Name: Sofi Le
Date of Submission: 1/16/2026
For each lab session, answer the following questions
1.​ Date of lab session: 1/12/2026
2.​ Prototyping method(s) used this week: PLA 3D Printing using Bambu
3.​ Final product: [maximum 3 (picture(s) with a brief description]:
Gearbox keychain made up of three separate parts, including two functioning
movable gears
4.​ Describe 2-3 things you learned from the prototyping technique you used this week.
Write 2-3 sentences for each insight:
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Insight 1:
If you want to fit a printing job in a specific time frame, you should scale
the size of the model down until the predicted printing time works for you.
This was useful in this lab as we were supposed to keep printing time
under 20 minutes.
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Insight 2:
Previously when I took the 3D printing hatchery training, I did not know that
you could import multiple STL files into one project to print at the same
time. Now knowing that, I am able to not only print projects with separate
parts, but also work with others at the same time to print more efficiently.
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Insight 3:
It is important to practice your skills, like 3D printing regularly or at least
once in a while to refresh your memory. Although I already took the
training, I took it quite a while ago and have not 3D printed anything since,
which made me forget some things about how to use the software.
5.​ Describe the challenges you faced in the lab this week (answer in 2-3 sentences)
I had a bit of trouble navigating the software as I forgot where some functions
were (such as where to switch 3D printing machines). I figured it out after a bit
of time, but it could have been avoided if I used the 3D printing software more
often after the Hatchery training. I will keep that in mind from now on and
refresh my skills more often.
6.​ For what use cases do you believe you will use this/these prototyping method(s) for
(answer in 2-3 sentences):
I think that knowing how to use a 3D printing machine is super useful to
everyone, not only engineers. If I ever need to quickly print any small and
simple product, I can just do that for free at the Hatchery rather than spending
money on buying it.
7.​ Describe the safety precautions for using the prototyping method(s) (answer in 4-5
sentences):
Wearing closed-toed shoes in the Hatchery is really important, no matter what
type of work you are working on. I also made sure to tie my hair back in the
hatchery. I did not have any dangling jewelry on during the lab, but if I did, I
would also make sure to put that away. Being mindful about hot surfaces is
also really important in the hatchery, as many machines conduct high levels of
heat (such as the plate on the 3D printing machine), so making sure not to
touch these surfaces would lead to a safer experience.