3D printing may still be an emerging technology, but now every student at Binghamton University has access to these printers.

The Emerging Technologies Studio (ETS) opened on October 14 in the Computer Center. According to Information Technology Services (ITS) Assistant Director of Application Development Tim Cortesi, the ETS is an effort by ITS to open a MakerSpace, a place to design and create practically anything, on campus that is accessible to all faculty and students, regardless of school or major.

“ITS came into possession of 10 3D printers of various sizes and types within the last year or so and allowed limited access by faculty and students on a case-by-case basis,” Cortesi said. “With the newly established ETS, all machines are now accessible for both personal and academic use by faculty and students.”

At the ETS, services offered include 3D printing, scanning, 2D/3D design and video editing. Prices for 3D printing range from five cents per gram using the MakerBot machine to 35 cents per gram for using the higher quality Mojo and uPrint machines. The printing software slices objects and turns them into layers, and then the printer reads the object layer by layer and builds up.

Before students can utilize the printing services at ITS, they must take a one-and-a-half hour certification course. According to Adam Kinsella, a senior majoring in business administration, these courses teach students how to create their object using 3D printing software and then how to safely print it.

“[We] take them over to the printer and teach them all the safety procedures of the printer and the certain things you need to do before printing,” Kinsella said. “When they finish, they get a certification card, and once they have that, they’re free to print anything they want.”

Before the ETS was created, it was referred to as New Media Resource Services, but the space and the 3D printers that were funded by the ITS were not available to all students. According to Gabriel Valencia, a senior triple-majoring in biology, French and comparative literature, it wasn’t until Cortesi joined their team that they made the switch to ETS and opened their services to all students.

“Timothy felt it was essential to open this to the entire student body just because it’s a really cool service,” Valencia said. “He thought it was very essential that people could get a taste of 3D printing because this is the new technology nowadays.”

Since its opening, the ETS has had 76 students, faculty and staff become certified with over 250 objects printed. According to Cortesi, these objects include prosthetics, DNA inspired sculptures, custom electronics enclosures, phone cases and a number of other objects for both academic and personal purposes. The ETS is continuing to grow, adding new technologies and teaching tutorial classes that do not offer credit.

“In addition to the 10 3D printers and four 3D scanners, we offer courses in 3D modeling and 3D modeling software. In the spring semester, we’ll be adding a laser cutter to our offerings as well as solder stations and classes in custom electronics development,” Cortesi said. “All tools and classes will be open to all students and will not require an advanced technical understanding in order to participate.”

Students can visit the ETS for both academic and personal objects. Gabrielle Winterton, a senior majoring in computer science, first visited the ETS to complete an art project, but has since been back to print personal projects, such as a Pokéball from “Pokémon.”

“Getting the certification was really easy and worth it,” Winterton said. “I think it’s really great that students have the opportunity to use 3D printers without any prior knowledge of the technologies.”