Glossary

Nozzle
We have two types of nozzles: AA and BB, and two nozzle sizes available to use: 0.8 mm and 0.4 mm. So we will call them AA0.4/BB0.4/AA0.8/BB0.8
Different nozzle sizes mean that you can print with different filaments and speeds as well as acheiving different finishes on your prints. The wider the nozzle, the faster you can print; thinner nozzles give finer detailed prints.

Dual Extrusion
Dual extrusion means that we can print multiple materials at once, allowing for dual colour and dual material prints. For example, a PLA(AA0.4) and a PVA (BB0.4) print or Tough PLA(AA0.4) and TPU(AA0.4) print.

PLA Polylactic Acid
A type of plastic derived from cornstarch more natural materials that can be succesfully anaerobically digested.

PVA Polyvinyl Alcohol
Not the same as the glue PVA. A particular type of filament that can be dissolved in water used to print supports for prints, allowing more complex geometries to be printed with our printers.

Tough PLA Tough Polylactic Acid
Tough PLA has almost the same chemical make-up as PLA but with properties that make it stronger and harder than PLA. It is an alternative to ABS which has chemicals in it that are unsafe for students to use in a workshop environment.

TPU
TPU is a flexible rubber filament that can be printed into complex shapes and merged with other materials in one print.

Material Station
the material station is where different types of filament rolls are stored. These rolls are automatically fed into the 3D printer; when a roll runs out the printer switches to the next available roll.

Ultimaker
Ultimaker is the company that makes the 3D printers we use. Ultimaker also own Thingiverse, a useful repository of free-to-use open source 3D models that can be printed using our 3D printers.

Build-plate
The build-plate is a flexible steel plate that is sat on a heated moving platform where the 3D print is constructed.

Print head/extruder
The print head houses the nozzle for 3D printing it is made up of a series of fans to cool the print head.

Filament
Filament is the plastic material used for 3D printers that is kept on reels. It is an extruded polymer filament.

Ultimaker Cura
Ultimaker Cura is a free slicing software for MAC and Windows users that helps you to prepare your files for 3D printing.