3D Printer

How to Send a 3D Print

1. Log in to the 3D Printer computer in the Makerspace with your valid Waterloo Public Library card.
2. Click on the Bambu Studio icon to run the 3D print software.
3. Pick a file you want to print from the Bambu Studio Library, or if you have brought your own custom file continue to step 4.
4. For Custom Files Only: Open the file you wish to print in Bambu Studio by clicking File > Import > Import 3MF/STL…. Find the .3mf, .stl or .obj file you want to print and select “Open.”
5. Assuming all the default settings are what you want, and the file opens up in the desired orientation, select the green “Slice plate” button in the top right corner.
6. After slicing you will be provided a total time estimate for the print. Make sure your print time fits into your 2-hour booking and then select the green “Print plate” button.
7. Once “Print plate” has been selected, you will be asked to pick your print colours. All available colour options will load automatically, and you’ll see a preview of what your print will look like in colour (more details below).

Printing Using Colours

If your design is one colour and you want to print in multiple colours, follow the steps below. Multi‑colour prints will take longer.

1. Colours are assigned to specific slots identified by a number, located under the Filament drop-down on the left side of the screen. 1 is black (default), 2 is white, 3 is red, 4 is yellow, 5 is green, 6 is blue, 7 is orange, and 8 is purple. While it is possible to play around with the colours in the Bambu software, any object assigned to be 1 will always be black, 2 white, etc.
2. If you want to “paint” your object in multiple colours, select the paint bucket on the top right and use the tools in the window that pops up to paint your object in different colours.
3. In the Filaments window that opens on the right, you will have different tools you can use to paint with, and you can select the different slots to pick which colour to use.
4. Select the colour you want to paint with and the tool type to fill your 3D object with. In the example below, black is selected and the circle tool will be use to paint with. The 5th tool over, the paint bucket called the “Fill” tool, is the most convenient tool for quickly painting 3D objects.

Printed instruction sheets are also available with the machine when you arrive for your reserved time.

3D Modeling Applications

• Tinkercad – Great for beginners to prototype simple shapes, toys or simple mechanical parts
• FreeCAD – An open-source parametric software for creating functional objects
• SketchUp Free – For architectural shapes and simple, intuitive design
• Blender - For complex, artistic designs, character modeling, and sculpting

3D Object File Websites

• Thingiverse
• Thangs
• Yeggi