3D Printing

First, you must remove the USB drive from the printer you've chosen to print on. They plug into the right side of the control panel on the front of the printer.

Plug it into the USB hub in front of the computer you're working from.

PrusaSlicer should automatically detect the presence of a storage medium and show an icon of a USB stick and an SD card on the bottom right. Clicking this icon will open a Windows Explorer window where you can make sure that it's saving to the right drive and under the correct name.

If the filename and destination are correct, click Save. The window will close automatically and you will see a prompt to eject the drive in the lower right corner of the preview pane. Click the Eject icon to safely eject the USB drive before physically removing it.

Once you have removed the USB drive, it's time to bring it back to the printer you intend to use. Simply plug it into the USB port, and the printer will automatically detect the most recent valid G-code file added to the drive and bring it up on screen for you.

To get it started, all you have to do is press the knob once.

We encourage all 3D printer users to stick around for about five minutes to make sure their print starts off okay - most issues that can cause a 3D print to fail will be apparent by the time the first layer is finished. The printer will go through the following steps over the course of a couple minutes:

• Preheating (both the print surface and the nozzle)

• Calibration

• Test line

After that, it will start on your print. Look at the first layer to make sure that all of the following are true:

• Filament is coming out of the nozzle (if it's not, there's either a jam or the build sheet is not aligned correctly).

• The filament is sticking to the build plate and staying in place (you want it to be slightly flattened against the sheet, like linguini not spaghetti).

• The first layer is in the shape that you intended it to be (wouldn't want to print the wrong file by accident)

If any of these conditions are not met, you can stop the print by using the knob to select Stop. Consult an Innovation Lab employee before trying again.

If you're present when your print finishes, you may want to remove it yourself. On a Prusa, this is a simple process. Simply position your thumbs on the tabs marked with thumbprints and lift the magnetic build plate away using your index fingers on the corners.

Then, flex the sheet to cause the print to pop off of it. Don't be afraid to flex it pretty far - it's metal, it will bounce right back.

Any troublesome bits of brim that remain stuck can be removed with a plastic scraper.

When you're done removing your print, please place the steel sheet back onto the print bed. Make sure to line up the pins as shown so that the next print will go smoothly!

If you are not present when you print finishes, it is likely to be removed by a Lab employee or another lab user hoping to use the same filament. Finished prints that are not claimed immediately by their owners are placed on this table in the Innovation Lab, where they remain for one week.

When your print is finished, you may still have some work to do on it.

Support can be removed using the clippers or needlenose pliers present in the lab.

Sanding can be done using the lab's filing sticks or sandpaper.

Gluing can be done using the lab-supplied super glue or hot glue gun.

Modification using heat can be done in the lab only if you have completed the Woodshop safety training and liability waiver. The soldering pen and heat gun found in this room can both be used for 3D print modification purposes.

Painting must be done at home. Acrylic paint tends to work best for detail work, while spray painting is fine for base coats. Sharpies and nail polish also work in a pinch.