UC Makerspace simplifies 3D printing

Working with various materials from basic plastics to high performance composites, a range of objects from everyday practical items to awe-inspiring works of art can be made using 3D printers.

Located inside the 1819 Innovation Hub, the Makerspace shares the process needed for anyone wishing to bring their digital designs to life.

Inside the Makerspace, along with a variety of 3D printers offering unique features and capabilities, are technical staff who provide advanced support and guidance. Once your design is complete, they'll handle everything, from managing the automated print queue to optimizing your design and operating the 3D printer.

"We match the appropriate 3D printer model needed for any project based on size, quantity and materials," Gabrielle Stichweh, Makerspace prototyping technician, said. "No certification class is required, but anyone wishing to print an object needs a stereolithography (STL) file, which you can create or upload from ready-made files available online."

The Makerspace offers the following 3D printing technologies to suit various needs:

• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM): a desktop model using thermoplastic filaments melted through a nozzle and applied layer by layer until the pattern is complete.
• Stereolithography (SLA): uses a highly precise laser to cure liquid resin into hardened plastic for a wide range of objects needing refined and isotropic features, such as mechanical parts.
• Industrial FDM: for larger, more demanding prototypes using durable materials such as carbon fiber and for small batch production.

Members can easily access the membership portal to upload their STL files to the 3D printing queue. Makerspace staff optimize and process prints and notify members of completion.

A variety of students, faculty, staff and community members routinely use the Makerspace to turn their visions into tangible work. They include:

• Architecture students or architects needing parts for scale models

• Theater majors or professionals requiring design sets for a stage production

• Electrical or biomedical engineers looking to create parts for a device

• Industrial designers developing new products

• Cosplay enthusiasts crafting tailored parts, for instance, ears for a costume

While 3D printing has come a long way in accessibility and user-friendliness, it still requires skill and expertise to ensure successful results, Stichweh said. The Makerspace staff has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is always on hand to help make your digital designs come to life, she said.

Featured image at top: A UC student models a 3D printed cosplay mask. Photo/Diana Lara