3D Printing Workflow

Workflow

Since the 3D Printer device types at the GSD are each accessed differently, there are three distinct workflow, as described below.

If you find it convenient, you may wish to save files to 3DTMP from your personal device, so that you can share them more easily with Lab staff for consultations.

Self-Serve Dremel Printers (Using own Material):

1. Prepare STL File
2. Log-in to 3D Printer OS (Select SSO and “Harvard University”)
3. Prepare GCode using Slicer
4. Load Material and Build Plate into Printer
5. Send GCode to Printer
6. Monitor Print Progress
7. Retrieve Parts, Material and Build Plate Promptly
8. Remove Support Structures as Necessary

Self-Serve Dremel Printers (Billable):

1. Prepare STL File
2. Log-in to 3D Printer OS (Select SSO and “Harvard University”)
3. Prepare GCode using Slicer
4. Load Build Plate into Printer
5. Send GCode to “Billable” Printer
6. Monitor Print Progress
7. Retrieve Parts and Build Plate Promptly
8. Remove Support Structures as Necessary

Full-Serve Objet 260 (Billable):

1. Prepare STL File
2. Upload STL to Online Job Submittal Form
3. Respond to Communication from Lab Staff
4. Retrieve Parts Promptly
5. Remove Support Material as Necessary
6. Full-Serve Objet 260 and Bambu X1 Printer (Billable):

Full-Serve Bambu X1 Printer (Billable):

[These printers are currently in a trial phase during which time access is limited to Fabrication Lab Technical Assistants.]

1. Prepare STL File
2. Open in Bambu Studio
3. Prepare 3MF File
4. Upload 3MF to Online Job Submittal Form
5. Respond to Communication from Lab Staff
6. Retrieve Parts Promptly
7. Remove Support Material as Necessary

Prepare STL Files

Regardless of device type chosen, all 3D printing at the GSD requires students to prepare a printable STL file.

While this can be accomplished in most 3D modeling applications, the most commonly-used application at the GSD is Rhino, so the following may reflect terminology specific to that application.

1. Prepare your Rhino geometry for 3D printing. Some things to keep in mind:
   • Make sure the model is located near the World Top Origin.Scale of geometry should be 1:1 with the size of the printed part.
   • Pay attention to feature sizes and wall thicknesses, remaining above recommended minimums.
   • Volumes must be closed.
   • Use boolean operations to create one closed volume for each part. Avoid creating intersecting volumes.
   • Avoid creating coplanar surfaces that touch each other.
   • Avoid creating shared edges between two adjacent volumes (non-manifold edges).
   • Surfaces must not “twist” to be on both the inside and outside of a volume.
2. Convert your NURBS geometry to a Mesh.
   • Pay attention to resolution. While higher resolution may mean smoother faces for non-planar faces, it also increases file size and can cause issues with the printing process.
3. Ensure the mesh:
   • is watertight (no holes)
   • has no non-manifold edges
   • all normals are unified (point in a consistent direction)
4. Convert model units to millimeter, without scaling.
5. Export model as .stl file (binary coding)
   • If the file size exceed 25 MB, the mesh settings may need to be changed to produce fewer, larger triangular faces.

For more detailed information associated with each device type, see Device Types and Tutorials.

Submit File

The Fabrication Lab staff will provide 3D printing services to students for the Objet 260 and Bambu X1 multi-material printers only. All other 3D Printer types are self-serve.

Step 1:

Submit form online, uploading file(s) and selecting a material for each file.

Step 2:

Monitor the application and Microsoft Teams for changes in job status (eg. approved, estimates, returned for correction, completed, pick-up date/time, billed).

Be attentive to email notifications from Microsoft Teams. Lab staff will contact you if there are questions or issues with your file(s) that need to be addressed.

Once estimates are provided, you will need to approve these estimates through the application before printing starts. Once the print has started, it cannot be canceled from the application and you will be billed for any materials consumed.

Step 3:  

Retrieve completed parts from Gund L40C.

Applications

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.