3D Printing

Websites with Free 3D Models to Download

• NIH 3D- Provides free digital models of biomedical and bimolecular structures that are readily compatible with a 3D printer
• Thingiverse- Dedicated for users to share digital designs to download
• Sketchfab- An array of shared downloadable

The NIH Library has two professional-level 3D printers: the Stratasys F270 and F370. Both printers use fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology and feature dissolvable supports that are melted away after printing.

Ready to Print? Fill out this form to submit your print request

Model Sizes:  The maximum model must fit within 12 x 10 x 12 inch (308 x 254 x 308 mm)

The NIH Library offers free work-related 3D printing for NIH staff.

Blender is a professional, free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, interactive 3D applications and video games.

The printer has one extruder, one color. We change the rolls of filament at the back to change colors. If you prefer a different color, we can change it, or if we don’t have the desired color, they can bring their own filament and we will put it on. 

The 3D Printing Service is a self-service and first come first served.

Print jobs are saved on an SD card less than 2 GB. If the card is bigger the machine can’t read it. Place the card in the reader and select the print from Build from SD card. If you do not have an 2 GB SD card, you can borrow one for up to 3 days from the Information Desk.

Average print times are 8-12 hours. Prints running more than 30 hrs are not recommended.

There is no fee to print at the library if you work at NIH. However, you will need to provide your own filament (plastic). A roll of filament runs about $50 and you can produce 9-10 prints, depending on the size of the jobs.

Use Netfabb Basic to make editing, repairing and analysing designs for 3D printing quick and easy. View, repair, and edit .STL files. Analyze and repair files to make models airtight. Make simple adjustments for proper fitting on build plate.

OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD models. It is free software and available for Linux/UNIX, Windows and Mac OS X. Unlike most free software for creating 3D models (such as Blender) it does not focus on the artistic aspects of 3D modelling but instead on the CAD aspects. Thus it might be the application you are looking for when you are planning to create 3D models of machine parts but pretty sure is not what you are looking for when you are more interested in creating computer-animated movies.

There are many programs available. See the Modeling Software page for a list of free software.

Scientists are designing custom lab equipment and replacement parts. They are also printing proteins and viruses to better visualize what they are working with and for sharing with colleagues.

The highest resolution is .1mm. It takes significantly longer to print high resolution and Standard resolution is recommended for most jobs - .2mm.