INTRODUCTION TO DTU FABLAB

Written by Greta DAngelo

In this section:
A brief overview on the machines available at the Fablab, listed by technology, material used and
building volume
A description of each machine with some reference pictures
Summary

WHAT IS IN AT FABLAB
In DTU Fablab are present 8 different kinds of 3D printers using 5 different technologies. These are listed and
compared in the table below and explained further in the following section. The 15 Ultimakers are accessible to
students and DTU employees during the week days. To use them is necessary to arrange an appointment for a
little crash course with one of the employees of the facility by writing an email to 3dprint@mek.dtu.dk.

Machine

Technology

Build volume
[mm]

Material

File fromat

Ultimaker

FDM1

200x200x200

PLA

STL

Stratasys Dimension

FDM

254x254x305

ABS

STL

Stratasys Mojo

FDM

127x127x127

ABS

STL

Mcor Iris

LOM2

256x169x150

Paper

STL, OBJ, VMRL

Blue Printer

SHS3

160x200x140

PA

STL

Z-Corp 650

3DP4

254x381x203

Plaster

STL, VRML, PLY, 3DS,

ZPR

Objet 30 Pro

PJM5

300x200x150

Resins

STL, SLC

FDM: FUsed Deposition Modelling

Laminated Object Manufacturing
3 SHS: Selective Heat Sintering
4 3DP: 3 dimensional printing
5 PJM: Poly Jet Modelling
1

2LOM:

MACHINES OVERVIEW
ULTIMAKER

Technology
Build volume [mm]
Layer thickness
Material
File Format
Support structures
Recommended for the production of

FDM
200x200x200
0.1 mm 0.2 mm
PLA
.stl
Same material to break away
Concept prototypes, functional prototypes

It is a Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) machine that makes monomaterial products by extruding a 0.4mm
PLA filament. It is possible to find the PLA filament in a wide multitude of colors. These machines are directly
accessible by students and can be used to print without particular supervision after previous crash course. The
Ultimaker has a minimum layer thickness of 0.1 mm thanks to which is possible to obtain a neat surface where
the layers are nearly not visible. However the surface will still present a roughness that it is typical from this
type of manufacturing. Small features are more difficult to obtain. It is possible to use some fine sand paper to
remove scraps or to decrease the visibility of the layers. The support structures are made out of the same
material and have to be removed manually afterwords. This technology is recommended for concept models
and functional prototypes. To know more about designing parts that has to be printed with an ultimaker please
download the dection DESIGNING FOR ULTIMAKERS from the DTU Fablab website.

STRATASYS DIMENSION 1200

Technology
Build volume [mm]
Layer thickness
Material
File Format
Support structures
Recommended for the production of

FDM
254x254x305
0.2 mm
ABS
.stl
Soluble material to remove in a chemical bath
Geometrical prototypes, functional prototypes and in
some cases final product

This is one of the professional FDM machines. It produces ABS white solid parts with 100% infill. The support
structure is made out of a different soluble black material. Support is dissolved in a chemical bath after the part
is removed from the machine. After the treatment the part does not need any further post process. After the
removal of the part from the bath, it will not need any additional post treatment. The surface of the parts result
clean and sharp however the layers will still be visible. Moreover the 100% infill makes them very compact and
strong. However it is recommended to avoid the use of very thin walls in the design especially where
mechanical properties are required. Due to layer configuration, the part can be easily be subjected to
delamination. Recommended for geometrical prototypes, functional and technical prototypes and in some cases
final products.

STRATASYS MOJO

Technology
Build volume [mm]
Layer thickness
Material
File Format
Support structures
Recommended for the production of

FDM
127x127x127
0.17 mm
ABS
.stl
Soluble material to remove in a chemical bath
Small concept models, geometrical and functional
prototypes

This is the baby brother of the Stratasys Dimension 1200, also a professional FDM. It has a smaller building
volume but the same capability of production. Support material is made with a white material that is also
dissolved in a chemical bath. Printing resolution and surface quality however are slightly lower that the
Dimension 1200, but still good. Recommended for concept models, functional and geometrical prototypes of
small dimension.

