight STL files. The self-serve Dremel printers require users also produce GCode using a slicing engine of their choosing. For beginners we recommend using the cloud based slicer within 3dPrintOS. 3D Printing Technical Assistants are available for consult and support at every stage of the process, including evaluating part design for print technology compatibility and related considerations.

Users must cover the cost of the materials used, by either purchasing their own PLA for use in the self-serve FDM machines, being billed for filament usage on the Billable FDM machines, or by being billed for any parts printed on the equipment operated by Lab staff. Cost per gram on the Billable FDM machines is $0.033. Cost for model material on the Objet is $0.25 and $0.10 for support material. While there may be wait times when the semester is busy, costs and turn-around times are generally better than would be found commercially.

Like other areas of the Lab, access is limited to faculty and staff of the GSD, and students enrolled in courses offered at the GSD. In addition to the training required for all Lab users, individuals making use of the 3D printers must complete additional online training. See the Training Portal page for more information.

3D Printer Hours

While the Self-Serve 3D Printers are typically available whenever Gund Hall is open during the academic semesters, hours may be limited in the summer and between semesters. The Full-Serve Printers are TA-Operated and can be reserved using the FabJob App.

Check the Calendar to determine when Technical Assistants are on duty or whether the space is closed.

Need Help?

Contact a 3D Printer Technical Assistant by email at [email protected] or visit us in Gund L40 or adjacent to the Gund 3rd Floor South Printing Room during the office hours listed on the Calendar.

Reserve the 3D Printer

Please use the FabJob App to reserve the multi-material 3D printers.

Photo of self-serve 3D printers in third floor studio area of Gund Hall.

The Fabrication Lab is intended for the use of the faculty, staff, and students enrolled in courses at the Graduate School of Design pursuing academic work. Please see our Policies page for more information.