3D Printing

3D Printing Area

⚠️ SAFETY GLASSES REQUIRED WHEN REMOVING SUPPORTS OR POST-PROCESSING ⚠️

⚠️ NEVER LEAVE THE FIRST LAYER UNATTENDED — CHECK LONG PRINTS PERIODICALLY ⚠️

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📋 Before You Print — Member Checklist

A few quick steps every time you start a print — please don't skip these:

• 🏷️ Label your print with a sticky note. Write your name (and a phone number and/or email if you can) on a sticky note and attach it to the printer you're using. If a print fails or there's an issue, we need to know whose job it is and how to reach you.
• ⚖️ Write down the filament weight. Note the weight the slicer estimated (in grams) on your sticky note. This is how we track material use for paying for filament — jot it down before you walk away.
• 👀 Don't hit print and leave. Stay for the first few layers and make sure they're going down cleanly with good bed adhesion. The first layer is where most prints fail — catching a bad start here saves your whole print (and everyone's filament and time).

💵 Paying for Filament

Once you know your print's weight, pay for the material you used. There are three easy ways:

• Deposit bucket — drop your payment in the deposit bucket inside the 3D printing room
• Scan the QR code — posted in the 3D printing room
• Pay online — use the links below for the material you printed with

Material	Pay Online
PLA	Pay for PLA →
ABS / ASA / TPU	Pay for ABS / ASA / TPU →
Polycarbonate	Pay for Polycarbonate →

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3D Printers

• Enclosed CoreXY Printers — Fast, versatile machines good for most work. Enclosure allows ABS/ASA in addition to PLA and PETG.
  • Bambu Lab X1 Carbon — Fully enclosed, AMS multi-color/multi-material, lidar first-layer inspection. Our most automated printer; great for reliable multi-color prints. 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide →
  • Elegoo Centauri Carbon (×3) — Enclosed CoreXY workhorses; our primary everyday machines. Fast, easy to use, filtered enclosure. 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide →

• CreatBot F430 — Large-format, fully enclosed, heated chamber (70°C) with dual extruders reaching 420°C. For engineering materials (Nylon, PC, CF) and large industrial parts. ⚠️ Advanced machine — training required. 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide →

• Anycubic Kobra Max — Large-format open-frame Bowden printer (400×400×450mm). GRM's go-to for oversized single PLA prints. Open frame — PLA/PETG only. 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide →

• Ultimaker 3 Extended — Open-frame dual-extrusion printer with swappable print cores and auto nozzle-lifting. Great for two-color prints and PVA dissolvable supports. Open frame — best for PLA/PETG/PVA. 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide →

• Prusa MK2 — Reliable open-frame Cartesian printer; good for straightforward PLA/PETG prints. A dependable classic. 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide →

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Equipment

3D Printers

Item	Model	Specifications	Safety Training Required	Owner's Manual & Resources
Enclosed CoreXY (Multi-Color)	Bambu Lab X1 Carbon	256mm × 256mm × 256mm build volume; fully enclosed CoreXY; AMS 4-color system; direct drive, hardened nozzle; 300°C hotend, 110°C bed; lidar first-layer inspection; auto bed leveling Software: Bambu Studio	Yes — Mandatory	User Manual 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide
Enclosed CoreXY	Elegoo Centauri Carbon (×3)	256mm × 256mm × 256mm build volume; fully enclosed CoreXY; direct drive, hardened steel nozzle; 320°C hotend, 110°C bed; auto bed leveling (121-point) + auto Z-offset; filtered enclosure; dual-sided PEI plate Software: ELEGOO Slicer (Orca-based)	Yes — Mandatory	User Manual 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide
Large-Format Enclosed (Dual Extruder)	CreatBot F430	400mm × 300mm × 300mm build volume; fully enclosed steel body; heated chamber up to 70°C; dual extruders (260°C left / 420°C right); auto bed leveling (25-point); HEPA-filtered; power-outage recovery ⚠️ Advanced — for engineering materials and large parts Software: CreatWare (Cura also supported)	Yes — Mandatory	User Manual 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide
Large-Format Open-Frame	Anycubic Kobra Max	400mm × 400mm × 450mm build volume; open-frame Bowden extruder; glass plate over heated bed; auto-leveling (16-point); filament sensor; outage recovery ⚠️ Open frame — PLA/PETG only, no ABS/ASA/TPU Software: Orca Slicer (Cura profile also provided)	Yes — Mandatory	User Manual 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide
Open-Frame Dual Extruder	Ultimaker 3 Extended	215mm × 215mm × 300mm build volume (single nozzle) / 197mm × 215mm × 300mm (dual material); open-frame; dual-extrusion print head with auto nozzle-lifting and swappable AA/BB print cores; heated glass bed (20–100°C); active bed leveling; 280°C max nozzle; 2.85mm filament ⚠️ Open frame — PLA/PETG/PVA recommended; supports dual-color and dissolvable-support printing Software: UltiMaker Cura	Yes — Mandatory	User Manual 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide
Open-Frame Cartesian	Prusa MK2	250mm × 210mm × 200mm build volume; open-frame Cartesian; single extruder; heated bed ⚠️ Open frame — PLA/PETG recommended Software: PrusaSlicer	Yes — Mandatory	User Manual 📄 Full Machine Wiki Guide

