All service users must read and understand these service Policies and Procedures prior to use of the Gerstein + MADLab 3D Lab services or equipment. Failure to abide by these requirements may result in consequences such as loss of access to the printers and/or space.

In-person 3D printing policies and procedures

Service users

Current U of T students, staff, and faculty with a valid TCard may become certified to use the service
A list of certified users is maintained in the Quercus shell and updated as they pass the knowledge test. If you wish to remove yourself from the list of certified users, please send a request to gerstein.3dprinting[at]utoronto.ca
Certified users receive a certification confirmation via email
For special arrangements, such as for student clubs and frequent users, please contact gerstein.3dprinting[at]utoronto.ca

Booking a printer

In-person printer access is available by reservation only, via the Gerstein website
Users must be certified before booking a printer. Bookings from non-certified individuals will not be approved
Slice your object file to provide an accurate time estimate for your reservation. Please round up to the nearest 30-minute interval to allow time for printer warm up and cool down, and any deviations in print time
Bookings can be a minimum of 30 mins and a maximum of 4 hours per session, up to 12 hours/week. For special requests, email gerstein.3dprinting[at]utoronto.ca
Book at least 2 business days in advance to allow for staff to approve reservation.
Approved reservations will be confirmed by email. Save your email to bring to your reservation
If needed, please cancel your reservation via the link in the confirmation email.
Gerstein does not provide remote printing services for students as of August 2025.

Filament/machine requests

PLA is the only filament which may be used in the Makerbot printers
Staff may switch the printer used for your reservation for an equivalent machine at their discretion.
Unless requested in your reservation form, your job will print in the colour that is already loaded into the printer when you begin your reservation.
Colour requests cannot be guaranteed
Users are not permitted to access the supply cabinet or change the filament reel themselves. Please ask staff for assistance

Before your print

If you have questions about your project, please contact lab staff in advance, either via email or by booking a consultation
Save your sliced gcode (.makerbot) file on USB or laptop to bring with you to the lab
Users must bring their valid TCard and booking confirmation email to access their reservation.
Users must pay for their reservation in full at the Gerstein service desk (credit/debit only) prior to coming to the lab
User and all guests are required to sign the Gerstein + MADLab 3D Printing: Service Agreement, Release and Indemnity, and Safety Waiver prior to using machines

During your print

Arrive on time with your file ready to print. Late arrivals may not be able to extend print time or may be rescheduled
Only certified users may operate their reserved printers. Guests may not touch printers or other lab equipment
Users may not touch other printers or lab equipment or print jobs on other printers without permission
Users are responsible for their designs and print outcomes. You are expected to stay for the full duration of your print job, monitor your job, and pause/cancel if necessary
Printing charges apply regardless of the success of the print or late arrival at the lab
Print jobs must not exceed the duration of the reservation. Jobs that exceed reservation time may be cancelled by staff
Jobs that are not completed before the lab closes for the day can be picked up the next business day (Tuesday-Friday) pending staff availability
The user is responsible for returning all printer parts and tools and tidying up the space at the end of the reservation, including placing filament waste in the recycling bin provided, and taking any other garbage with you
Return key fob to Gerstein Service Desk following your reservation to avoid lost fob charge of $15

Safety conditions

Prints must adhere to university policy and all applicable laws. There must be no infringement of any person’s intellectual property rights when using the Printer to create a work. There is to be no printing of weapons or replica weapons (prohibited under Canadian law), obscene materials, or any materials that violate the U of T Libraries' Conduct Regulations
Follow all safety guidelines and lab rules as outlined in the certification training and policy document, or as directed by lab staff.
- Print heads are hot (>200°C) — do not touch the hot end
- Tie back long hair and loose clothing when operating machines
- Use tools carefully. Sharp edges can cause injury
- In case of injury, report to staff on site or via email to gerstein.3dprinting[at]utoronto.ca in accordance with Environmental Health & Safety guidelines.
- Never attempt to install or remove components/objects from the machine – report any malfunction to staff
Only certified users may operate reserved printers. Guests may not touch printers.
Treat staff and fellow lab users with courtesy and respect. Rude or aggressive language or behaviour will not be tolerated.
Under no circumstances is lab equipment to leave the lab for any period of time. Users may be liable for any damage or loss of equipment occurring during their reservation.
Failure to abide by these requirements may result in consequences such as loss of access to the printers and MADLab.

Legal agreement

Use of the service implies acceptance of all safety, conduct, and indemnity terms as stated in this document and in the Gerstein + MADLab 3D Printing: Service Agreement, Release and Indemnity, and Safety Waiver
Users release the University and Library from liability related to use of the equipment

Contact information

Please direct all inquiries to gerstein.3Dprinting[at]utoronto.ca
Please note that the MADLab is accessible by appointment only. Drop in requests may not be accommodated.

Intellectual Property (IP) Policy

This policy covers two areas:

Use of works created by others.
Use of works created by Gerstein staff for faculty and researchers.

