The NIAID 3D Printing Lab: The evolution of 3D printing services at BCBB

Authors

• V Starr Kramer
• P Cruz
• K Browne
• MC McCarthy
• DE Hurt

Abstract

Since 2007, OCICB’s Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Branch has been providing 3D printing as a free service to NIAID. 3D Printing is well established as useful for research, discovery, and communication in the biomedical field.
The renovations to NIAID’s offices at 5601 Fishers Lane provided an opportunity to design a new, purpose-built space for 3D printing equipment and operations. The new 3D printing lab was outfitted to meet requirements for operating the 3D printers efficiently and safely.
3D printing technologies incorporated in the lab include fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, and colorjet printing. The lab is equipped with a ductless fumehood, biosafety cabinet, and portable wash station which provide the safety and storage of materials and an efficient way for post processing prints. The printers are connected by a virtual local area network (VLAN) to facilitate the ease of 3D modeling and sharing of large 3D modeling files.
NIAID staff can use the service by reaching out to niaid3dservices@nih.gov or stop by 5601 Fishers Lane, room 4H50 for an in-person consultation.

Scientific Focus Area: Research Support Services

This page was last updated on Tuesday, August 6, 2024