3D Printing Services: Policy & FAQ

3D Printing Policy

TERMS OF USE

The 3D printer is available to Eastfield College students, faculty and staff, as well as the general public, to make three-dimensional objects in PLA plastic using a design that is uploaded from a digital computer file.

1. Use: The 3D printer may be used only for lawful purposes. Eastfield College Learning Commons staff reserves the right to reject a print job that will create material that is:
   1. Prohibited by local, state or federal law.
   2. Unsafe, harmful, dangerous or poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others. (Such use may violate the terms of use of the manufacturer.)
   3. Obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the college environment.
   4. In violation of another’s intellectual property rights. For example, the printer will not be used to reproduce material subject to copyright, patent or trademark protection.
2. Assessment: Eastfield College Learning Commons reserves the right to:
   1. Refuse any 3D print request.
   2. Use staff discretion to organize the print queue for overall efficient output. For example, student print requests that are directly related to official Eastfield College coursework will take priority over other types of requests.
   3. Photograph all 3D objects printed during this pilot. Images will be used for monitoring, marketing, and reporting outcomes of the pilot.
   4. Gather feedback from users.
   5. Implement additional requirements not listed here.
3. Cost: The user will pay for print jobs prior to staff adding their job to the queue. The initial cost of print jobs will be $0.10 per gram of material used. The total cost of a print job will be calculated based on an estimate of material to be used with a minimum cost per order of $1.00.
4. Pickup: Items printed from the 3D printer that are not picked up within 2 weeks after being printed become the property of the Eastfield College Learning Commons. Items must be picked up by the individual who printed them, using his or her photo ID.
5. Refunds: There will be no refunds for the 3D Printing service.
6. Access: Only authorized Eastfield College staff will have hands-on access to the 3D printer.

What colors are available?

Color selection is subject to availability but typically we have the following colors:

• Red
• Blue
• Yellow
• Orange
• Green
• Black
• White
• Silver
• Clear

How long will my print job take?

Typically, a print job will take between one and two weeks. When you turn in your 3D file for printing, staff will add your job to a queue and you will be contacted as soon as your print job is ready for pick-up.

How much plastic will my print job use?

The weight and amount of material for a print job will depend on how solid it is when designed and printed. You can consult with a staff member about optimizing your print job for the least amount of material, based on these factors.

Can I estimate the weight of my objects at home?

Yes, you can download Cura, the same free software we use in the library to configure print jobs.

Can my object be printed in multiple colors?

At this time, EFC Library can only print objects in a single color.