3D printing, also known as Additive Manufacturing (AM), is an incredible technology to manufacture parts that are difficult to fabricate with other methods. If your part can be easily manufactured with our other equipment, we will redirect you to use those tools. Parts that are inappropriate, weapon-related, or used to contact food are also not allowed to be printed at the Invention Studio.
There is also a professional 3D Printing Professional 3D printing service offered through the G.W.W. School of Mechanical Engineering are available at no cost for ME students enrolled in ME courses or working on entrepreneurial and co-curricular projects.
Image source: Formlabs
Material Offerings
3D printing materials at the Invention Studio are free to use for students and faculty. The table below (or linked here) shows the materials we supply as well as their inventory statuses, material properties, and use cases. Please sign in with your GT account to view the table. You are also welcome to bring your own materials to print with.
Change tabs to switch between FDM Filaments and SLA Resin offerings
FDM (Standard) 3D Printing
Traditional 3D printing, or Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), is suitable for most engineering and hobby applications. FDM builds a 3D object by melting and extruding a thermoplastic filament through a nozzle and depositing it layer by layer onto a build platform. We have 24 Bambu Lab X1Es, supplemented by a few Ultimaker S5s, to assist with your printing needs.
See the guide below for directions on how to 3D print using our Bambu Lab X1Es at the Invention Studio.
- Export an STL from CAD
- Slice your part in Bambu Studio
- Upload your part to 3DPrinterOS (Sign in with SSO)
- Find a PI to help start your print
For special engineering applications, we also have a MarkForged Mark 2 that prints with Onyx (nylon + chopped carbon fiber) and the option for embedded Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, or Fiberglass fiber strands. See the guide below for directions on how to print with the MarkForged Mark 2, and find a 3D Printing Master during their Masters Hour to get your print started.
SLA (Resin) 3D Printing
Resin 3D printing, formally known as stereolithography (SLA), builds a 3D object by selectively curing liquid photopolymer resin with UV light, layer by layer, onto a build platform. Resin 3D printing at the Invention Studio is reserved for high-detail models with intricate geometries or parts that require the mechanical properties offered by our Engineering Resins. We have 8 Formlabs Form 4s to assist with your resin printing needs.
To use one of our Engineering Resins, you will need to fill out the Engineering Resin Request Form to be approved by a 3D Printing Master. You will receive a response within 48 hours.
See the guide below for directions on how to resin 3D print using our Formlabs Form 4s at the Invention Studio.
SLS 3D Printing
Selective laser sintering (SLS) builds a 3D object using a high-power laser to selectively fuse small particles of polymer powder into a solid structure layer by layer. We have a Form Fuse 1 with Nylon 12 material available. This printer is dedicated for print-in-place parts or parts specifically requiring the material properties of Nylon 12. If you would like to request a part on the Form Fuse, reach out to the 3D Printing Masters at 3dprinting@inventionstudio.gatech.edu.
Exporting an STL
No matter what 3D printing method is required for your application, the process begins with an STL file exported from the CAD application you are using. Exporting CAD geometry with the right STL resolution will result in 3D printed parts with the highest dimensional accuracy and surface finish, without slowing down the slicing process
If you are using SolidWorks, see the guide below for exporting an STL for 3D printing.
Contact a Master
For any questions, concerns, requests, or advice, please reach out to our 3D Printing Masters at 3dprinting@inventionstudio.gatech.edu or visit them on their Masters Hours.