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3D Printing

The school has two 3D printers:
1) Invision SR 3D multijet plastic printer
2) Zcorp 350 powder printer

The printers are fee-based and available for use by Architecture students and faculty on a first come first serve basis, but with preference given to digital fabrication classes. ONLY work related to architecture courses will be cut--no personal, non-architecture material.



  The Invision creates plastic models that are durable, translucent and paintable. The acrylic plastic is cured with ultraviolet light. Wax is used as a support structure during production, and is melted away after the model is removed from the printer.

The Zcorp uses a white composite plaster material with a binding agent to hold the powder together. The powder also serves as support material during the build process with excess reused at the end.

 


Maximum Model Size

  Zcorp  

Invision
  X (length): 10 inches   X (length): 11.75 inches
  Y (width): 8 inches   Y (width): 7.3 inches
  Z (height): 8 inches   Z (height): 8.2 inches

Cost

The cost is based on volume or weight and will be calculated before it is printed. Fees are deducted from your lab printing account prior to printing. If there are insufficient funds in your account, the model will not be printed. The cost to build on the Zcorp is cheaper (roughly 60% of the cost on the Invision).

  Zcorp  

Invision
  Powder + Binder: $4.00 per cubic inch   Build material (plastic): $7.25/oz
      Support material (wax): $4.25/oz

If you would like to know the cost prior to printing, be sure to check the appropriate box on the 3D Printer Job Submission Form and we will contact you.

Time to Print

Models take from 2-36 hours to print, based on size. We will attempt to print multiple models at once when possible. Students should plan to queue their files several days in advance of deadlines. The Zcorp prints faster than the Invision. (The Zcorp prints about 1-2 hours per inch in height; the Invision takes about 5 hours per inch.)

Zcorp vs. Invision

  Zcorp  

Invision
  Prints faster   Prints slower
  Cheaper   More expensive
  Models are more fragile   Models are more durable
  Lower resolution   Higher resolution - better for capturing fine detail

How to Prepare Model for Printing

  • Models are created in 3D programs such as Rhino and must be saved in STL format. Use the following steps to prepare your model in Rhino 4.0.

  • Make sure your model unit scale is in inches, not feet. Even though the dimension scale may be in inches, you still need to make sure the model units are in inches. Type 'units' on the command line to change this.

  • When working with surfaces, use BooleanUnion to combine the objects into one polysurface. Click Solid > Union.

  • After the Union command has been applied, create a Polygon Mesh. Highlight the object, select Mesh > From NURBS Object. With highly curved surfaces, increase the number of triangles in the mesh. Straight surfaces need less.

  • Next, click the object to select the Polygon Mesh.

  • Issue the command CheckMesh to see if you have a good mesh. If you have a bad mesh, search Rhino help for 'check/repair meshes'. This will give you many fix-it commands. A common problem is naked or unjoined edges, which are revealed with the command ShowEdges, and usually fixed with MatchMeshEdge. FillMeshHoles will repair holes, but is more likely to change the shape of the model. ExtractDuplicateMeshFaces will separate identical faces for easier removal, but be aware it could generate naked edges. It may be helpful to make a copy of the mesh before using these tools in order to check the results. Visit this page for more tips on creating a good stl file from Rhino.

  • When done fixing the model, export the Polygon Mesh as an STL file. Select the mesh, then click File > Export Selected. Change the Save As Type to STL. When the File Type Options appears, choose BINARY.

  • After creating the STL file, we recommend checking your model in Magics, which is a software program available on the lab computers. Magics has a Fix Wizard which will repair common problems. Click Tools, Fix Wizard. Click the Update button to see what errors are present. You can then click 'Go to Advised Step' to walk through the fix-it steps. Or you can pick an area to work on such as 'Normals' and do automatic or manual fixing. Sometimes the automatic fixing can drastically change the model so use with care. Other useful tools under the Tools menu are Triangle Reduction, Extrude, Offset Part, and Smoothing. If you make changes to the model in Magics, use File > Save Part As to keep it in the STL format.

How to Submit Your File - Drop Box and Job Form

  • Copy your STL file into the 3D Printer Drop Box folder, which is found on the Courses/M drive on the lab computers. Make sure the filename includes your NetID (i.e. jrsmith-myfile-01.stl).

  • If you have several parts to print, put each part in its own STL file. Do not give us an STL file with multiple parts or we will return it to you.

  • Print and fill out the 3D Printer Job Submission Form (download here). Turn in the form in one of the following ways: 1. Slide it under the door of Room 001 (Chuck and Andy’s office), OR 2. Scan the completed form, save it as a PDF, and copy it to the 3D Printer Drop Box folder (make sure the filename includes your NetID).

Post-production and model pick up

  • We will contact you via email when your model is ready for pickup.

  • We encourage you to stop by and learn how to clean and infiltrate your Zcorp model(s). This involves powder removal and optionally treating the model with salt water or a cyanoacrylate bonding agent to increase the durability. Invision models may require additional cleaning to remove the wax support material.

Finishing Your Model - Painting, Sanding, Gluing

  • Sanding - Sand the model to remove imperfections or layer lines from the surface. Wet sanding tends to keep the part cool and prevent melted material from “gumming up” the sand paper. It also minimizes dust. If you dry sand the part, wear a NIOSH-approved (or equivalent) dust mask. Do not sand Zcorp powder models that have been dipped in the cyanoacrylate (Zbond) bath.

  • Painting - Before painting a part, wipe the surface with isopropyl alcohol and apply a lacquer-based paint primer. After priming, brush on any oil- or water-based paint that is compatible with the primer. Excellent painting results have also been achieved with air brushes and water-based acrylic paint.

  • Gluing - Use “super glue” (cyanoacrylate) to join parts. Wipe the mating surfaces thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol before gluing for a stronger bond.

  • Dewaxing - The Invision plastic models may have a slight white coating, which is wax residue. A hair dryer on the hot setting can be used to melt the wax--then use paper towels to absorb the melted wax. A heat gun can be used, but it can easily ruin your model if not used carefully.

Refund Process

Refunds will be granted only if the printer malfunctions or the model is accidentally broken by an operator. Errors in the STL file are a student’s responsibility.

  
Syracuse University, School of Architecture, 201 Slocum Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244