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Makerspace

3D printer with engine block on its print bed

Our 3D Printing Hardware:

The Makerspace has two Makerbot Replicator+ 3D printers (pictured above).

3D printing is still an emerging technology and there are a variety of hardware options available on the market today, from small, inexpensive experimental units to large commercial and industrial production. The Makerbot Replicator+ has been designed for rapid prototyping and for the education market. While it can reproduce designs with high quality and resolution, there are some limitations to its abilities. If you have questions about the printing options available when you have a complex design, please contact us at librarysystems@southernct.edu and we'd be happy to consult with you on your project.

See a demonstration time-lapse video below of the Makerbot Replicator+ in action:

Buley Library 3D Print Policy

Buley Library 3D Printing Policy

  1. The Buley Library 3D printers are available for use by students, faculty and staff.
  2. 3D printing during the current pilot stage is free. (It is anticipated that a fee to cover material costs will be necessary in the future)
  3. The size of prints is initially limited to 3 cubic inches—permission is required for larger prints or solid prints.
  4. The 3D printing queue is prioritized based on factors such as academic priority, class due dates, reprints, and other issues as they arise. The library reserves the right to alter queue order based on these factors.
  5. 3D print requests may take up to 2 weeks to be filled. Please plan accordingly. 
  6. The library cannot guarantee model quality or stability, or confidentiality of designs. Responsibility for removing rafts and supports is the user's.
  7. The library's 3D printers may only be used for lawful purposes. No objects will be created that are:
    • Prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
    • Unsafe, harmful, dangerous, or poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others.
    • Obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the library environment.
    • In violation of another's intellectual property rights. (ie reproductions that are subject to copyright, patent, or trademark protection.
  8. Items must be picked up by the individual who submitted them or their designee, using a valid University ID. Items not picked up within 7 days after being printed become the property of Buley Library.
  9. The library reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.