Located in the heart of the University of Iowa’s Seamans Center is the Iowa 3D club room, where plastic projects line the walls, and a multitude of printers coat the many tables. The room features a wide collection of 3D printers, offering students the ability to print in various shapes, sizes, and forms of filament.
While the mechanics may sound daunting to some people, the UI’s nonprofit, student-run 3D club that has been around since 2022 brings limitless possibilities to the fingertips of all interested students.
Adam Bischoff, a fourth-year UI student and vice president of the 3D club, said the club uses a variety of printers, including three user-friendly Bambu printers, Ender printers, and Prusa printers.
Polylactic acid filament is commonly used in these printers, a bio-based thermoplastic polymer with a low melting point and high strength derived from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane. The filament comes in a wide range of colors and can even be metallic, transparent, or UV-activated depending on the type. While polylactic acid filament is the basic form of filament, the 3D club also utilizes printers capable of printing in other materials, such as carbon fiber, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate. Each material offers its own unique properties — strength, resistance to weathering, and durability – that give 3D club members access to the leading materials suited for each unique project, percolating their minds.
“I’m a maker, my hobby is engineering,” Trey Vokoun, a second-year UI graduate student and 3D club member, said. “The club is a place for me to work on my passion for engineering, and it helps me bring my crazy projects to life.”
RELATED: Tree Hugger becomes first environmental writing literary magazine on campus
Along with printing members’ projects, the 3D club also accepts commissions from student organizations, businesses, and the local community. As long as the request is school-appropriate and not illegal, such as the 3D printing of firearms or other weapons, the 3D club offers a place for anyone to bring their imagination to fruition.
“Websites like Thingiverse or MakerWorld have lots of creative prints on them that we can take and print ourselves,” Bischoff said. “We’ve also had members who make their own prints from scratch.”
With roughly 25 active members, the 3D club encourages education into the world of 3D printing, collaboration between members, and creativity in projects. After completing a brief training on the equipment, members are given free access to the club room and materials.
The club hosts weekly, hour-long meetings consisting of fun facts, news about 3D printing, speaking about upcoming events, and working on either club-related or personal projects. Since the club seeks commissions, they often promote commission projects for members to work on, fostering an experience-driven environment that teaches members foundational skills in the world of 3D printing and design.
“I really enjoy the like-minded community who like to work on projects and socialize,” Erica Wahe, a 3D club member, said. “It’s a great place to study and work.”
Depending on the size and complexity of a project, 3D prints can range anywhere from a few hours to multiple days. While waiting for projects to finish or taking advantage of the familiar environment, the 3D club room often serves as a comfortable place for members to hang out.
“The club space is a really chill environment,” Bischoff said. “A lot of people hang out there between classes. It’s the people that really make the club fun.”