Southern University’s labs · 02
Polymer 3D printing lab
Southern University’s polymer labs turn designs into plastic parts and fast prototypes, and test the materials they are made from.
At a glance
Design it. Print it. Test it. Improve it.
Behind this page: an AI-generated film of a 3D printer building a plastic part.
More informationWhat it does
From a design file to a part in your hand.
Polymer printing builds parts from plastic. It is the fastest way to turn an idea into something you can hold, test and improve.
Rapid prototyping
Print a first version of a product quickly and cheaply.
Teaching models
Make models that help students see and handle an idea.
Product design
Try several design versions before choosing one.
Plastic parts
Print working parts such as fixtures, housings and brackets.
Prototype testing
Check fit, strength and function, then print again.
Where it is
Two campus labs work with polymers.
| Lab | Room | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Additive Manufacturing / Entergy 3D Design Lab | Room 118 | 3D design and printing |
| Polymer Processing and Characterization Lab | Room 448 | Making and testing polymer materials |
Lab names and rooms are from Southern University’s public facilities listing.
Lab 02 · Polymer printing
Open the printer.
AI-generated animation of a desktop 3D printer coming apart. Scroll to take it apart.
Equipment
Equipment the university has listed.
| Equipment | Make or model | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Resin 3D printer | SLA 250 | Resin-based 3D printing |
| Dynamic mechanical analyzer | DMA Q800 | Tests how polymers and materials respond to force and heat |
| Particle size analyzer | Nanotrac 150 | Measures particle sizes in materials |
| Ultrasonic mixer | Sonic VC-750 | Prepares nanocomposite mixtures |
| Scanning electron microscope | Hitachi S-2460N | Shows a material’s fine structure |
| High-speed imaging system | Cordin 550 | Captures very fast events for research |
| Data acquisition system | Yokogawa DC-100 | Records measurement data |
From the university’s published facilities documents.
Five steps
AM Lab module 2
Know the printer before you run it.
AM Lab module 5
Set up the design, the material and the printer settings.
AM Lab module 6
Start the print and watch it build.
AM Lab module 7
Find defects and their likely causes.
AM Lab module 8
Design, print, inspect and present a part, with an instructor.
From a file to a finished part.
Where it connects
The closest match to the AM Lab track.
The AM Lab’s VR printer modules teach this kind of printing. The polymer lab is where students do it for real on campus.
Deep dive
Go deeper.
The full story of this lab: what it is, why it matters, why Southern University is pursuing it and why it deserves funding.
More labs
See the other labs.
Request this service
Request this service.
Ask about polymer 3D printing for a project, a class or a prototype.
- Polymer 3D printing
- Prototyping
- Training