Embedded Files
New Member Orientations are open. All services (trainings, checkout, signups, etc.) will begin the week of Sept. 28th.
CATS maintains a fleet of 3D printers in the Physical Media Lab (Granoff S310). These printers are available to the entire Brown community after completing our training process.
Follow these steps to start 3D printing
Follow these steps to start 3D printing
3D printer training will begin after shopping period is over.
- Review our policies
While we may have similar printers to other facilities on campus, such as the Brown Design Workshop, our policies and training procedures are different.
1 kilogram of filament per semester We provide a single color of gray/silver PLA filament free of charge up to the quota amount. User wishing to make prints beyond their semester quota will be asked to supplement their usage.
Use only provided filament on printers Users wishing to use other filaments must get approval from CATS staff.
No prints of weapons This includes but is not limited to both guns and knives. If you have questions about what constitutes a weapon please contact us.
There are no "refunds" for failed prints.
No remote printing All print job must be submitted while present in the Physical Media Lab.
No USB printing All prints must be printed through Simplyprint
Printers are available on a first-come-first-use basis.
You are allowed to print on no more than 2 printers at once.
No mass fabrication Our spaces are designed for prototyping and artistic creation. Those wishing to print beyond their iteration process and 2 to 3 copies of their final design should email for consultation.
Print jobs should be under 8 hours. For print jobs over 8 hours please email with your 3D file, and a description of your settings.
3. Attend an in-person training.
3. Attend an in-person training.
At the in-person training our staff will create a SimplyPrint account and explain how to use the online tool to print in the Physical Media Lab. You must complete the quiz before attending the in-person training. Sign up below or click here
4. Start printing!
4. Start printing!
After completing the online and in-person portions of the training you are ready to go. Remember to follow the policies and procedures above. For more help here are some guides to help you get started:
SimplyPrint guide - This guide goes over the printing procedures need to print at the Physical Media Lab
3D modeling 101 - This is comprehensive 30 minute tutorial for TinkerCad, a free, online, easy-to-use modeling platform.
Remember sites like Printables, Thingiverse, Thangs and MakerWorld are great places to find designs ready to print.
Advanced printing
Advanced printing
For those with more experience we do provide a dedicated printer for advanced and experimental printing. Before using this printer you must have your project approved by contacting cat@brown.edu. You must get permission for each technique, material or project you wish to use the advance printer for.
Additional resources
Additional resources
Understanding printer types: YouTube video describing the difference between FDM, DLP and SLA 3D printers.
STL and OBJ file overview: YouTube video describing these important file types for 3D printing.
Brown Design Workshop: The workshop also houses 3D printing services. Training at the two facilities is different you should refer to their website about the process of gaining access there.
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