3d Printing Guidelines

These guidelines are intended to establish a common understanding of the use of our 3D printers. This is to avoid legal complications and conflicts of interest.

Don't use printers you are not proficient with

If you are unfamiliar with 3D printing or a specific 3D printer, don't use it.
Ask Sonen staff or other users how to print, level the bed, and/or change material on the printers.

Using the Elegoo resin printer without instruction is strictly forbidden

Resin printers uses hazardous chemicals, and unqualified users may put themselves and others at risk.

Print only in PLA and only use 0.4mm nozzle

To maximize uptime on our printers we only print using Polymaker PLA filaments on most all of our printers. The Prusa i3 mk3 is designated as our experimental printer and you may print different materials on this printer.

Print jobs should not exceed 24 hours

Jobs exceeding 24 hours will be aborted.
The longer the print, the likelier it will fail.
You are not the only user of the printer. Show consideration for the other users of the 3D printer. Occupying the printer for a week is selfish.

Exceptions to this rule may be made per request

Print job should not consume more than 250 grams of filament

To reduce unnecessary waste. Please tweak your print settings to not exceed 250 grams. Ignore this rule if you bring your own filament.

Exceptions to this rule may be made per request.

Use only one printer at a time

Show consideration for others. Do not occupy all our printers.

Exceptions to this rule may be made per request.

Don't print with greater infill than 20%

Jobs with infill greater than 20% will be aborted.
This is to reduce waste material. For most applications, 20% is more than sturdy enough.
This rule does not apply to the Elegoo printer.

Exceptions to this rule may be made per request.

Follow the SOP

All of our printers come with a standard operating procedure (SOP). Make sure you have read, understood, and follow the SOPs.

Pay attention to the first layer

The most critical part of 3D printing is the first layer. Don't leave the printer until the first layer is done.

Non-profit printing only

Sonen is non-profit. 3D printing for profit and commercial purposes is prohibited.
Our printers may be used for projects and prototyping ideas. However, for commercial ventures and resale of prints, consider other services.

Use the printer most suited to your purpose

Our printers serve specific purposes. Don't print with the Formlabs if you could achieve the same result with a Prusa Core One.

Don't make repairs to the printers

Should something be wrong with the printers, notify Sonen staff. Don't pull out a screwdriver and dismantle the printer.

Have fun

The most important rule when using our printers is to have fun.