The Library’s Digital Media Experience Lab has a number of 3D printers available to the Ryerson community as part of our 3D printing program.
Once you are fully certified (Certification 1 and 2) with the Library’s DME, you will be allowed to book time to use the 3D printers – free of charge!
DME 3D Printing Certification process:
- Watch the 3D Printing Certification 1 video and take notes.
- Take and pass the 3D Printing Certification 1 quiz.
- Watch the 3D Printing Certification 2 video and take notes. [Coming soon!]
- Book and pass the 3D Printing Certification 2 in-person test. [Coming soon!]
- Congratulations! You’re ready to use the 3D printers at the DME. You can now book your 3D printer time. [Coming soon!]
3D Printing FAQs
How much does it cost to print at the DME? 3D printing at the DME is free for Ryerson students! Absolutely no charge to book or print.
How long can I print for? The maximum amount of time a single print can take is 6 hours (hard limit), and you can submit up to 12 hours of prints for approval at a time. The DME runs on a rolling credit system of 12 hours. For example: If you have a booking for 4 hours, you have 8 hours left of time credit. Once you complete the 4 hour print, your time credit will be back to 12 hours.
How long will my print take? This depends on many factors. However, you will learn how to get a print time estimate by following the training in Certifications 1 and 2.
What am I allowed to print? You can print anything you would like, with the exception of phone cases, marijuana paraphernalia, weapons (of any kind), and anything deemed offensive at the discretion of the DME staff.
Do I have to stay the whole time? You only need to stay for the first 20 minutes of your print.
Can I choose the color? No, the DME only prints black and white filament, at random.
Can I bring my own filament? We cannot print other filament types. The DME only prints PLA filament, in black and white, and students are only permitted to use the filament already loaded onto the printers.
Are there any exceptions to the time limit? Unfortunately we have a hard limit of 6 hours per print.
Can I print multiple things at the same time? The DME accepts 1 print at a time. You may only print one object on the bed at a time. However, you may make multiple copies of this item, up to the 12 hour rolling credit.
What happens if I miss my 3D printing booking? If you are more than 15 minutes late for your booking, your booking will be automatically canceled and the time will be available for another student to book. We ask that students cancel their bookings beforehand if they cannot make it.
Contactless 3D Printing Service
Have something you need printed now?
The DME is continuing to offer contactless 3D printing services while our new certification process is underway. If you have something for a project that needs to be printed before Certification 2 is live, you can do so using our contactless 3D printing service.
Things to know before you submit a request…
- 3D printing is free.
- We have a maximum of 6 hours per print.
- You can only submit one .STL file at a time.
- You must follow the instructions in the video for setting up your file, otherwise your request will be declined. How to Submit a Print Request – PDF
- If your print is related to a course or to a recognized extracurriculars you have priority.
- We assess each print to make sure it’s printable and doesn’t violate any of our policies.
- Plan for a turnaround time of one week depending on the number of requests.
Make sure to watch the video before submitting! Our system does not accept formats outside of those specified in the video.