3D PRINTER

The ZCorp 310 3D Printer is located in Room 4. It is a compliment to the workshop tools and the CNC machine, and can be used for building detailed models that would be hard to realize by traditional means.

The 3d Printer builds up parts by laying down layers of a plaster-like powder and accurately squirting glue on areas which create very thin (0.035”) sections of the part. Because the process is additive it allows for undercuts and/or hollow objects.
The machine works quite slowly and after the part is complete time is required for excess water to evaporate and the glue to reach full hardness. For that reason we will be starting one build in the evening and extracting the parts the next morning. Most parts will need to have cyanoacrylate (Krazy Glue) or resin applied to further harden the model.

· Materials: we provide material
· Maximum envelope: 8” x 10” x 8” high (203mmx254mmx203mm). Multiple objects can be built together.

To prepare files for the 3d printer:
· The computer model should be a closed (“watertight”), polygon (mesh) object. Single surfaces or constructs of surfaces with gaps or holes will not work.
· The objects should be scaled to the size they are to be built. (Vectorworks users this means scaling the actual objects NOT working scale). Units should be inches.
· The machine will follow the polygons exactly so to see how the part will look use “flat shading” in your modeling program.
· The minimum thickness of any unsupported element should be about 0.1” (2.5mm).
· Try to make sure all normals are pointing outwards.
· Export one object per file as an .stl, .3ds, or .wrl

Advice, from the manufacturer, for avoiding problems and troubleshooting files, click here.

Builds will be started Monday through Thursday evening at 6:00 pm. Up to two additional builds will be started over the weekends as required. The part will be available by 11:00 am the following morning.