3D Printing Guidelines
The foundation of the M3 system is a small number 3D-printable parts. These parts have been custom designed, and therefore need to be custom printed. 3D printing services such as Craftcloud can offer a simple way to order these custom parts. Alternatively, because M3 parts have been designed with inexpensive, consumer-grade 3D printers in mind, you can print every M3 part yourself! See the sections below for guidance on ordering or printing these custom parts.
Note: when you first begin to print M3 parts, we recommend starting with a small batch of each part type (walls, floors, and junctions) before printing a full set. Different printers and print services introduce slight deviations in the dimensions of printed parts, so you'll want to verify that your parts fit together adequately before committing to a large batch.
Ordering 3D Prints Online
To order 3D prints from a printing service, you first need to download the .stl file(s) you wish to have printed. Next, identify a 3D printing
service you want to use (e.g. Craftcloud) and upload the .stl file(s) to print. Typically, you will then
be requested to enter a small number of print parameters to make sure the part is printed how you want it. At the bottom of this page is a list of recommended print settings,
some of which are more essential and others which are completely optional to the point that some services will not even ask for them. Feel free to deviate from
these recommendations if you know enough to know you want something different -- M3 part designed are robust to a wide variety of parameters.
Printing Parts Yourself
If you already own a 3D printer, printing M3 parts yourself can be the fastest, easiest, and most economical option for building M3 mazes. If you don't yet own a printer but are
interested in purchasing one, we recommend an FDM-type printer such as the [Prusa MK4S](https://www.prusa3d.com/product/original-prusa-mk4s-3d-printer-5/) or the
[Anycubic Kobra 2](https://store.anycubic.com/products/kobra-2). FDM printers such as these can print large, strong parts and are relatively easy to use and maintain.
FDM printers use spools of filament as the building material for 3D prints, and there are many different filament types to choose from. We recommend using PLA filament
as it is inexpensive, strong, and easy to wipe down for sterilization purposes (e.g. with 70% ethanol).
3D printers also require computer programs known as "slicers"; these programs convert 3D design files (e.g., .stl files) into specific instruction files for the 3D printer.
There are many different slicer programs available, but it's always safe to follow your printer manufacturer's guidanance on which slicer program is best for that printer.
After starting up a slicer program, you are often asked to input the model of printer you're using and the type of filament/material being used. After inputting these settings,
simply load or drag-and-drop the .stl file(s) you would like to print into the slicer program. Next, set the parameters for how the part should be printed --
see the section at the bottom of the page for our recommendations, some of which may apply to your printer and some of which may not.
Once these settings are finalized, "slice" the part and export the data in the format your printer uses. Load the sliced data
file to your printer and start the print. FDM printer often take hours to print a handful of parts, so it may take a few days to over a week to print all the parts you need for
M3 mazes. With this in mind, you might consider printing multiple parts at once, and even leaving the printer to run overnight.
Happy printing!
Recommended Print Parameters
- File units: millimeters
- Printing process type: FDM
- Material: PLA
- Infill: 20%
- Support: none
- Layer Height: 300 micrometers (or less)
- Finish: Standard/As printed/No finish
- Color: white or light grey
- Print orientation: default (walls/junctions printed vertically, floors printed flat)
- Tolerance: 500 micrometers (or less)
If you already own a 3D printer, printing M3 parts yourself can be the fastest, easiest, and most economical option for building M3 mazes. If you don't yet own a printer but are interested in purchasing one, we recommend an FDM-type printer such as the [Prusa MK4S](https://www.prusa3d.com/product/original-prusa-mk4s-3d-printer-5/) or the [Anycubic Kobra 2](https://store.anycubic.com/products/kobra-2). FDM printers such as these can print large, strong parts and are relatively easy to use and maintain.
FDM printers use spools of filament as the building material for 3D prints, and there are many different filament types to choose from. We recommend using PLA filament as it is inexpensive, strong, and easy to wipe down for sterilization purposes (e.g. with 70% ethanol).
3D printers also require computer programs known as "slicers"; these programs convert 3D design files (e.g., .stl files) into specific instruction files for the 3D printer. There are many different slicer programs available, but it's always safe to follow your printer manufacturer's guidanance on which slicer program is best for that printer. After starting up a slicer program, you are often asked to input the model of printer you're using and the type of filament/material being used. After inputting these settings, simply load or drag-and-drop the .stl file(s) you would like to print into the slicer program. Next, set the parameters for how the part should be printed -- see the section at the bottom of the page for our recommendations, some of which may apply to your printer and some of which may not. Once these settings are finalized, "slice" the part and export the data in the format your printer uses. Load the sliced data file to your printer and start the print. FDM printer often take hours to print a handful of parts, so it may take a few days to over a week to print all the parts you need for M3 mazes. With this in mind, you might consider printing multiple parts at once, and even leaving the printer to run overnight.
Happy printing!