Announcements
- Survey: Future of 3D Printing at the GSDPlease provide your input regarding the 3D printing resources at the GSD before December 15th.
- Winter HoursThe Fabrication Lab will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 19th and will reopen on Monday, January 5th at 10 a.m.
- Policy on DichloromethaneProducts and materials containing methylene chloride (DCM) will be prohibited on the GSD campus, effective June 1, 2025.
Thin Metal Alternatives
While cutting aluminum sheet metal with the Zünd has become more popular, it requires use of the router and therefore additional attention from Lab staff to prepare the file and equipment before use.
Like all work to be completed on the CNC Router, jobs using this material must be submitted in advance and approved by Lab staff before machine time can be scheduled. Further, access to the Zünd router attachment is limited to hours when qualified staff is available.
In comparison to other materials, this requires more machine time, is more costly, and is more prone to encounter errors while machining, resulting in loss of both machine time and material. At the end of the semester, this loss has the potential to effect many others, impacting their ability to complete work, as well as your own.
When representing metal in scale models, please consider whether other materials and methods can be effective, instead. A small selection of examples and relevant data is shared below:
Pictured above, from left to right:
- 6061 Aluminum, Engraved
- Metallic Matboard, Scored
- Museum Board, Scored and Painted
| Material | Base Material Cost | Cutting Time | Walk-Up | Approval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blick Crescent Metallic Matboard | $1.00 (0.01/sq in) | 3 min 9 sec | Yes | Not Required | |
| Matboard, Spray-painted | $1.00 (0.01/sq in) | 3 min 9 sec | Yes | Not Required | Painted after being scored |
| Aluminum, 0.02″ Thickness | $4.00 ($0.08/sq in) | 9 min 37 sec | No | Required | Grade 6061 only, $12 minimum sheet cost |
| Aluminum, 0.03″ Thickness | $5.00 ($0.10/sq in) | 9 min 39 sec | No | Required | Grade 6061 only, $14 minimum sheet cost |
| Aluminum, 0.09″ Thickness | $7.50 ($0.15/sq in) | 11 min 22 sec | No | Required | Grade 6061 only, $22 minimum sheet cost |
Zünd Cutter Hours
We have two Zünd Cutters available during Office Hours: one is for walk-up use (available for limited material types), the other can be reserved using the FabJob App.
Check the Calendar to determine when Technical Assistants are on-duty.
Need Help?
Contact a Zünd Cutter Technical Assistant by email at [email protected] or visit Gund L33 during the office hours listed on the Calendar.
Zünd Room Camera
View the Zund Room Camera, Gund L33
(Must be connected to the Harvard network by being on-campus, or connected via VPN to view remotely.)
Reserve the Zünd
Please use the FabJob App to reserve time on the Zünd.
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.