3D Printing
Sending Us Your Prints
To use any of our 3D printers you MUST complete the online Canvas module.
We now have an online submission form for our FDM printers (Ultimakers) for you to use in order to send us your prints. This can be found on Canvas, titled “SEND US YOUR FILES”.
❗Please DO NOT email us your prints, use the online form❗
If you want to use the LDM printer download the Cura profile here and prepare your print with the help of a Design Lab Technician.
FDM – Fused Deposition Modelling
The most common 3D printing technology available on the market. To find out more about the various types of filaments click here, you can also use the submission form via Canvas to view what materials we have in stock at the lab.
LDM – Liquid Deposition Modelling
We have a LDM 3D printer that is often used with ceramics that can then be glazed and fired. If you get the consistency right, you can print with anything. We have tested out machine in the lab with both air-dry clay and traditional clay.
We have 3 Ultimaker S5 Link printers
Build Volume Max: 330 x 240 x 300 mm
We have a Tronxy Moore 1
Build Volume Max: 180 x 180 x 180mm
How to Fix Broken Models
Follow these steps to fix your model:
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- Check that your model doesn’t have any holes, hidden, or unintentional surfaces in the inside of the part
- Check that the surfaces are orientated in the correct way – You can google how to do this for the software you are using
- You can add a model repair tool to Cura but this only works for small issues. Click here to find the Mesh Tool plugin
Recommended CAD Software
There are many different programs you can use to make 3D printable models, below are just a few that we recommend. If you would like more information on various programs and their abilities click here.
Fusion 360
- Free to use
- Easy to quickly pick up and learn
- Tools to support iterative design
- Has surface modelling capabilities
Blender
- Free to use
- Step learning curve but lots of features
- Excellent for digital assets (game design etc)
- Sculpting capabilities
Plasticity
- 30-day free trial (student licenses are available)
- Designed for artists but can be used for engineering
- Sculpting tools
- Very easy to pick up and play
Rhino
- 90-day full version trial
- Large amount of plugins
- Grasshopper plugin is very useful
- Procedural modeling
Related Projects
BACK-LOADED HORN Bluetooth Speaker
Quadrupedal Robot Dog by Lingkang Zhan
A small quadrupedal robot dog. Lingkang Zhang's blog has excellent documentation (mainly videos) describing different features of the Quadruped.
Splitflap by Scott Bezek
This is a cool, step-by-step walkthrough on how to build and create your own Split flap display. These displays are tileable (i.e. can be stacked without interfering with each other).