User experience

Printer enclosures with HEPA filters

For the safety of our members, HEPA air filtration is available in the enclosures, especially needed for use with high temperature filaments like ABS, ASA, and PETG.

Wide range of filaments supported

Our Prusa printers support filament types PLA, PETG, ASA, PC, PVB, ABS, HIPS, PP, FLEX(TPU), PA, CF and user-defined custom types, usually on 1gm rolls or less of 1.75mm diameter filament.

Online print scheduling

The teamup app is used to schedule member time online for all 3D printers and for the shop's extensive collection of woodworking equipment. Members receive an ID and password for access.

Scheduling the printer is required for all prints to prevent usage conflicts. The purpose is to communicate the reserved time to other members who also might be interested in using the printer. It especially helps those traveling to the shop to be assured that the printer will be available when they arrive.

Printers should be scheduled/reserved for the entire time between when the printer is set up for a future remote print with a clean plate with the member's filament loaded, and the future time of print completion. See "Online print control and monitoring" below.

Online print control and monitoring

The Octoprint app is used to remotely submit, control, and monitor 3D prints on all our printers, free for members to use.

Members can watch their build in streaming video on their home PC or phone and can start, pause, or cancel a print. The use of Octoprint is encouraged when a member plans to leave a long running print unattended so they can monitor for any failures and correct or stop print. Prints can always be run from the member's USB stick using the local printer LCD's USB port, with Octoprint online viewing but without remote control. With this option, if a print fails the member can only scream at the PC as the print degenerates into a tangled mass.

Free member instruction

• printer operations
  • understand the Makerspace messaging app regarding 3D printer and usage updates
  • understand direct messaging to other members regarding 3D printing
  • understand the build plate, filament, and nozzle options
  • prepare/clean/start/pause/stop the printer
  • load/unload filament
  • manage operational problems
  • monitor and control the print online
• introduction to the Prusa Slicer software
  • project flow - design/export/slice/print
  • Slicer user interface
  • Settings specific for printing, filaments, and machines
  • build plate edits for modifying objects before printing
  • how to analyze the sliced object for quality and speed
• support for individual member projects
  • collaborate with senior members for specific project questions

Outside resources

• Professional courses from manufacturer offered online
  • Numerous sites offer online training for the use of design software to create printable models
  • Prusa offers several courses on 3D printing and design principles including the Prusa Slicer at Prusa3D courses