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Zones & Tools / 3D Printing

3D Printing Zone

Design it, slice it, print it. The 3D Printing SBU is the best intro to CAD at the lab — and the gateway to every other computer-controlled tool we have.

R. Miloh Alexander

Miloh Alexander

3D Printing Zone Manager

Runs the 3D Printing zone and teaches the SBU. Sessions are by appointment — reach out and he’ll get you set up.

Get in touch

Get Certified

Every member starts with the SBU — Safety & Basic Use

SBU: By Appointment

This is the best on-ramp to digital fabrication at CFL. You’ll learn the three jobs behind every print — design, toolpath, and running the job — the same skills that carry straight over to the laser cutter, the ShopBot wood mill, and the plasma cutter. Learn it here first and you’ve got the foundation for the whole lab.

Book an SBU

Reserve print time

Certified members can book a printer so it’s free and ready when you show up.

Reserve a Printer

Filament

  • BYOF — bring your own filament. A shared, open-air stock of partly-used PLA and PETG ‘share spools’ is available in public storage.
  • Stick to PLA for now — or PETG if you know what you’re doing.
  • We can’t guarantee print quality on unknown or low-grade filament.

Equipment

A growing bench of printers, each with removable build sheets and spare parts on hand:

Ready to print

  • Prusa MK3 — the reliable workhorse, removable build sheets
  • AnyCubic Kobra3 — removable build sheets, spare parts on hand

On the bench

  • Flashforge Dreamer NX — not currently in service
  • Makerbot Replicator (wooden-frame model) — being set up as a demonstration machine

Good to know

Know your machine before you run it: understand the printer and your process, and don’t leave a print unattended until you’ve got a track record of successful jobs. Clean the bed for the next user and report any issues on the CFL Discord.

Help Wanted in This Zone

Volunteer at the Lab

Ready to make something?

Membership gets you certified and printing.

Become a Member