3D Printing Policies

Owned by Courtney Morshed
Last updated: Oct 11, 2024
3 min read

You must purchase a Digital Fabrication Subscription for the semester in order to 3D Print. Failure to adhere to the requirements below will result in you needing to make changes and resubmit. We don't allow any custom slicing settings.

Our internal process can take up to 48 hours before you receive the first confirmation of your 3D Print request. Please factor this initial lead time into your expectations when submitting a 3D Print request. We have other responsibilities at the Tech Desk unrelated to 3D Printing, so we don’t have the bandwidth to prioritize your request if you come the basement upon submission.

Raise3D

Files MUST:

  • be in .idea format (grouping of all your parts scaled)

    • if your .idea file contains more than one physically independent model, each must be their own .STL*

    • Models must show only green checkmarks

  • be less than 11.8” x 11.8” x 23.6”

  • be repaired in Netfabb

    • You must provide a screenshot of step 8 (the import and auto-repair) for each file

      • If you change your file in any way after you run the repair in Netfabb, you need to run it through again

    • We will not print any files without an associated screenshot that shows your model has been repaired

  • have a minimum feature thickness of 1/8"

    • We will not print any files containing feature thickness under 1/8"

    • 1/8" is the minimum for simple and rectilinear geometries on Raise3D

      • More complex geometries (such as curves) should be thicker to avoid printing issues

      • Your print may break if complex features are 1/8"

*This means that all components of your idea file/group are within their own STL file. For example: if you expect 3 standalone models, each of those models needs to be its own STL. The example screenshots below show copies of the same model, but the rule still applies for unique models.

Good Example:

This user needed multiple copies of a model, so they made duplicates of their STL in ideaMaker. Note how each copy is individually selectable.

Bad Example:

This user needed multiple copies of a model, but they made their duplicates in Rhino and exported all of them together as a single STL. Notice how all copies aren't individually selectable.

Bad Example

Stratasys

Files MUST:

  • be exported to .STL format, one model per file!*

  • be less than 14" x 10" x 14", scaled in inches

  • be repaired in Netfabb

    • You must provide a screenshot of step 8 (the import and auto-repair) for each file

      • If you change your file in any way after you run the repair in Netfabb, you need to run it through again

    • We will not print any files without an associated screenshot that shows your model has been repaired

  • have a minimum feature thickness of 1/16"

    • We will not print any files containing feature thickness under 1/16"

      • Even the 1/16" features are only made possible due to the use of soluble support material

    • 1/16" is the minimum for simple and rectilinear geometries on Stratasys

      • More complex geometries (such as curves) should be thicker to avoid printing issues

      • Your print may break if complex features are 1/16"