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3D Printing Policies

Purpose

This policy establishes the guidelines for use of 3D printer technology available at The University of Scranton IDEA Center. The 3D printers are available to create three-dimensional objects using a design that is uploaded from a computer file.

Policies

  1. All 3D printers may only be used for lawful purposes.
  2. Objects made using the 3D printers are not for commercial use, mass production, and are not to be resold.
  3. Users must abide by all applicable local, state, and federal laws and University policies.
  4. Users will not be allowed to create unsafe, harmful, or dangerous objects or those which replicate such objects or pose an immediate threat to the well-being of persons or property. Pursuant to University policy, no weapons or life-like replicas are allowed on campus, nor may anyone produce them in the IDEA Center. This includes parts of weapons, ammunition, and defensive as well as offensive weapons or any object which is regulated or requires a license to carry.
  5. Staff shall not print any obscene or otherwise inappropriate objects which they determine, in their sole discretion, are inappropriate for a learning environment.
  6. Staff, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to decline any print request for any reason.
  7. Users will not create or print any object in violation of another's intellectual property rights related to patented, trademarked, or copyrighted materials.
  8. Only authorized IDEA Center staff shall have access to and use of the 3D printers.

Eligibility

  • Currently enrolled University of Scranton students, faculty, and staff are entitled to submit print requests.
  • Invited guests from the community may submit print requests with the permission of the Director of the IDEA Center.

Availability

All prints will be executed by the IDEA Center staff during their regular hours of operation. Larger print orders may be printed overnight in order to keep the printer available for use during the day.

Printing Priority

All items will be printed on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the exception of items being printed for academic reasons (relating to a class) which will be given priority over recreational prints. In times of higher demand, IDEA Center staff may limit the number of prints to one (1) per day per person or group.

Payments

Payments must be made before an item is printed. The IDEA Center will withhold any items until payment is received in full. Pricing is based on the weight of the printed item at $.10 per gram.

Disclaimer

In providing 3D printing services, IDEA Center disclaims any warranties, express or implied, including the warranty of merchantability and warranty of fitness of a particular purpose, for the printing services themselves and any resulting tangible object or product thereof. The 3-D objects are provided to Patron for aesthetic purposes only, and are not intended for use as a functional tool or a functional part of a larger item. IDEA Center shall not be liable for any damages resulting from such non-aesthetic use.

In submitting a job to be printed, Patron warrants and represents that it owns, or has obtained, all rights necessary to allow IDEA Center to provide the requested 3-D printing services. Patron shall be liable for any and all claims of intellectual property infringement that result from the 3-D printing services provided hereunder.

The IDEA Center cannot guarantee model quality or stability, confidentiality of designs, or specific delivery times. RLC is not responsible for any damage, loss or security of data arising from the use of its computers or network, nor for the functionality or quality of content produced on the 3D printer.

Copyright law under Title 17 of the United States Code, patent law under Title 35 of the United States Code, and other intellectual property laws of the United States may govern the making of photocopies or other reproductions of content. Under 17 U.S.C. § 108(f)(2) the provision of unsupervised photocopy or reproducing equipment for use by patrons does not excuse the person who uses the reproduction equipment from liability for copyright infringement for any such act, or for any later use of such copy or phonorecord, if it exceeds fair use as provided by 17 U.S.C. § 107. Nor does it excuse the person who uses the reproducing equipment from liability for patent, tort or other laws.

This institution reserves the right to refuse to make available or provide access to photocopy or other reproducing equipment if, in its judgment, use of such equipment would involve violation of copyright, patent or other laws.

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