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Introduction

3D printing technologies first emerged in the 1980s but were not commercially viable until about 2005. Today, 3D printing is ubiquitous in a wide range of fields, including construction, manufacturing, jewelry and other crafts, education, medicine, and even dentistry.

This guide will provide an overview of 3D printer hardware, operating principles, processes, and slicing software. Where applicable, we will discuss Fimbel Lab-specific information about 3D printing and try to provide links to other resources for learning about it.

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Safety

Hazards

• Burn Hazard:
  • The extruder tip is HOT
  • The print bed is HOT
• Moving parts can crush your hand

Precautions

• Do not open the printer door while it is actively printing or the extruder is heated

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How to reserve

You can reserve 3D printers for up to 9 hours at a time on the following schedule:

• After 5 pm Monday - Friday
• Starting at 1 pm on Saturdays
• Starting at 3 pm on Sundays.

Large prints can take many hours, so we recommend reserving the printer for more time than you think you need. When you make your reservation, please have your file ready to print in STL or .3MF format.

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3D printer parts

1. Touchscreen- Displays printer status and controls
2. y-axis- The print head moves along the y-axis from front to back
3. Build plate- The removable surface on which the printer deposits layers of heated filament. The Bambu printer has swappable build plates for different materials
4. z-axis- The heat bed moves vertically along the z-axis
5. Heatbed- Heats the printing surface so that layers of filament adhere better to the build plate.
6. x-axis- The print head moves horizontally along the x-axis in a side-to-side motion
7. Toolhead- Contains the extruder and the print nozzle. The extruder pushes the filament into the heated print nozzle, where it is melted before being deposited on the build plate.

1. Belt Tensioners- adjust the tension on the x and y-axis belts
2. Temperature Control Fan- Cools the printer
3. Power Switch- Turns the printer on/off
4. Filament Waste Chute- The waste filament is disposed of through the waste chute

1. **AMS (**Automatic Materials System)- The AMS is an optional add-on that Fimbel has purchased for each of our Bambu printers. It enables the storage and use of multiple colors of filament and helps keep the filaments dry. </aside>

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Operating Principles

A 3D printer builds an object by depositing layers of material from the bottom up, a process known as additive manufacturing. Different technologies create these layers and use a wide variety of materials, from carbon fiber and ceramic to metal-infused resin and plastics.

Most of our printers build objects using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), which creates objects by building up layers of melted plastic.

Software

All 3D prints begin with a digital file for a 3D object. You can create an original design using 3D modeling software or download a pre-existing design from an online print repository like **MakerWorld** or Thingiverse.

File Format

The most common file format for 3D printing is .stl, which stands for stereolithography. STL files store information about geometry and dimensions but not color or surface texture. They are small and easily read by most 3D software apps.

Slicing Software

Before a 3D file can be printed it must be opened in a “slicer”. This is software that translates the 3D object into G-Code, a language consisting of print instructions that the 3D printer can understand. Slicing software also lets you change the scale and proportions of a model or adjust filament temperature, print speeds, and supports. The Bambu printer uses a slicer called Bambu Studio. There are also free slicers available online that are usually compatible with a number of different makes of 3D printers.

Materials

3D printers use spools of plastic called filament for their printing material. Filament comes in a wide variety of colors and types of plastic.

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PLA

At Fimbel Lab we frequently print with PLA, which stands for Polylactic Acid. PLA is derived from corn and sugarcane crops and is biodegradable, which makes it one of the most environmentally friendly filaments. Another benefit of PLA is its low printing temperature. A downside to PLA is that it can be brittle and isn’t as durable as other plastics.

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PETG

PETG is commonly used to create bottles and packaging due to its durability and flexibility. Like PLA, it is easy to print with and a favorite among beginners. PETG has a higher print temperature than PLA and is susceptible to moisture, making it tricky to store.

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ABS

ABS has great durability and strength. It is the preferred plastic for creating parts that undergo wear and tear. ABS is not environmentally friendly. It also has a high melting temperature and requires ventilation when printing.

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Hardware

Hardware varies from printer to printer, but the essential mechanisms are usually the same.

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A set of gears at the back of the printer feeds filament through the Bowden Tube into the extruder, which pushes it into the Hotend. The Hotend has heating elements that melt the filament to a specific temperature and a print nozzle that deposits the filament on the print bed.

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