At the heart of New York City's creative tech scene, the NYU Tisch School of the Arts ITP/IMA Makerspace Lab has redefined what it means to integrate technology, design, and education. Thanks to 3DPrinterOS, a cloud-based 3D printer management software, the makerspace has transformed a once chaotic 3D printing environment into a streamlined, data-driven hub of innovation.
Users 3D printing with a single software
Parts 3D Printed
The Tisch School of the Arts sits in the heart of New York City, encompassing a full city block in the Emerging Media building, in Brooklyn. Part of New York University, it is home to the ITP/IMA Makerspace Lab, which is a bustling environment where ideas take shape, sometimes literally.
Students from wildly different backgrounds use this makerspace. They explore and push the boundaries of technology, art, and design. Often, 3D printing is the key to connecting diverse disciplines, and turning designs into tangible realities.
And not surprisingly, managing such a high-use space was once likened to navigating the Wild West.
The ITP/IMA Makerspace Lab serves three primary programs: the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), the Interactive Media Arts (IMA) undergraduate program, and a low-residency master’s program. Together, the makerspace hosts 600 to 650 students from these programs in its city-block sized open floor plan.
The space is home to everything from a woodshop to electronics prototyping stations. There are also laser cutters, and, of course, 3D printers. In a way it's the pulse of an ecosystem; one that thrives on venturing outside any traditional box, whether through virtual reality installations, physical computing projects, or intricate sculptures.
The field of 3D printing intrigued him for its mix of technical complexity and creative potential. He started a business-to-business 3D printing farm, at first offering 3D print services to anyone who wanted them, and made a few discoveries along the way.
But a few years ago, managing the 3D printing side of things was chaotic. The demand for 3D printing was high; the space, however, housed just three 3D printers. There wasn't a centralized system to track maintenance or usage. And there was no designated technician to oversee operations, so things could quickly spiral into disorder. Students printed without limits, often using excessive material for projects that didn’t require it. Maintenance fell through the cracks. Tracking filament consumption was next to impossible, and at one point reached a staggering 125 kilograms every three months.
That's why Phil Caridi, the shop manager, called it the Wild West. Printers were monopolized, sometimes by a single student running large prints on multiple machines simultaneously. The lack of oversight wasted resources and created inequity among users.
Phil and the rest of the staff began considering solutions. They could implement a calendar system. Or possibly hire a dedicated technician. But these potential solutions seemed impractical, especially with budget and the scale of operations.
Enter 3DPrinterOS. This software platform meant the ITP/IMA Makerspace Lab could completely change the way it operated. It offers a full suite of tools that made managing the 3D printers more streamlined, and tracked and optimized resource use.
“It’s almost like it gives you another staff member without adding staff,” Phil told us. With 3DPrinterOS, the makerspace could finally establish clear guidelines for usage. For instance, students are now limited to printing for 12 continuous hours. If a project requires more time, students first consult with the staff to explore more efficient ways of printing. This conserves resources, as intended, but another benefit is that it encourages critical thinking and better design practices at the start of the 3D printing process.
The software also addresses equity issues by restricting users to one machine at a time, preventing a single student from dominating multiple printers. The staff started watching metrics such as material usage, print history, and project details. This allows them to track trends, and even justify budgets. “Metrics are important,” Phil explained. “We can point to the usage and show what’s actually happening.”
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This transformation has allowed the makerspace to expand. They have so far grown their fleet to nine printers, with one additional experimental Bambu printer. This one is not integrated with 3DPrinterOS, and is used for offsite events, like MoMI (Museum of the Moving Image), as well as educational workshops, maker fairs, and filament testing. The printers now run almost constantly during the semester, serving as a cornerstone of the makerspace’s activity. Projects range from the whimsical, like Halloween masks, through multiple functional prints like housings, enclosures, and robots, to the profoundly impactful, like an open-source MRI unit, and Project Mjolnir, an adaptive mountain bike.
The MRI project is a collaboration spanning institutions in Buenos Aires, Germany, and New York. It aims to develop a small-scale, open-source MRI machine for use in remote or resource-limited areas. The project prioritizes fabrication techniques that require only basic CNC tools and 3D printers, meaning that hospitals and clinics in remote locations can produce and maintain their own equipment. Phil tells us, “Theoretically, the plans will be available for people to build in remote regions.” This is completely in line with the ethos of the makerspace, which is to remove barriers to entry, and empower individuals to create solutions.
And this ethos is woven into Project Mjolnir, the adaptive mountain bike project, too. Designed for differently-abled individuals, the bike design includes customizable components, like a hand-cycle mechanism and electric assist. Unlike traditional adaptive bikes, this model is built to evolve. Users can modify and 3D print custom attachments based on their individual mobility needs, whether that means an extra harness for stability or a new braking mechanism for those with limited hand dexterity.
By embedding sensors into the bike, students also collect real-time data on stress points, helping refine the design with every iteration. The project follows an open-source framework, ensuring that adaptive cycling is more accessible worldwide. Students prototype parts using 3D printers, allowing rapid iteration before finalizing designs in aluminum.