Support Equipment

Item	Model	Specifications	Notes	Safety Training Required	Owner's Manual
Filament Dry Box	TBD	Keeps filament dry to prevent moisture defects	Store hygroscopic filaments (Nylon, PETG, TPU) in a dry box when not in use. Ask a volunteer if you're unsure whether your material needs drying.	No	—

Post-Processing Tools

Item	Notes
Flush Cutters	For clipping supports and filament ends
Needle-Nose Pliers	For removing supports and brims
Deburring Tool / Hobby Knife	Cleaning up edges and seams — cut away from body
Scrapers / Spatula	For removing prints from beds — use carefully, away from hands
Digital Calipers	For measuring parts and verifying dimensions
Sandpaper / Files	Surface finishing — wear a dust mask when sanding

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Software & Design

⭐ Recommended Slicing Software

🏆 Use the Slicer That Matches Your Machine

A slicer converts your 3D model (STL, OBJ, 3MF) into the G-code the printer follows. Each machine at GRM has a recommended slicer with pre-tuned profiles — always start with the profile that matches your machine. All of these slicers are free. Bambu Studio — for the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon Handles the AMS multi-color system and lidar features. Download Bambu Studio ELEGOO Slicer — for the Centauri Carbon machines Orca-based; ships with tuned Centauri Carbon profiles. Download ELEGOO Slicer Orca Slicer — for the Anycubic Kobra Max GRM Kobra Max profile available — ask a volunteer or check Discord. Download Orca Slicer PrusaSlicer — for the Prusa MK2 Prusa's own slicer with built-in MK2 profiles. Download PrusaSlicer UltiMaker Cura — for the Ultimaker 3 Extended Auto-detects print cores and materials; handles dual-extrusion and PVA supports. Download UltiMaker Cura CreatWare — for the CreatBot F430 CreatBot's proprietary slicer for the F430's dual-extruder / high-temp setup. Cura is also supported. Download CreatWare / CreatBot Software

Tip: If you already know a slicer like Orca or Cura, most of these machines can be added to it manually — but the machine-matched slicer above is the fastest way to get a known-good result.

Slicer Basics — Tutorial Videos

Video	Description	Link
3D Printing Slicer Basics for Beginners	General walkthrough of what a slicer does and the key settings — good first watch	[PLACEHOLDER — Tutorial Link]
Bambu Studio Beginner Guide	Setup and first print with the X1 Carbon and AMS	[PLACEHOLDER — Tutorial Link]
Orca / ELEGOO Slicer Walkthrough	Covers the Orca-based interface used by ELEGOO Slicer and Orca Slicer	[PLACEHOLDER — Tutorial Link]

3D Model Sources

Site	Cost	Notes	Link
Printables	Free	Prusa-run community library; high-quality, well-tested models	printables.com
Thingiverse	Free	Large, long-running model library	thingiverse.com
MakerWorld	Free	Bambu-run library; profiles integrate with Bambu Studio	makerworld.com
Thangs	Free	Model search engine and community	thangs.com

3D Modeling / CAD Tools

Software	Cost	Notes	Link
Tinkercad	Free	Browser-based; the easiest entry point for beginners and youth	tinkercad.com
Onshape	Free (hobby)	Full parametric CAD in the browser; great next step after Tinkercad	onshape.com
Fusion 360	Free (personal) / Paid	Professional parametric CAD	autodesk.com
Blender	Free	Open-source; best for organic/artistic modeling and sculpting	blender.org
FreeCAD	Free	Open-source parametric CAD	freecad.org

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Safety & Usage

General Safety Rules

• Complete mandatory training before using any printer
• Sign in on the equipment log
• Never leave the first layer unattended — it's the most common failure point
• Check in on long prints periodically
• Report jams, failures, and maintenance issues
• Clean the bed and remove scraps when you're done

