3D Printing in CECH Library
Our MakerLab includes an Ender-5 Plus 3D printer. CECH Library thanks our friends at the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative for kindly donating this machine for the benefit of our University of Cincinnati students, faculty, and staff.
We charge by the weight of all printed materials, including failed prints, at the rate of $0.07 per gram. We will weigh your printed materials at the CECH Library Info Desk after your printing project is complete.
The 3D printer in the CECH Library is DIY (do-it-yourself) and self-service only. We do not assist with 3D modeling, slicing, or printing at this time. If you wish to submit an STL file and have it sliced and printed, UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub Ground Floor Makerspace provides a full range of 3D printing services, including both PLA and resin material options. Check out their Makerspace Member Portal for pricing and to upload/print a 3D printing project. 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace is free to all UC students, faculty, and staff, and subscriptions are also available for a fee for community members.
Before You Arrive
We welcome makers to complete all project steps – from design to printing to post-production – in our MakerLab, but you may prefer to have your design in-hand when you arrive.
To get started, you will need an STL file. You can design and create your own STL file using 3D modeling software. We recommend Tinkercad (free download) for beginners. You may also wish to print a design you find on a 3D printing community site, such as Thingiverse.
Once you have your STL file, you’ll need to import it into a slicing software such as Ultimaker Cura (free download) to covert the STL into G-code. Save the resulting file onto a Micro SD. You can borrow one from our Info Desk.
To ask a question about 3D printing, contact CECH Library.