This project is one of their VIP (Vertically Integrated Projects) programs, which is run through NYU Tandon School of Engineering. This means it’s run more like a design studio than a class. Students must interview to join the program, and it involves students from all majors.
Phil noted that this bike is specifically engineered for challenging off-road conditions; it’s geared and has a pedal assist motor. Perhaps even more than technical skills, this type of project develops empathy, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial mindset in the makerspace users.
Both these projects span years of work and collaboration. This means students need to be able to pick up a project that is already underway and contribute to it.
Flexibility is another major benefit. With 3DPrinterOS, Fantasy Pets can adapt to market trends almost instantly, introducing new designs and scaling production without the need for retooling.
Before joining NYU Tisch Makerspace, Phil’s path was far from traditional. A bicycle mechanic for 13 years, he spent time on race mechanic teams, customizing high-performance bikes and even helping REI expand its bike shop operations nationwide. But a passion for design led them to pursue industrial design, ultimately bringing them into the world of digital fabrication and education
After earning a degree in industrial design, he ran his own practice for a decade before shifting into education. He oversaw digital fabrication labs at SCAD, guiding students in mastering new tools and workflows. When his spouse landed a job in New York City, they made the move, enrolling in NYU’s ITP program. Initially a research resident, he soon found himself taking over as the makerspace shop manager, drawn to the dynamic intersection of education, technology, and hands-on making.
With such a deep background in both cycling and engineering, Phil naturally gravitated toward the makerspace’s Project Mjolnir, VIP. Now serving as one of the faculty advisors, he helps students refine designs, making sure that every prototype isn’t just functional but properly adapted to the needs of differently-abled riders. ‘It’s a perfect blend of my past and present work,’ he said, as it combines his technical expertise with the opportunity to make a real-world impact
Of course, managing a makerspace of this scale comes with its share of challenges. One big one is taking into account the wide range of skill levels among students. Users include everyone from 18-year-old undergraduates to career-changing professionals in their 50s. Some students arrive with extensive experience in digital fabrication, while others are complete novices. “It’s hard for us to create training that experienced students don’t find redundant but still gives beginners the building blocks to be successful,” Phil admitted.
To address this, the makerspace uses 3DPrinterOS to create broad user groups: basic and advanced. New users operate with “training wheels”: limited infill, capped print times, and a baseline resolution of 0.15mm or higher. But with experience, they earn greater control. Phil explained that it’s not just about limiting access: “It forces students to think about efficiency. If they want to unlock higher settings, they need to justify why. It’s design thinking at work. Advanced users, who have demonstrated their competence, gain more freedom to push boundaries. This means all students can learn at their own pace but still minimize wasted resource.”
Another aspect is managing the physical space. This is specially true during peak times like midterms, end of semester, and finals. Even with nine 3D printers, the demand often exceeds supply. But as Phil pointed out, just like you can only buy so many screwdrivers, you can only buy so many 3D printers!
Happily, the makerspace spirit of collaboration and creativity wins. Students share resources, pivot to other tools like laser cutters, or find creative ways to adapt their projects. These resourceful and adaptive skills are themselves part of the culture of problem-solving that the makerspace works to develop.
Sustainability is another core focus, and closing the waste loop is a challenge. But the makerspace is making headway, which ties into their original need to reduce wasted resource. They have recently acquired a grinder and sheet press to recycle acrylic waste into reusable sheets; they are also exploring ways to recycle filament. Filament recycling is a complex task, particularly at a small scale, but the staff is optimistic. “Because we print with tough PLA, which is homogenous, it reduces the risk,” Phil explained. These efforts align with their broader mission to be a steward of both resources and learning.
Like many progressive makerspaces, failure is celebrated here, not feared. Phil told us that in a way, “Seeing others fail around you gives you the license to fail.” And the reason this approach is being adopted is it creates a safe environment for experimentation and pushing boundaries. Students can learn through trial and error without judgment.
It’s a philosophy that underpins much of the makerspace’s success. For example, students who initially struggle with 3D printing quickly learn how to optimize designs by considering factors like support structures and infill. In the end, as they become better designers, they also grow their own courage and willingness to tackle complex problems, both in the makerspace and other parts of their life.
And that is key to how the makerspace’s impact extends beyond NYU. Its projects often involve global collaborations and contribute to a larger movement toward decentralized manufacturing. They've made it so students can prototype quickly and efficiently. The space reduces reliance on traditional manufacturing methods, making high-quality designs accessible to more people.
The ITP/IMA Makerspace Lab at NYU Tisch has become a living example of what’s possible at the intersection of technology, creativity, and community. Their reach extends beyond campus, and behind the scenes is 3DPrinterOS, giving a clear line of sight into who is printing what, and on which machines. For the devoted students and the dedicated staff, ITP/IMA Makerspace Lab is both a place to build projects, and a place to build futures.
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