The Teaching and Technology Center desires to offer the community, students and staff access to new and emerging technologies such as 3D printers to inspire a new interest in design and help the community to bring their creations to life. This policy establishes how and under what circumstances the 3D printers may be used.
The 3D Lab printers are available to make three-dimensional objects in plastic using a design that is uploaded from a digital computer file.
- The Labs 3D printers may be used only for lawful purposes. No one will be permitted to use the 3D printers to create material that is:
- Prohibited by local, state or federal law.
- The 3D Lab reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.
- Cost: There will be a set-up fee of $1.00 for each item requested. Further costs are then determined by the amount of filament and other materials used during the printing process. After the object is created, it will be weighed. Users will be charged $0.20 per gram rounded up to the nearest gram in addition to the set-up fee.
- Items printed from the 3D Labs printers that are not picked up within 10 days will become property of the Lab. Items must be picked up by the individual who printed them.
- Only trained Lab staff and trained students will operate the 3D printers.
The procedure for printing from the Labs 3D printers is as follows:
1. Design creation:
- Any 3D drafting software may be used to create a design as long as the file can be saved in .stl or .obj, file format. The Lab has computers with software that may be used to create a design.
- Digital designs also are available from various file-sharing databases such as Thingiverse.com
- The user is responsible for all errors that occur during printing involving the stereolithographic (.STL) or .OBJ files and design of the model. If the object does not print correctly due to design errors, it is the responsibility of the user to pay for the object. It is recommended that before you submit your .STL file for printing, you utilize a software that checks for errors and helps repair them. One such software is Netfabb. It will help you repair errors such as bad edges, holes, and reversed normals.
2. Submitting a design for printing:
- Persons wanting to use the 3D printer shall bring their file (in .stl or .obj, file format) (no larger than 50 MB) to the TTC during open hours. They will fill out the electronic form (if not previously filled out) and pay the $1.00 set up fee.
- The files will be readied for printing and viewed in MakerWare prior to printing. If you have any special instructions, please disclose them at drop off. If you want to print more than one object, make sure to submit a file for each one. It is sometimes difficult to estimate exact print times. Lab staff will make an educated guess about the length of a job upon request.
- If there is high demand, the Lab will schedule only one print per day per person or entity. If your print is time sensitive, please allow adequate time. Most prints will be finished in a few days, but there may be times that the printer is malfunctioning, being repaired, experiencing heavy use, or is being used for an event or a course.
- Printing is done on a first-come first-served basis taking into account the queue is prioritized based on factors such as academic priority, class due dates, reprints, and other issues as they arise. We reserve the right to alter queue order based on these factors
- Wait/pickup time: Once your model has been printed, you will receive an email letting you know the cost of the object and the date to pick it up. Items will be picked up at the Lab.
- Optional – If you wish to set up a consultation or appointment with a member of the Lab staff to consult about your model or watch it print, someone will contact you about scheduling a time. If a user wishes to print their object themselves, they will need to schedule an appointment with Lab staff to receive training on the 3D printer. If user has already received training they will only need to be supervised by a staff member during the printing process.
- The Lab cannot guarantee model quality or stability, nor confidentiality of designs. Quality Users may see slight imperfections in their prints. Small bumps or holes and rough edges at the base of an object may occur with 3D printing. You can clean up some of the imperfections with fine sand paper or other tools. The Makerbot Replicator 2 is very accurate, but there may be some instances where objects do not fit precisely together.
- The Makerbot Replicator 2 builds objects from the ground up. There are instances where certain prints will require support material and / or rafts to ensure proper printing. Support material is often needed if the design has large overhangs or parts suspended in mid-air. Rafts are often used as support at the base of the model. These types of additions are easily removable by the user. Staff will not be responsible for removing any supporting material and / or rafts for the user.
3. Please note that procedures governing the use of the Labs 3D printers are subject to change.
Notice concerning copyright and other intellectual property restrictions
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.
Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright or other intellectual property laws.
By submitting to the SUNY Sullivan 3D Printing Lab you acknowledge, represent, and warrant as follows:
- I have read, understand, and will comply with the notice posted above.
- I grant permission to the 3D printing Lab and its agents to reproduce the photocopy or other reproduction and return them to me, and I have the legal right and authority to grant this permission.
- I will use the photocopy or other reproduction only for private study, scholarship, or research.
- I will not use them for any commercial purpose or allow any third party to do so.
Contact If you would like to meet with a TTC staff member for additional information about 3D printing or if you have questions
(845)434-5750 ext 4458
Free 3D Modeling Software
OpenSCAD – free software for creating solid 3D CAD models. Useful for creating models of machine parts.
Tinkercad – a browser-based 3D design platform, now part of Autodesk (free version available).
123D Design – a free, powerful, yet simple 3D creation and editing tool from Autodesk.
List of additional free software packages from 3ders.com.
Free 3D Models
You can search for pre-existing models on the Internet to print as they are, or to modify using 3D modeling software.
3D Warehouse – Sketchup’s searchable design library.
Instructables – from the 123D community.
Thingiverse – MakerBot’s searchable design library community.
Youmagine – Share your imagination in this 3D printing community
CGtrader – Free 3D models for CG digital design and artwork
3D Modeling Tutorials
3D Modeling for Beginners (Shapeways)
How Do I Make a Solid Model (Rhino)
How To Fix and Repair Your 3D Model For Printing
Repair Your 3D Files (Meshlab, Netfabb)