3D printing turns digital models into physical things you can hold, compare, and learn from. The process is simpler than it looks: find or scan a model, prepare it with slicing software, and send it to the printer.
Most of the work is figuring out what you want to do with your replica. Once you identify a model to print, the printer does everything else. The guides below walk through each step.
Getting a model
Whether you download an existing scan from a repository like Printables or Scan The World, or digitize a physical object with our 3D scanner, you’ll end up with a file that describes the shape of your object. Our getting a model guide covers the options.
Slicing
Slicing software takes your 3D model and converts it into layer-by-layer instructions for the printer—like slicing an onion into cross-sections that the printer rebuilds one at a time. We use Orca Slicer on the studio iMacs, already configured for our Anycubic Kobra 3. Our slicing guide walks through the settings.
Printing
Once your file is sliced, save it to a USB drive and bring it to the printer. The steps are straightforward—the poster above the printer covers everything you need.