MCOR IRIS

Technology
Build volume [mm]
Layer thickness
Material
File Format
Support structures

LOM
256x169x150
Given by the paper used (~0.1 mm)
Paper
.stl, .obj, .wrl
Same material, to remove manually after printjob is
done
Small concept models

Recommended for the production of

The Mcor Iris makes paper models that are very soft and warm to the touch. However these are rather delicate
since made of layers of paper glued on top of each other which can easily break. Not recommended for
functional prototypes without post treatment, but considered suitable for concept models and models
requiring a particular visual impact, since the machine has also the ability of using a full scale color. Small
features are highly not recommended because very difficult to be made.

BLUEPRINTER

Technology
Build volume [mm]
Layer thickness
Material
File Format
Support structures

SHS
160x200x140
0.1 mm
PA (nylon)
.stl
Self-supporting on powder. Remove excess of material
with compressed air
Functional prototype and technical prototype

Recommended for the production of

The technology used by Blueprinter to make products is called Selective Heat Sintering (SHS). During the
building process a heated head passes over a layer of PA powder sintering selectively the interested areas.
Subsequently, when the layer is done, another layer of PA is added on the previous one and the process
continues until the entire product is made. Afterwards it is necessary to carve the object out from the powder
and clean it from the excess of material with a jet of pressurized air. Since the object is built on a powder bed,
there is no need to consider support structures, parts will be supported by the surrounding powder. Thanks to
its 0.1 mm thick layers, it is possible to make very complex parts also with small features. However these will
result quite fragile and careful handling is required, especially when cleaning the part with pressurized air after
printing. The Blue printer is recommended for technical and functional prototypes.

Z-CORP 650

Technology
Build volume [mm]
Layer thickness
Material
File Format
Support structures

3D printing
253x381x203
0.08 mm 0.1 mm
Plaster
.stl, .obj, .ply, .wrl, . 3ds, .zpr
Self-supporting on powder. Remove excess of material
with compressed air
Concept models

Recommended for the production of

Z-corp 650 is another powder based printer and uses a Binder Jetting technology to make its accurate gypsum
models in full color. Once printed, the objects have to be removed from the powder bed and cleaned with a jet
of air. It is also possible to post treat the parts with a solution of salt and water or with special glue, to increase
the strenght of the part and enrich the colors. Recommended for concept models and geometrical prototypes.

OBJET 30 PRO

Technology
Build volume [mm]
Layer thickness
Material
File Format
Support structures

polyjet
300x200x150
0.016 mm
Photopolymer (Vero White)
.stl, .slc
Photopolymer to remove with a jet of water
afterwards
Technical and functional prototype with small
features

Recommended for the production of

Based on Polyjet technology (PLJ), the Objet possesses an array of nozzles deposing droplets of photopolymer
on a build platform whereas a UV source will cure it. The Objet 30 Pro makes very accurate and fine products
thanks to its layer thickness of 16 microns. The layers on the part are not visible at all. The support material is
also a photopolymer, that will, partly or entirely, cover the part and that has to be removed carefully with a
water jet afterwards. The Objet 30 Pro can print with 7 different materials, but not on the same print job. The
material used at the DTU Fablab is called Vero White and its specifications can be found on the web page of the
printer. Recommended for technical and functional prototypes.

Summary
At DTU Fablab there are 8 different kind of machines for 5 different technologies
Ultimakers can be used by students
To start using the Ultimakers arrange an appointment for a crash course by sending an email to
3dprint@mek.dtu.dk, or pass by the facility
To print with any other machine send an email to 3dprint@mek.dtu.dk with: STL file, your name and
student number, name of the course you are printing for, name of the supervisor of the course
Remember to check your file before submitting it