3D Printing at the Van Pelt and Opie Library: Home

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3D Printing at the Van Pelt and Opie Library

https://www.mtu.edu/library/services/computers-and-technology/3d-printing/

The 3D printing service in the library started with the Type A Machine Series 1 back in 2014 with the help from a C2E2 grant.  The service has since grown these past two years with the addition of the Lulzbot Taz 6 and most recently the Lulzbot Taz Pro.  We have also added the 1.2mm (Hardened Steele -MoarStruder) for a more rapid prototype and the .25mm (Mini Aerostruder) for the high detail/resolution prints.

Here is a link to some of the most common applications that can be used to design and edit your 3D models.

• TinkerCad - Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use app for 3D design, electronics, and coding. It's used by teachers, kids, hobbyists, and designers to imagine, design, and make anything!
• Fusion360 - A powerful AutoDesk cloud-based drafting and design application that has integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE software. Academic subscription is available for free.
• Siemens NX - A Premier FEA solver for computational performance accuracy, reliability, and scalability. 

These applications listed below can help you to work with editing point clouds or create more organic and shapes.   They are also very useful for processing and editing photogrammetry or 3D scanned objects.

• MFStudio software
• Blender
• MeshMixer
• Meshlabs
• CloudCompare - Open Source 3D point cloud and mesh processing software that is helpful for comparing and combining scans.
  • introductory video

Here is a list of such photogrammetry software that is available to help you come up with a replica model from a series of digital photographs.  Note that not all of the applications are open source.

• 3D Zepher
• COLMAP
• Agisoft

Slicing software that allows you to convert your model (.stl/.obj file) into g-code or machine language that will define your scale and settings to create a successful print.

• Cura -  Free software program that allows you to preview and prepare your .stl model for print.  This has granular parameters for infill, shell, supports, scale and bed orientation.  
  • Lulzbot Edition - Version specific for Aleph printers and tool heads.
  • Ultimaker Version - Can be defined for your printer.  
• Simplify 3D - Very powerful and popular paid program. 
• Slic3r - Open source 3D printing toolbox.

• fused filament fabrication (FFF) or fused deposition modeling (DFM) Layering continuous strands of thermoplastics to create a 3D shape.
  • Cartesian -  internal coordinate system from two fixed perpendicular oriented lines. (X,Y)
    • https://makezine.com/2015/03/10/cartesian-delta-polar-common-3d-printers/
• Delta style 3D printers - changing the angles of parallelograms to create a defined geometry.
  • https://tractus3d.com/what-is-3d-printing/3d-printing-technology/

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• SLA or SL - Stereolithography printing by fusing layers of chemical monomers and oligomers together to form polymers by using light. 
• Manufacturers
  • DiaBase - H-Series benchtop CNC (additive/subtractive/scanning)
  • Desktop Metal
  • FormLabs - high resolution resin SLA
  • Lulzbot
  • Markforged
  • Stratasys
  • Ultimaker
  • Prusa
• Services
  • Protolabs - Rapid prototyping and on-demand production service
  • Shapeways - 3D printing on demand

There is a huge 3D community of support that is available both on and offline.

• Thingiverse
• all3dp
  • Here is a great source for free and paid .stl models.

Countless YouTube channels and forums that you can subscribe to.

• https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMakersMuse
• 3DPrintingNerd

Material guide