Pratt

DESIGN GUIDE

3D PRINTING3D PRINTINGCENTERCENTER

This print guide has been created to help you properly prepare your digital files when submitting your work to the 3D Printing Center. All work must be properly formatted to these specifications in order to ensure accuracy.

Print issues that arise from not following this workflow and these specifications will be considered a user error and will not be elligable for print credit. Once a job has been printed, no credits or reprints will be given if the error was caused by your file.

Print credits are given at the discretion of the lab manager for legitimate issues. Student monitors are not authorized to give credits or to authorize reprints without manager approval. Managers are available to assist Monday-Thursday from 9 AM-10 PM, Fridays 9AM-5PM and Sundays from 2PM-10PM. Please check posted signs for manager availability during special holiday hours and extended hours during finals.

3D prints that are held in the lab more than one week will be discarded.

On average, there is a 48-72 hour turnaround for 3D printed parts and 3D scans during the semester. Current turn around times are always posted in the lab.

Please remember to leave extra time for the piece to be post-processed after it leaves the printer. Prints undergo cleaning before you can pick them up. Print time will also depend on the size of your print and how much support material it needs.

Do not wait until the last minute to submit! 3D printing is a new process and you should build extra time in for print failure.

Food, liquids of any kind, and phone conversations are prohibited in the 3D Printing Center.

3D Printing Center Manager:Ashley Marcovitzamarco70@pratt.edu

3D Printing Center Front Desk: 718.687.5735

3D PRINTING CENTER POLICIES

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: WAX• Check that your model follows the specifications of the printer you plan on using

(wall thickness, escape holes, thickness of details, flat surface, etc)

• Check the overall dimensions of your object before submitting. It must fit on the printer.

• Leave enough time between submitting model and receiving print for deadline

• Separate mutiple parts into individual files

• Check and fix errors using Magics RP

• Export as .stl or .obj

• Name: onekey_date_description

3D PRINTING: QUICK CHECKLIST

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3D FILE TIPSAVOID COMMON ERRORS

-Check the dimensions of your file before submitting. -Tell the monitor if you built your model in inches or in millimeters so they can make sure your model prints at the right scale.

-Delete extraneous pieces from your file before exporting as an .STL from your CAD software. Make sure to only export the piece you want to print.

CHECK YOUR FILE FOR ERRORS USING MAGICS BEFORE SUBMITTING

Magics RP is a powerful software that will detect problems in your file that could prevent successful 3D printing.

Magics RP has many functions, but learning to fix your file for 3D printing is easy. There is a guide for fixing your files using Magics on every PC computer in the ENG and MACH labs, in the Help Files on the Desktop.

Files that have not been checked in Magics will not be accepted.

SUBMITTING YOUR FILE

Naming Your File: Files must be named in the following format: onekey_date_description

For example: amarco70_3_30_gemring

If you submit multiple versions of the same file in the same day, please denote the second version as: amarco70_3_30_v2_gemring

File Types: Files must be submitted in .STL or .OBJ format.

Multiple Parts:Please submit multiple parts as separate .STL files.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: PLASTICThe TAZ 6 prints in PLA (Polylactic Acid) plastic. Supports are added only where necessary and are snapped off after printing.

Angles greater than 68 degrees will require supports. Support removal may leave marks on your piece, so it is best to design your object to need as little support as possible.

Objects must have a flat surface to adhere to the print bed. Objects without a flat surface will not be accepted. The flat surface should be at least the size of your thumbnail but may need to be larger depending on your object.

Types of Plastic Available• Black PLA• White PLA• Gray PLA• Red PLA• Blue PLA• Semi-Clear PLA• Copperfill (Plastic and copper composite)• Bronzefill (Plastic and bronze composite)• Bamboofill (Plastic and wood composite) • Black Ninjaflex• White Ninjaflex• White Polysmooth (can be smoothed in Polysher machine)• Black Polysmooth (can be smoothed in Polysher machine)• Semi-Clear Polysmooth (can be smoothed in Polysher machine)

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: WAX3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: PLASTICHow Large Can I Print?Make sure your model fits within a 10 x 10 x 9.8” (254 x 254 x 250 mm) box.

Angles and Support MaterialAngles on your piece greater than 68 degrees will require supports to be added in the printing software. Support material can leave marks on the print. You will be charged for the cost of the material for your piece as well as for the necessary supports. If you would like to remove your own supports, please tell the monitor when you submit your file.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: PLASTICWall ThicknessWalls that are structurally important should be at least 1mm (recommended: 1.5mm) and should be supported on at least two edges. The printer’s nozzle is 0.5mm thick, so anything thinner than 1mm will not be accepted.

HollowingHollowing your model may save you money. Large parts that need a lot of support may be more expensive when hollowed. Make sure your hollowed model has a wall thickness of at least 1mm.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: PLASTICTextText should be at least 1mm wide at any given point, but larger is preferable. Make sure to leave a space of at least 1mm between letters. For text that is very small, you may have to adjust the curves of your text by hand to ensure that it is 1mm wide at any given point.

Embossed DetailsEmbossed details should be at least 0.3mm high.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: PLASTICEngraved DetailsEngraved details should have a depth of at least 0.4mm.

Minimum Hole DiameterThe smallest hole you can achieve on the TAZ 6 is 1mm. Holes smaller than 1mm may fuse during printing. Size accuracy of holes at 1mm may be off.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: PLASTICMoveable PartsMoveable parts should be at least 0.5mm apart to keep pieces from fusing together.

ToleranceSeparate printed parts that you would like to fit together perfectly, without coming apart again, should have a 0.3mm tolerance. Parts that you would like to be able to take apart again should have a tolerance of 0.4mm or greater.

