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Library MakerSpace: 3D Printing

3D Printing Overview

What is 3D Printing?

3D printing is the process of making a three-dimensional object by building up layers of material. To do this, the machine takes a digital 3D model that has been "sliced" into several layers that can then be printed, one on top of the other. The picture below shows an example of a 3D printed object. Notice how the plastic has layered lines.

A blue 3D printed hand with a box enlarging one of the fingers for detail.

3D Printers at the Library MakerSpace

 

        UltiMaker S3                                 UltiMaker S5           

   Build Volume: 8.5 x 8.5 x 7.9 in                             Build Volume: 13 x 9.5 x 11.8 in 

An Ultimaker S3 3D printer turned on with a USB flashdrive plugged in. An Ultimaker S5 3D printer turned on with a pink USB flashdrive plugged in.

Interested in 3D printing? Use this online form to submit a 3D printing request. Please email us with other questions and/or concerns or to schedule an in-person or online consultation to talk about your project in more depth. 

Materials We Use

We primarily use colorFabb's XT and nGen filaments. XT and nGen are both polymer filaments made in co-operation with Eastman Chemical Company. The colors we stock change, however we consistently have black, white, gray, and Carolina blue colored filament available.

Picking Up 3D Prints

You will recieve an email when your project is ready to be picked up. Please bring your One Card with you to show the staff present at the desk. Your 3D print will be in a brown paper bag with your Onyen on it, located on a cart behind the desk.

FAQ and Policies

Answer: There is no cost associated with 3D printing. 3D printing is funded by a grant from the Student Library Advisory Board.

Answer: There is not an exact limit on academic use. Each file will be assessed for size and material use before being accepted. There is a limit of one non-academic project per month using no more than 150g of material.

Answer: Our 3D printers can produce layers down to 100 microns (0.0039 in.) but can lose accuracy on larger models.

Answer: Build times vary depending upon several factors: size, intricacy, amount of support material required, and the number of print requests in the queue. Once your request begins printing, build times typically range from 2 hours to 48 hours each. Once the model has been completed, you will be notified via email that it is available for pickup. Files will be printed in the order they are received with priority given to academic and research projects with a deadline; during busy periods, turnaround time may be up to 15 business days. Projects for personal use are not guaranteed a specific turnaround time; larger objects and high-resolution prints will take longer to complete.

Answer: 3D printing is available to current UNC-Chapel Hill affiliates. Academic use will be given priority over other projects. Non-academic print requests have no guaranteed turnaround time and are subject to staff approval. Due to the volume of requests, please limit your submissions to one non-academic project per month requiring no more than 150g of material.

Answer: Models that are left or not picked up after 1 week may be discarded unless prior arrangements have been made with staff.

Answer: The printers will only be operated directly by staff right now. If you are interested in operating a 3D printer yourself, visit the the BeAM@Carmichael, BeAM@Murray, and  BeaM@Hanes locations.  Directions and orientation times can be found here.

Answer: The printers are for non-commercial use only and should not be used to print items that are intended for sale. The printers also cannot be used to print weapons or facsimiles of weapons.

Additional Learning

3D Design Resources

3D Design Software

 

Tinkercad

Tinkercad: An easy-to-use web-based tool for creating objects that are ready to be 3D printed. If you haven’t done 3D design before, this is a great place to start.

Fusion 360

Fusion 360: A next-step-up from Tinkercad, Fusion 360 lets you develop more complex models. Free educational license

3D Design Tutorials

BeAM

Want to get hands-on experience 3D printing?

Visit BeAM for more information on how to get certified in 3D printing!