Understanding copyright and open access

In Canada, original works are protected by copyright once fixed in a tangible form (e.g., .STL files). Copyright protects the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves. Reproducing substantial portions of copyrighted works requires permission, unless covered by exceptions (e.g., fair dealing). Please consult the University of Toronto Fair Dealing Guidelines and Copyright FAQ for more information.

Creative Commons licenses offer a simple way to grant permission for reuse. Many 3D models in U of T’s 3D Printing Resource Guide use these licenses.

Should you have questions about open access or copyright, please contact the UTL Scholarly Communications and Copyright Office at copyright@library.utoronto.ca

Part 1: Using works created by others

By using this service, you agree to:

Ensure your use complies with Canadian copyright law.
Follow the terms of any Creative Commons license, including attribution and restrictions on modification or commercial use.
Comply with all relevant U of T policies, including:
Understand that links to third-party repositories do not imply endorsement. You are responsible for assessing whether a file can be legally used.

Part 2: Works created by Gerstein staff

Gerstein staff retain copyright over original designs created in the course of their work at the lab for research or teaching. These works are licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. You may share and adapt these works for non-commercial purposes only, with proper attribution and license terms.

Attribution Format:

“[File Name]” by [Creator Name] – Gerstein 3D Lab, used under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Adaptation Format:

“This work, ‘[Your Work Title]’, is adapted from ‘[Original Work Title]’ by [Original Author Name], used under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ‘[Your Work Title]’ is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.”

If a staff member significantly contributes to your research or teaching, please acknowledge them in your outputs using appropriate academic guidelines (e.g., ICMJE).

Inventions and patents

For questions about inventions, patents, or commercialization, contact the Innovations and Partnerships Office at the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

File retention

Files created by Gerstein staff may be preserved and/or managed indefinitely by U of T Libraries for the purposes of research, teaching or private study.

Files printed via in-person reservations are not stored.

Course & Research Lab Collaboration Policy

This policy pertains to service collaborations with eligible faculty and researchers to support teaching and research.

Project eligibility

Eligible users and project types are outlined on the service page.

Library and lab staff will review projects in the order they are received based on workload and feasibility. Last minute and urgent requests may be considered at the discretion of the lab staff.

Library and lab staff reserve the right to withdraw services at any point during the project process.

Equipment and space are subject to availability. The library is not responsible for unforeseen equipment malfunction or staff absence.

Fees

Fees charged for print jobs are outlined on the service page and cover consumable print materials such as filament and replacement parts. Design, instruction, and consulting are provided free of charge.

Remote printing fee estimates will be provided to faculty in advance of printing. Once approval is received, we will proceed with printing. Note that estimates may vary slightly from actual print time. Quotes do not include HST.

Lab staff will issue fee invoice by email upon job completion. Invoices can be paid by credit or debit card at the Gerstein service desk when picking up printed objects. All prints are to be picked up in person during library hours. Please note a valid TCard or UTORid is required to access the building and to process your invoice.

Copyright for custom design work

Custom design work done by lab staff is protected under copyright and subject to the service IP policy. Please refer to the IP Policy for copyright and licensing section for details.

As collaborators, please consider acknowledging the contribution of lab staff in any outputs such as publications, presentations, or grants.

Student access for course assignments

Instructors must request and receive advance approval for course support. Approved courses are eligible for special training, subsidized printing and dedicated lab time.

Please request any special student training (printer certification, design, other) prior to start of course. Training should be scheduled in advance of assignment deadlines. Students who do not complete printer certification training will not be permitted to use the printers, regardless of assignment options or deadlines. Faculty who wish to teach in the lab must also be certified.

Lab staff can arrange for dedicated blocks of lab/printer time for the exclusive use of students in your course, but this must be discussed in advance and is subject to availability.

Students who do not print during dedicated course times agreed in advance with lab staff and faculty may be subject to regular in-person printing processes and fees.

Students using the printers for assignments in approved courses are subject to all in-person service policies and procedures. Please refer to the In-person 3D printing policies and procedures section of this page for more information.

Information collection and confidentiality

Information about your project is collected via service request forms, which are stored on university servers. Unless otherwise requested, this information may be included in lab and staff annual reporting, which is shared with library administrators, staff, and colleagues as part of the regular work of the lab. Project information will not be shared on the website or via other channels without prior permission.

Files shared with lab staff, as well as images of digital or physical objects may be stored on library servers or sent via email or chat as part of the regular work of the lab. Files sent to the Creality printer are temporarily stored in the cloud. These are deleted at regular intervals after project completion.

If you wish for your name, course name, project description, files and/or photos not be used in annual reporting or other outputs, please indicate by written request to gerstein.3dprinting[at]utoronto.ca.

3D printing service policies & procedures at Gerstein + MADLab

Related to

Gerstein Science Information Centre

3D printing services at Gerstein Library + MADLab

Mobile Application Development Lab (MADLab) at Gerstein Library