Submitting Prints

To submit a print, complete our online request form. We are happy to answer any questions you may have before completing your print and can provide tips for ensuring a quality print.

There are many applications you can use to create your model. We recommend Tinkercad as a free and simple-to-use application that provides reliable results and straightforward export to .STL.

Files can be submitted in .STL or .OBJ formats. If a file is too large to attach to the request form, we recommend uploading the file to Google Drive and sharing that with our team (LSATS-RCI-Randall@umich.edu).

Prints are completed on a first come, first served basis. Depending on the size of your prints and the length of our queue, it can take a few days for completion. We will provide an estimated completion date at the time the project is submitted.

Filament will need to be dropped off to us at 2428 Randall Laboratory by individuals submitting requests.

Purchasing Filament

Our printers use 1.75mm filament. Filament can be purchased directly from PRUSA or other vendors. Our recommended brands are PRUSA and eSUN, but most brands can be used with our printers.

For most cases, we recommend the use of PLA filament. PLA is biodegradable, easier to work with and generally more forgiving. PETG is another commonly used material. It provides higher strength and heat resistance, but is a bit slower to print with and not as suitable for detailed prints. It is best used for mechanical parts where increased strength is desired.

If you are interested in using a material other than these, please let us know in the request form and we will reach back out to you with additional information.

We will return all unused filament when the prints are complete.