Operating Procedures

1. Complete mandatory training before use
2. Sign in on the log sheet
3. Load your model in the machine's recommended slicer, using the matching profile
4. Verify the correct filament is loaded and the correct plate/surface is installed
5. Confirm the bed is clean and (where applicable) adhesion aid is applied
6. Start the print and watch the first layer
7. Stay reachable during the print; check in periodically on long jobs
8. Allow parts to cool before removing from the bed
9. Clean the bed and remove supports/scraps
10. Sign out on the log sheet

FDM Printer Safety

• Hot surfaces — nozzles reach 250°C+ (up to 420°C on the F430) and beds reach 110°C+
• Do not touch the nozzle or heated bed during or immediately after printing
• Do not touch the nozzle or bed during auto-leveling
• Allow parts to cool before removing from the bed
• Use scrapers and cutters carefully — cut and scrape away from your body
• Keep flammable materials away from printers
• Do not reach into a machine while it is running — moving parts can pinch or injure
• Ensure adequate ventilation, especially for ABS/ASA (use enclosed machines only)

Fume Safety

Material	Fume Risk	Ventilation / Machine Requirement
PLA	Low	Recommended; any machine
PETG	Low–Medium	Recommended; any machine
TPU / Flexible	Low–Medium	Use a direct-drive machine (X1C, Centauri, F430); not the Bowden Kobra Max or the Ultimaker 3 Extended
ABS / ASA	High — styrene fumes	Enclosed + filtered machine only (X1C, Centauri, F430); never on open-frame machines
Nylon	Medium — may emit irritants	Enclosed machine; keep dry
PC (Polycarbonate)	High	Enclosed, heated-chamber machine only (F430) — requires approval
PVA (dissolvable support)	Low	Ultimaker 3 Extended (paired with PLA); keep dry

Approved Materials by Machine

Material	X1 Carbon	Centauri Carbon	CreatBot F430	Kobra Max	Ultimaker 3 Ext.	Prusa MK2
PLA	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
PETG	✅	✅	✅	✅ (with care)	✅ (CPE/PETG)	✅
TPU / Flexible	✅	✅	✅	❌ (Bowden — jams)	❌ (Bowden — jams)	❌ (not recommended)
ABS / ASA	✅ (enclosed)	✅ (enclosed)	✅ (enclosed)	❌ (open frame)	❌ (open frame)	❌ (open frame)
Nylon	Caution — keep dry	Caution — keep dry	✅ (heated chamber)	❌	Caution — keep dry	❌
PC (Polycarbonate)	❌ (no chamber heat)	❌ (no chamber heat)	✅ (with approval)	❌	❌ (no chamber heat)	❌
PVA (dissolvable support)	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅ (BB core)	❌
Carbon-Fiber filled	✅ (hardened nozzle)	✅ (hardened nozzle)	✅ (hardened nozzle)	❌	❌ (nozzle not hardened)	❌ (nozzle not hardened)

When in doubt about a material/machine combination, ask a volunteer before printing. Open-frame machines (Kobra Max, Ultimaker 3 Extended, Prusa MK2) cannot hold the ambient temperatures ABS/ASA need and should not run them. The Ultimaker 3 Extended is a Bowden machine — avoid flexibles.

Prohibited / Restricted Practices

Practice	Reason
Running ABS/ASA on open-frame machines	Warping/cracking and unfiltered styrene fumes — enclosed machines only
Running TPU/flexible through the Kobra Max or Ultimaker 3 Extended	Bowden tube causes flexibles to buckle and jam — use a direct-drive machine
Abrasive (CF/GF) filament in a non-hardened nozzle	Wears out brass nozzles quickly — hardened-nozzle machines only
Leaving the first layer unattended	Most failures happen in the first layer — stay present
Printing unknown/unlabeled filament	Unknown melt temps and fumes — verify material before printing

Material Storage

• Keep filament dry — store hygroscopic materials (Nylon, TPU, PETG) in sealed containers with desiccant or in the dry box
• Label spools clearly with material type
• Return shared filament and tools to their storage location when done

Waste Disposal

• Failed PLA prints and supports — regular trash
• Failed ABS/PETG/other prints — check local recycling options
• Keep scraps off the floor and out of machine rails

Emergency Procedures

• Fire extinguisher location: [TO BE FILLED IN]
• First aid kit: Near the bathroom inside the main makerspace room
• Emergency contact: Chris Kaminsky — 616-802-7088 — chris@grandrivermakerspace.org
• In case of uncontrolled fire: Evacuate immediately and call 911