Tools/3D Printing
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Contents
Current Printers
- Bambu Lab P1P
- Build Area: 256x256x256mm (Roughly 10x10x10 inches)
- Materials: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET
- PA, PC, ABS, ASA with enclosure
- 1.75 mm filament
- Can be fitted with hardened nozzles for printing filaments with fillers (carbon, glow, wood, etc.)
- Automatic Material System (AMS):
- No Cardboard spools unless adapters are used
- No TPU or PVA filament
- Creality CR-10 S4
- Build Area: 400x400x400 mm (Roughly 15.75x15.75x15.75 inches)
- Materials: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET
- Can be fitted with hardened nozzles for printing filaments with fillers (carbon, glow, wood, etc.)
- Elegoo Saturn 8k
- Build Area: 219x123x210 mm (Roughly 8.6x4.8x8.3 inches)
- Materials: 405nm UV Resin
- Markforged Mark One (coming soon)
- Build Area: 320x132x160 mm (12.6x5x6.3 inches)
- Materials: PLA, PC (Nylon)
- Continuous carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass
Usage and Workflow
The general process for 3D printing is outlined below. Please see the individual printer pages for full details.
- Convert 3D model to STL or download an STL file from online.
- "Slice" the STL file to generate GCode (or resin printer file).
- Prepare the printer
- Load filament
- Clean/level the bed
- Change nozzles if needed
- Send the GCode to the printer.
- Monitor the printer until the print is completed.
3D Modeling/STL creation
We currently recommend SOLIDWORKS for Makers or Alibre Atom3D which are both available on the laser-room computer. Autodesk Fusion 360 offers a free license for hobbyist use. OnShape offers a free online CAD editor (note: all free OnShape models are publicly shared).
Other options which are FOSS include:
- OpenSCAD uses a text-based scripting language to define a model, making it distinct from other CAD software. It is great for making parametric parts, where a user can easily modify critical dimensions.
- Antimony is another procedural modeling software, which uses an interconnected graph of nodes to define geometry (rather than plain text). It is no longer receiving updates.
- SolveSpace is a constraint-based, parametric CAD program. It has the advantage of having a more traditional CAD interface, but there is a bit of a learning curve; going through the tutorials on the program's website is highly recommended.
- FreeCAD is a constraint-based, parametric CAD program. Its interface is usually considered more difficult, but recent updates have improved the experience. It is a very powerful software with many built-in tools.
