3D Printing

The Digital Media Lab’s 3D Innovation Center has 50 3D printers and three 3D scanners. Our printers use the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process of laying down successive layers of plastic filament which stick together to create an object.

Our 3D Print Services are available from 12-5pm Monday through Friday.

If you’d like to schedule a group visit, please fill out our Group Visit Planning Form.

• Download it: 3D model repositories, such as MakerBot’s thingiverse.com, host 3D print files for download, modify, and print.
• Scan it: Scan real world objects, like yourself, to 3D print. Scan times can take 5-20 minutes. See staff about scanning possibilities as not all objects are scannable.
• Create it: 3D model your parts or learn how to do that from one of our staff.

Our staff can support your 3D printing, scanning, and modeling needs via one-on-one consultations, class visits, tours, and workshops.

Please fill out our form to make a 3D printing request.

We have 48 MakerBot 3D printers such as the replicator 5th Gen., Replicator Z 18 can produce parts with PLA, an organic plastic ideal for prototyping or simple objects.

Our service also has one Ultimaker S3 and 3 Extended that can produce parts with materials such as: PLA, ABS, PETG, CPE, Nylon, Polycarbonate, TPU 95A (flexible filament), and Polypropylene.

• PLA (Polylactic Acid): $0.15/gram, available in various colors
• ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): $0.15/gram, available in various colors
• PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol): $0.15/gram, available in light grey
• Polypropylene (PP): $0.30/gram, available in translucent
• TPU (95A, Thermoplastic Polyurethane): $0.30/gram, available in black, white, red, & blue
• Polycarbonate (PC): $0.30/gram, available in black, white, & translucent
• Nylon: $0.30/gram, available in black, white, & translucent

For more materials and pricing details, view our PDF.

1. Print quality or functionality is note guaranteed.
2. The Library 3D printers may be used only for lawful purposes. No one is permitted to use 3D printing to create material that is:
   1. Unsafe, harmful, dangerous, or posing an immediate threat to the well-being of others.
   2. For example, no weapons (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 269, Section 10(j))
   3. Firearms or dangerous weapons per UMPD Weapons Advisory
   4. In violation of intellectual property rights
3. Print requests will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
4. The Library staff reserve the right to change the print queue as needed and the Library reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.
5. Printed items are to be picked up within 14 days. Prints will be forfeited after that time.
6. Only designated Library staff have hands-on access to the 3D printers.
7. 3D Print Services Support
   1. We are dedicated to providing our campus affiliates with onsite access to 3D printing and 3D scanning technologies. Staff are available to assist with exploring the technologies, 3D modeling, and learning opportunities that range from one-on-sessions to workshops.
   2. Academic requests will be prioritized over all other requests. Academic requests may include but are not limited to course work, parts for campus research, parts to support teaching/learning, and other educational uses.
   3. UMass Affiliates are eligible to request 3-D printing services. For the purposes of this policy, this includes:
      1. Active UMass affiliates: students, faculty, researchers, staff affiliated with UMass Amherst
      2. Massachusetts Public Libraries
      3. Massachusetts K-12 public schools
      4. Five Colleges academic members (including those who are not currently taking UMass courses)
   4. Non-Affiliates may request consultations related to technologies such as 3D printing, 3D scanning, and 3D modeling