3D Printing
3D (Three-Dimensional) Printing is a unique form of rapid prototyping, and more recently of actual manufacturing. Here, a 3D object is created by layering and connecting successive cross-sections of plastics, metals, or other material.
3D Printer
We have a dual-extruder 3D printer of Type Ultimaker 3. The printer is located in a locked cabinet on the 2nd floor of Schreiber (near the staircase).
- The type of filament installed on head 1 is PLA; its diameter is 1.75 mm. You need to configure Cura accordingly. This filament is not recognized by the printer, so the printer will not verify the correctness of your settings.
- The type of filament installed on head 2 is PVA. It is recognized by the printer.
Materials
The printer supports three types of filaments as follows:
- ABS
- PLA
- PVA—a water-soluble synthetic polymer best used for support material.
- CPE—a chemical resistant and tough material that demonstrates good dimensional stability.
- Nylon—a durable and flexible material with high strength-to-weight ratio and low friction, and corrosion resistance.
Currently, a PLA filament is mounted on the the 1st extruder and a PVA filament is mounted on the the 2nd extruder.
If you want to print with two materials, the following combinations of Ultimaker materials are officially supported:
- PLA - PVA
- Nylon - PVA
- PLA - PLA
- ABS - ABS
- CPE - CPE
Specification
See Ultimaker 3 specification.
Printing
First, you need to create a digital model. A list of notable 3D modeling tools can be found here; a comprehensive list of modeling software tools can be found here. If you are a novice user and don't have a preferable modelling tool, we recommend Tinkercad, Onshape, or Sketchup Make
Once you have a model, you will need to generate the "program" that consists of instructions to print it. Our 3D-printer (like most 3D printers) accepts programs written in G-Code.
A G-Code program can be fed directly to the printer from a disk-on-key.
Follow the procedure below when you use this printer.
- Prepare a file in the Gcode format that contains the instructions to the printer to print the object, using Cura.
- Cura should give you an estimate of how long the print process will last.
- Copy the file to a disk-on-key.
- Enter the cabinet where the printer is located.
- Insert the disk-on-key into the USB slot in the printer.
- Coat the tray with glue, using a glue stick, on the area where the 1st layer will be printed.
- If you print a prime tower (which is recommended when you print with PVA support) don't forget to spread glue also on the area underneath the prime tower.
- Start the print.
- You may leave the premises, but check on the progress every once in a while.
- The printer is equipped with a camera. Once we connect the printer to the network it will be possible to remotely monitor the printer.
- Come back after the print tray has cooled down, and remove the printed object from it.
- You may use a sharp flat (Japanese) knife to disconnect the printed object from the tray.
- Remember to remove the disk-on-key, leave the glue stick near the printer, leave the desk clean, and unlock the cabinet on your way out.