If you’re a new student, or if our article about Himmelfarb’s technology options caught your eye, you may have heard that SMHS, GWSPH, and GW Nursing faculty, staff, and students can 3D print for free.
But if you’ve never submitted a 3D printing request before, it might seem a little daunting. Fortunately – it’s super easy!
All you need to do is find the STL file you want to print (think of the STL as the digital blueprint for the print job), submit the file (or the URL of where to find it) using our Submission Form, and then let Himmelfarb staff take over. We’ll format the file and print it out for you.
But where do I find an STL file?
Fortunately, there are a number of high quality free 3D printing libraries available: NIH 3D Print Exchange, Thingiverse, or the Zortrax Library. I recommend starting with Thingiverse (Thingiverse is your friend). You can find almost anything you want just by querying their database and downloading the file.
3D printing has a myriad of applications for the medical field. For medical students, it allows the visualization of the (almost invisible) by modeling molecules, or it can create bone models such as flexible spines or 3D printed skulls.
For more information on the process of printing through Himmelfarb, check out our 3D Printing Research Guide. We hope to collaborate with you soon!
