COVID-19 UPDATE: The MEC is taking 3D print orders! Email your file to mec@cwu.edu

NOTE! Due to printer malfunctions, we are only able to take Resin print orders at this time!

3D Printing at the MEC

The Multimodal Education Center invites CWU students, staff and faculty to join us in creating with our variety of 3D printers. The MEC is currently equipped with a Ultimaker 2+ extrusion printer, a Makerbot Replicator 2X dual extrusion printer, and a Form 2 resin printer. Paired with our 3D design ready computers, the extrusion printers are the perfect choice for rapid prototyping, adding another dimension to a class project, or even developing new methods of tactile teaching with 3D printed manipulatives, while the resin printer can produce high-quality prints on a very small scale. Watch a MEC workshop on how to create a 3D print design.

• Materiels

• Guidelines

• Placing an Order

• Colors

• Pricing

• Recommended Resources

• 3D Scanning

3D Printing Materials

• PLA: general 3D print material, for display or decorative prints
• Tough PLA: used for functional 3D prints; currently available in white only
• Resin: highly detailed, ability to print small files, more expensive than ABS and PLA

3D Printing Guidelines

1. The printer may only be used for lawful purposes. The MEC will not print any object that is: 
   • prohibited by any local, state, or federal law.
   • unsafe, harmful, dangerous, or poses an immediate threat to others.
   • obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the university environment.
   • in violation of another individual or company’s intellectual property rights.
2. The MEC reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.
3. Users will be charged for failed print jobs that occur because of design errors. The MEC will be responsible for any failed print jobs as a result of a printer error.*

*note: finished prints often require post-printing surface finishing (e.g. sanding, painting, etc). The MEC does not consider the need for superficial clean up on finished prints to be a "failed" print.

Placing An Order

One you have designed or downloaded your model and saved it as an STL file, either email the file to mec@cwu.edu or bring it to our front desk in Samuelson Hall on a USB drive.

Include the following in your email:

1. Material (PLA, ABS, or Resin) *Material and color requests are subject to availability
2. Color
   • View our PLA colors
   • View our ABS and Resin colors
3. Size/dimensions if the print needs adjustments
4. 3D print file(s) (.stl, .obj, or .3mf file)

After you place your order, a MEC employee will do a brief review of your file then contact you regarding any troubleshooting that needs to be done and a price quote. You will need to confirm the print for the order before we can start running your print. We will send you an email when the print is finished and ready to be picked up. 

Please Note: There is a minimum turnaround time of 72 business hours from when MEC Staff have received all necessary information for a print order to when it will be available for pickup. 

Pricing

• Standard PLA/ABS - $0.50 per printing hour
• Specialty Materials** - $1.50 per printing hour
• Resin - $0.30 per mL

**copperfill, woodfill, flexible, and glow-in-the-dark

Payment is due when you pick up your print order. The MEC accepts student charge or deparment charge payments. We do not accept cash, credit or debit cards. We are not taking orders from the general public. If you are not affiliated with CWU, we recommend you look to Yakima's Maker Space for your 3D printing needs. 

Recommended Resources

We recommend the use of 3D design programs like Autodesk's Fusion 360 and Blender to facilitate the development of your original 3D models. In addition to these, a wealth of models can be found for free use on repository sites like Thingiverse.

MEC Staff can assist in developing 3D models on a case-by-case basis in compliment to the 3D printing workshops offered throughout the academic year. The 3D printing workshop for Fall 2019 is offered each Tuesday from 1p - 2p in Samuelson 126.

Contact us at mec@cwu.edu or talk to MEC Staff in the Samuelson lobby to submit your print request today!

3D Scanning

The Multimodal Education Center houses the EinScan-Pro Handheld 3D Scanner and it is open for use by students, staff, and faculty at CWU. Capable of four different scanning modes, the EinScan Pro is perfect for capturing anything from large objects that don't need a lot of accuracy, to small industrial parts and artistic pieces. The EinScan Pro creates a digital model of any 3D object scanned, greatly reducing the amount of time spent trying to duplicate tedious designs. That model can then be turned into an STL file and printed on on of the MEC's 3D printers!

3D scanning is a completely free service for the CWU community - Email mec@cwu.edu  to make an appointment today!

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