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MakerLab

Guide to resources for the Northwestern Libraries' MakerLab.

Updates to MakerLab Services

2024 Spring Quarter Hours FOR MakerLab/GIS LAb access:
Monday :      10AM-3PM, 5PM-6PM
Tuesday :     12N-6PM
Wednesday: 10AM-3:30PM, 5PM-6PM
Thursday:     12:30PM-3:30PM, 5PM-6PM
Friday:          11AM-6PM
Saturday-Sunday, CLOSED

If you have questions to this specific resource contact, Ted Quiballo, tquiballo@northwestern.edu.

Maker Lab Use policy

The Mudd Library offers mediated 3D printing and 3D scanning services to current Northwestern University students, faculty, and staff. A consultation with library staff is required before a print or scanning job is accepted. Please complete this form to schedule an appointment.

Printing and scanning are done on a first-come, first-served basis with priority for students completing course work. During the consultation, an estimate of turnaround time will be provided within the context of workload across the service.


Terms of Use and Copyright

The library’s 3D printers and scanners must be used for lawful purposes. Users must abide by all applicable local, state, and federal laws as well as University and Library policies while respecting the University community.
It is not permitted to use library 3D printers to create material which is:

  • Prohibited by local, state or federal law;
  • Prohibited by University and Library policies;
  • Unsafe, harmful, dangerous or considered by library staff to pose an immediate threat to the well-being of others;
  • Considered by library staff to be obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the library environment;
  • In violation of another’s intellectual property rights. For example, the printers will not be used to reproduce material subject to copyright, patent, or trademark protection;
  • Intended to be sold or create profit. 

There is currently no charge for 3D scanning, 3D printing, or the filament used for printing. The filament is supplied by the library.

Any output of a print job not picked up in 14 days becomes the property of University Library and will be disposed of accordingly.


Last reviewed: February 2024

Current 3D Printers

Key Features:

  • Compatible Printing Materials Up to 300°C
  • Built-In Camera Monitoring
  • Quality of Life Features Like Dual Auto Bed Leveling
  • High-speed CoreXY with 20000 mm/s² Acceleration
  • Capable of Multi-Color and Multi-Material 3D Printing
  • Core XY with 20000 mm/s² acceleration
  • 7μm lidar resolution
  • Spaghetti failure detection
  • AI inspected first layer

 

Specifications: Bambu Lab P1

 Volume:  256 x 256 x 256 mm (10 x 10 x 10 inches)
 Material:   PLA / TPU/ ABS /PC (up to 300 degrees)
 Extruder Type:  Direct drive
 Nozzle:   .4mm proprietary
 Build Platform: PEI textured spring steel sheet, heated
 Bed Leveling: Automatic

 

Key Features:

  • Compatible Printing Materials Up to 300°C
  • Built-In Camera Monitoring
  • Quality of Life Features Like Dual Auto Bed Leveling
  • High-speed CoreXY with 20000 mm/s² Acceleration
  • Capable of Multi-Color and Multi-Material 3D Printing
  • Core XY with 20000 mm/s² acceleration
  • 7μm lidar resolution
  • Spaghetti failure detection
  • AI inspected first layer

 

Specifications: Bambu Lab X1-Carbon Combo

 Volume:  256 x 256 x 256 mm (10 x 10 x 10 inches)
 Material:   PLA / TPU/ ABS /PC (up to 300 degrees)
 Extruder Type:  Direct drive
 Nozzle:   .4mm proprietary
 Build Platform: PEI textured spring steel sheet, heated
 Bed Leveling: Automatic

Key Features:

  • Batch Print Models
  • Infinite Z-axis Printing
  • Durable Operation with Stability
  • Intelligent Protection System
  • Sturdy Structure for Precision Printing
  • Dual-gear Metal Extrusion System

Specifications: CR-30 3D Printer

 Volume:  200*170*∞mm
 Material:   PLA/TPU/PETG
 Printing Precision: ±0.1mm
 Nozzle Diameter: 0.4mm
 Print bed details: Heated conveyor belt
 Layer thickness: 100 - 400 Microns

Current 3D Printers (more)

Key Features:

  • 【Dual-Gear Direct Extruder】The dual-gear direct drive extruder with gears made of SUS303 stainless steel features adjustable extrusion force and a 3:1 reduction ratio, which ensures smoother filament feeding and stable & accurate printing, greatly reducing nozzle clogging and gear jumping problems. Ideal for printing PLA, PETG, ABS, and flexible filaments such as TPU.
  • 【Massive Print Volume】With the largest ever build volume of 420x420x500 mm /16.53x16.53x19.68 inches, ELEGOO Neptune 3 Max gives you generous printing space to let your creativity run wild, whether for printing larger models, or printing in batches.
  • 【Auto Bed Leveling + Auxiliary Leveling】The non-contact high precision sensor automatically scans 63 points of the hotbed to compensate for any unevenness and inconsistencies of the printing platform. You can also use the hand-twist knobs under the build platform for auxiliary leveling to achieve a nice first layer.
  • 【Stable & Quiet Printing】The Z-axis is designed with dual lead screws and dual-motor drive for more stable and precise movement of the print head, and the double tie rod structure enhances the stability of the Z-axis gantry. 
  • With an STM 32-bit silent motherboard, the X/Y/Z/E axes are all driven by high-precision stepper motors to effectively reduce the printing noise under 50 dB.
  • 【PEI Magnetic Platform】PEI magnetic platform with a special coating and spring steel sheet for strong adhesion and anti-warping, so you can easily remove or eject the print models by slightly bending the print steel sheet. The 420W high-power hotbed can quickly heat up to 100°C.

Specifications: Elegoo Neptune 3 Max

Build Volume: 420 x 420 x 500 mm (16.5 x16.5 x 19.7 inches)
Material: PLA/PETG/TPU/ABS (up to 260 degrees)
Extruder Type Bowden:  Direct Drive
Nozzle:  .4mm MK8
Build Platform: PEI textured spring steel sheet, heated
Bed Leveling: Automatic, Inductive
Filament Runout Sensor:  Yes

1 – LulzBot TAZ Pro

More info: https://download.lulzbot.com/TAZ/TAZ_Pro/v1.0.3/documentation/manual/TAZPro_Manual.pdf

Available Equipment

 BM 1.25           

1.5" Button Maker and 2.25" Button Maker

  • Cushioned hand grip
  • All metal construction
  • Industry Standard Size
  • "Zero scrap loss" engineering
  • Swivel die set increases speed
  • No changing of dies between steps
  • Super fast two-step button making process
  • "Swivel die stop" ensures upper and lower die alignment
  • Compact, lightweight machine for easy storage and transport
  • Positive full stroke button press verification (No half-made buttons)
  • Cam-on-roller design requires very little physical force to operate

Mudd MakerLab

A consultation is recommended before using the MakerLab independently. Complete the consultation form to submit your project details. If you would like to submit a 3D Printing Project for library staff to print, use the 3D Printing Project Request form (2nd link below).

MakerLab Consult Request

3D Printing Project Request

Available Software

The Library provides some software for 3D Modeling. These programs are available on Mudd Library computers:

  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • SketchUp Pro
  • MakerBot Print 
  • MeshLab
  • MeshMixer
  • Solidworks

Please see our Resources page for links to tutorials and other online guides to 3D printing, scanning, and modeling.