Note that the more you fit the pieces together and take them apart again the looser the fit will become.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: RESINThe Objet 30 Prime uses a UV light to cure liquid resin layer by layer during the printing process. A secondary support material is added to fill in gaps, which is removed after printing using highly pressurized water.

Types of Resin• VeroWhite• VeroClear • VeroBlack

How large can I print? Make sure the model fits within a 11.57 x 7.55 x 5.85” (294 x 192 x 148.6 mm) box.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: RESINWall ThicknessWalls that are structurally important should be at least 1 mm thick and should be supported on at least two edges. Walls thinner than 2mm may be translucent. Thin walls have a higher chance of breaking.

HollowingHollowing your model will save you money. Make sure your hollowed model has a wall thickness of at least 1 mm.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: RESINText & Embossed DetailsText should be at least 0.2mm wide at any given point, but larger is preferable. Make sure to leave a space of at least 0.2mm between letters. For text that is very small, you may have to adjust the curves of your text by hand to ensure that it is 0.2mm at any given point.

Embossed details should be at least 0.2mm high and 0.2mm wide.

Engraved Details Engraved details should have a depth of at least 0.2mm.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: RESINMinimum Hole DiameterOn the Objet 30 Prime, the smallest hole you can achieve is 0.5mm. Holes smaller than 0.5mm may fuse closed during printing.

Moveable Parts Moveable parts should be at least 0.4mm apart to keep pieces from fusing together.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: RESINEscape Holes“Escape holes” serve as an escape route for support to be removed out of your piece. You need at least two escape holes that are at least 3mm wide, preferably at opposite ends of your piece.

This piece has been hollowed leaving a 1 mm wall. This will print, but there is no way for support material to be removed.

In this version, escape holes have been added as part of the design, and now the support material can be easily removed. This piece will also be cheaper because it uses less build material.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: WAX3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: RESINToleranceSeparate printed parts that you would like to fit together perfectly, without coming apart again, should have a tolerance of .08mm. Parts that you would like to be able to take apart again should have a tolerance of .12mm or greater.

Note that the more you fit the pieces together and take them apart again, the looser the fit will become.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: WAXThe Solidscape S350 offers high-detail wax printing for use in lost-wax casting. The printer will fill all gaps in your model with a solid support material, which is dissolved chemically after printing.

How large can I print? Make sure your model fits within a 6 x 6 x 4” (152 x 152 x 101mm) box. If casting in the Pratt Jewelry Department, make sure your model will fit in the largest flask.

Wall ThicknessWalls that are structurally important should be 1mm thick. For certain small details, the walls can be as thin as 0.8mm.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: WAXHollowing & Support MaterialHollowing your model can save money on material and weight in your cast piece. When hollowing, be careful to keep your walls at least 1mm thick, and to think about how support material will be removed from your piece.

Escape HolesIf your piece is hollow, you will need to leave “escape holes,” which serve as an escape route for support to be dissolved out of your piece. You need at least two escape holes that are at least 1.5mm wide, preferably at opposite ends of your piece.

Moveable PartsMoveable parts are not possible on the Solidscape.

This piece has been hollowed leaving a 1mm wall. This will print, but there is no way for support material to be removed.

In this version, escape holes have been added as part of the design, and now the support material can be easily removed. This piece will also be cheaper because it uses less wax material.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: WAXMinimum Hole DiameterThe smallest hole (going all the way through your piece) that you can achieve is 0.6mm.

Do not confuse this with escape holes: you will still need at least two larger holes (of 1.5mm or larger) for support material removal if your piece is hollowed.

TextText should be at least 0.4mm wide at any given point. Larger is preferable. Make sure to leave a space of at least 0.4mm between letters. You may have to adjust the curves of your text by hand to ensure that it is 0.4mm at any given point.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: WAXEngraved and Embossed DetailsThese details should have a depth or height of at least 0.5mm for wax printing.

Remember that after casting, you will file and sand your piece, which will remove material from your casting. More defined details will hold up better in the finishing process. Like with text, make sure to leave a 0.4mm space between details.

SpruesA sprue is a tube of wax that is added to a piece during the casting process, which creates a path for the molten metal to travel through in order to fill your piece. Make sure any sprues added to the model are about 2mm thick. If you need a smaller connection point, make the sprue at least 2mm at the opposite end. If you use spoke-style sprues inside a ring, angling them outwards will help with flow of metal when you are casting.

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3D PRINTING GUIDELINES: WAX3D SCANNING GUIDELINESThe Artec Eva and the Artec Spider scan by taking photos and capturing measurements to create a digital verstion of an object. You will receive a 3D mesh of the scan as a .stl file. You may request texture on your scan at submission. If no texture is requested, we will scan without texture and cannot provide this later.

3D scans require editing by the submitting student before they are ready for 3D printing. You can edit your scans in Magics RP, Rhino or Maya.

Scanning an ObjectThe scanner has difficulty scanning objects that are shiny or glossy, or black or white in color. You may be asked to spay paint your object in a matte, medium toned color. You may only have five items waiting to be scanned in the queue at one time.

Examples of sucessful objects include:• Clay models• Blue foam models• Shoes

Note: the scanner cannot pick up on very thin objects, like a model made of paper.

Body ScansBody scans are by appointment only. You must contact the manager to schedule an appointment. The lab is not responsible for editing the scan. Scanning technology is not perfect and it is common to have abnormalities in the final scan. You can use Magics RP to delete extra surfaces and smooth any bumps.

Things to note:• The scanner has difficulty scanning hair. If you have long hair, put it up in a bun.• Keep in mind what you have in your pockets at the time of scanning. For

example, if you have your phone in your pocket, it will show a flat rectangle.• Black and white clothing is difficult for the scanner to pick up.• If your shirt has a graphic on it, it is likely that the scanner will include it in the 3D

mesh if we are scanning for texture.

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