There are several 3D printers available at MS-L (Leesburg) and MS-P (Purcellville). See the page specific to the space you want for information about the printers at that location.
There is work on updating how to use the 3D printers, so please reference the 3d Printer Room Plans for more information
Safety Rules
| Do not leave your print unattended | Watch your print at all times. Things can go horribly wrong quickly. |
|---|---|
| Use care around heated beds and hot ends | 3D printers use heat had have HOT parts |
Watch your spool for jams | Jammed filament ain't no fun for nobody. |
When things go horribly wrong tell someone | If we know what happened we have a better chance to fix it...or prevent it next time. |
Use care around heated beds and hot ends | 3D printing uses heat. Heated beds can be up to 100°C and hot ends up to 250°C. If not careful you will get burned. |
Do not attempt to adjust the printers | If you don't know what you're doing you can cause more harm than good. There is a support contact for each printer, or post your issue to the #3dprinting Slack channel. |
Do not change the printer's EEPROM settings | Your changes may work for you but mess it up for others. |
Keep metal objects (spatulas, pliers) away from the nozzle | Metal tools can scratch or damage soft brass print nozzles and other parts. |
Cancel your job immediately in case of unusual noises or smells! | Use common sense...if it sounds like ball bearings in a washing machine then it's probably not working right. |
| When (not if) the printer breaks... |
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Beginning 3D Printing
Before using the 3D printers, please attend a 3D Printing Basics class. If none is scheduled post a note to the #3dprinting Slack channel. The slides for the class can be viewed here.
Troubleshooting
3D printing can be difficult. If you experience problems there are folks who can help. First, review the guides here and for the specific printer. If you still have a problem, post to the #3dprinting Slack channel. Even if you find the solution, let us know, so that we can be aware that it might be an issue for others, and try to prevent it from happening again.