Resources for 3D printing

On this page:

Overview
Obtain 3D models
Create 3D models
Paid software
Tutorials
Lab locations and access
- IU Bloomington
- IUPUI
- IU East
- IU South Bend
- IU Southeast
- IUPUC

Overview

This page lists resources to help you get started with 3D printing at IU. For further details, see UITS 3D Print Labs.

Obtain 3D models

Thingiverse is a community-based Makerbot website where you can download free models that are ready for printing, and find instructions and print settings for most models.

My Mini Factory is also a community based website where you can download all sorts of different models, primarily props from games, movies, and other sources of entertainment.

Shapeways is a professional 3D print service that also has a vast 3D model repository. The models aren't free, but they're guaranteed to be high quality.

Create 3D models

Beginner

Tinkercad

Intermediate

Photoshop, available from IUware

Advanced

Blender
Autodesk products (Free through student or educational versions)
- Fusion 360
- Maya
- 3DS Max
- AutoCAD
- Inventor

Paid software

Advanced/professional

Tutorials

Beginner

Tinkercad
Modeling for 3D printing: A guide for beginners (uses Tinkercad)

Advanced

The following resources assume that you are already fluent in the program of choice; they are not tutorials for the actual software.

Lab locations and access

Campus	Lab name	Location	Contact	Audience
IU Bloomington	Eskenazi School Fabrication Labs	Fine Arts Building 141	`millernv@iu.edu` Eskenazi School Fabrication Labs	Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design. Also available to all students, faculty, and staff
	Protolab: Design Research Cafe	Myles Brand Hall E120	`makehelp@indiana.edu` Luddy Makerspaces	All Luddy School students, faculty, and staff (as well as some additional IU groups and community partners)
	UITS 3D Lab	Wells Library West Tower, 4th floor	`anpawebb@iu.edu`	All students, faculty, and staff
	ISE Fab Lab	Luddy Hall IF4150	`makehelp@indiana.edu` Luddy Makerspaces	Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering students and faculty
	Innovation Center	Teter Quadrangle, Luddy Living-Learning Community	`makehelp@indiana.edu` Luddy Makerspaces	Luddy LLC students
	Wells Library Makerspace	Wells Library West Tower, 1st floor, W106	`libmaker@indiana.edu` Wells Library Makerspace	All students, faculty, and staff
	MAD LAB I	Fine Arts 141	`millernv@iu.edu` IU Bloomington MAD LAB I	Entire Bloomington campus (laser engraving, 3D printing, vinyl cutting)
	MAD LAB II	Wood and Metal Shops	`millernv@iu.edu` IU Bloomington MAD LAB II	Entire Bloomington campus (CNC routing, CNC plasma cutting)
	MAD LAB III	Kirkwood 014	`millernv@iu.edu` IU Bloomington MAD LAB III	Entire Bloomington campus (laser engraving)
	MESH Lab	Multidisciplinary Engineering and Sciences Hall	`makehelp@indiana.edu` Luddy Makerspaces	Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering faculty and graduate students
IUPUI	Idea Garden	Hine Hall IP106	`igarden@iupui.edu`	All students
	Think It Make It Lab	Eskenazi Hall 183 and 111A	`herrtimi@iupui.edu` Think It Make It Lab	All students
		University Library 4135G	`ULEMS@IUPUI.edu`	All students
		Informatics and Communications Complex 255	`inform1@iupui.edu`	SOIC students
		Engineering Technology Building 101	`et3dprt@iupui.edu`	Engineering and Technology students
	Nexus/Makerspace	Medical Library 202	`rlmltech@iu.edu` RLML Makerspace	Medical students
IU East		Hayes Hall 127	`tiscales@iue.edu`	All students, faculty, and staff
IU South Bend		Education and Arts Building 2010	`ryweber@iusb.edu` Wide Format and 3D Printing	All students, faculty, and staff (also open to the public)
IU Southeast		Life Science Building 104		All students, faculty, and staff (by appointment only)
IUPUC		Columbus Center 233	`mendezja@iupuc.edu`	All students

Many of these spaces have other equipment and hardware aside from 3D printing. Reach out to the individual lab for equipment specifics, including what types of printers and materials are available.

If you don't see your lab listed here, or if there is information that needs to be changed, email Andy Webb.