Master the fundamentals of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) — from CAD model to finished 3D-printed part.
Explain the end-to-end workflow from CAD model to finished part.
Understand resolution, layer thickness, fill structures, and support types.
Configure and send print jobs using GrabCAD Print software.
Power on, build, monitor, and post-process a 3D-printed husky model.
Do NOT touch or operate any machine without a lab technician or TA present. Unauthorized operation can cause serious injury.
Must be worn at ALL times in the lab environment.
Leather shoes required. No sandals or open-toe footwear.
Tuck in shirt. No jewelry, rings, or dangling accessories near equipment.
Cover and protect long hair from all moving machine parts.
| Hazard | Location | Precaution |
|---|---|---|
| 🔥 Hot Surface | Oven entrance / platen | Wear high-temp safety gloves and long sleeves when working inside the oven. |
| ⚡ High Voltage | Electrical panel / power supply enclosures | Risk of electric shock — do not access panel. |
| ⚙️ Moving Parts — Gantry | Under top cover (X & Y axes) | Never wear loose clothing or jewelry near timing belts and pulleys. |
| ⬇️ Moving Parts — Z Stage | Oven interior (drive belt & pulley) | Z motor disables automatically when oven door is open. |
Three factors drive material selection for 3D printing:
What will the part be used for in real-world conditions?
Surface finish, color, and visual appearance requirements.
Strength, flexibility, temperature, and chemical resistance.
Layer thickness is the vertical height of each deposited layer — essentially the Z-axis resolution of your print.
Smoother surface finish and finer detail. Longer print time and more material consumed.
Faster print with less material. Visible layer lines and reduced surface quality.
| Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Solid | Fully filled interior | Maximum strength; longer build time and more material |
| High Density Sparse | Default — highly recommended | Best balance of strength, speed, and reduced part curl |
| Low Density Sparse | Honeycombed/hatched interior | Shortest build time and minimum material; reduced strength |
| Type | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Basic | Most parts — consistent raster spacing |
| Sparse | Minimizes support material; larger spacing between rasters |
| Minimal | Small parts with small features; do NOT use for tall columns or large parts |
| Surround | Tall, thin models — entire model surrounded by support |
Access to the gantry and head assemblies. Unlocks in conjunction with the oven door.
Access to platen, tip wipe assemblies, and purge area. Electromagnetic lock + optical sensors.
Left bay = model material. Right bay = support material. Can be opened while printing.
Moves the print head in X and Y. One X servo motor + two Y servo motors on timing belts.
Touchscreen UI, power button, and USB ports on the front right face of the printer.
Junction allowing two material bays to alternately drive filament to each print head.
Steel surface on which parts are built. Substrate is locked using the ejection handle — lift to lock, press to release.
One for model, one for support. A flicker cuts purged material from the tip; a brush cleans the tip shield.
Routes purged material debris from tip wipe assemblies down to the bottom of the oven chamber.
Housed in the oven door frame. Enables remote build quality monitoring through GrabCAD Print — auto-captures photos at set intervals.
Single light pipe at the front upper edge of the oven. Toggled via the Tools page on the UI.
Perimeter seal that provides an airtight closure when the door is shut.
The Navigation Menu provides one-touch access to four functional areas:
Start, pause, or abort a job. View build time estimate, status, and progress ring.
Access job files sent from GrabCAD Print or loaded via USB. Select the job to build next.
Monitor spool volumes, head statuses, and change materials or heads as needed.
Calibrations, network config, oven light, and printer maintenance settings.
Power ON: Verify power cord connections at both ends. Press the power button on the front. Wait for the touchscreen to initialize and the automatic XY Gantry Calibration to complete.
GrabCAD Print (Preferred): Download Husky.stl from Canvas. Configure print settings in GrabCAD Print. Send job via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Jobs appear in the Queue page automatically.
USB Method (Alternative): Plug flash drive into any USB port → Queue page → Load File → USB → Select job → Job Details → Press Print.
The Job Details page displays: Duration, Author, Materials, Number of Layers, Slice Height, and Software Version.
Warning — may affect build quality. Can often be bypassed (except material mismatch).
Error — serious issue requiring resolution. Touching the text shows steps to correct it.
Always wear heat-protective gloves and long sleeves when handling items inside the oven. Surfaces can be very hot after printing.
Open the oven door. Push down on the substrate ejection handle to release the substrate from the platen.
Remove the substrate. Do NOT remove the part while the substrate is still on the platen — this can damage the platen.
Firmly flex the modelling base back and forth to loosen the part. Use a putty knife if needed. Parts are easier to remove when still warm.
Insert a new modelling base. Close the chamber door. Only then press Yes on the display. Pressing Yes before replacing the base can damage the printer.
The Clean Station DT3 uses heat, agitation, and flow technology to dissolve soluble SUP706 support material using an alkaline cleaning solution.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Fill Tank | Close drain valve. Connect drainage hose. Fill tank to ~1 inch below top (approx. 23 L / 6 gallons). |
| 2. Add Solution | Add NaOH (sodium hydroxide) and Na₂SiO₃ (sodium metasilicate) to the water in the tank. |
| 3. Power On | Confirm power switch is in the OFF position first. Verify water level. Then press power switch to turn on. |
| 4. Control Panel | Use Set, Infinity, and Arrow buttons to configure and monitor cleaning time and water temperature. |
| 5. Remove & Drain | Remove the printed model from the station. Drain the tank after the cleaning cycle is complete. |
Get Husky.stl from Canvas.
Open in GrabCAD Print. Set layer thickness (0.01 in), support (breakaway), model fill (high density sparse).
Send to the F170 via GrabCAD Print or USB. Verify it appears in the Job Queue on the printer display.
Select job in Queue, press Print. Monitor build status and use camera through GrabCAD Print.
Wear gloves. Eject substrate, flex to remove part, insert new base, confirm "Yes" on display.
Place in Clean Station DT3 to dissolve breakaway support material with alkaline solution.
1. Safety First: Gloves, glasses, proper attire — TA supervised at all times.
2. Settings Matter: Layer thickness drives the quality vs. speed tradeoff.
3. Fill & Support: Choose the right interior and support type for each
part.
4. Post-Process: The Clean Station DT3 dissolves soluble support material.