Faculty and graduate students at Michigan Tech will have access to the 3D metal printer for research projects. Undergraduate students working on senior design projects and student-run Enterprise teams will, too.
The printer is available for use by those outside of Michigan Tech. Members of the research community at other institutions are encouraged to contact the lab to inquire about getting parts printed.
Fees and Quotes
To learn about fees, check the posted use rates. There is an hourly fee for the printer and mass cost for materials. Fees are the same for internal and external clients.
The machine printing time is part of the cost quote. It can be based on:
- A rough algorithm provided by the printer software
- Model dimensions, especially height
- Mass
- Quantity
Material amount is the other part of the cost quote. This batch of tensile and fatigue round samples (left) took 24 hours of machine time to print. The samples are four inches in height.
Custom Powders
If you would like to request a custom material (not shown in use rates), consult with the staff. You will need to supply the powder with a volume based on project scope and size (See Estimating Powder Volume). Your request may also lead to an interruption in the material calendar, which the staff may need to negotiate with other clients. There may also be a required license purchase for the powder.
