The Shop Equipment and Technology

3D printing is a process whereby a 3D design is turned into a real object.

First, software is used to slice the 3D design into layers before each layer is reconstructed on a 3D printer. 3D printing is great for prototyping and making unique one off items.

• 3D printer are only handled by Staff and prints are only available in PLA.
• The cost of printing is $0.05 per gram.
• Patrons may only submit a total of 1 file at a time;  patrons cannot submit a new print until they have picked up their previous print.
• Prints must be picked up within 3 weeks or they will be discarded.
• Staff may refuse to print designs that are harmful or dangerous, based on their discretion. 

1. Create or download a design.
2. Submit a 3D Print Request; you will be prompted to provide a link to or email us your file. 
3. Once the print is complete, Library staff will contact you with information on how to pay and collect your print. Watch this video to learn more about finishing your 3D print.

Filament colors: Red, Yellow, Green (limited), Blue, Teal, Purple, Grey, White, and Black.

1. Save your design as an .STL or .OBJ file.
2. Make sure your design is the right size or scale.
3. The infill density defines the amount of plastic used on the inside of the print. A higher infill density means that there is more plastic on the inside of your print, leading to a stronger object. An infill density of around 15% is used for models with a visual purpose, higher densities can be used for end-use or load-bearing parts. 

Visual Display of Infill Percentages

Introduction to 3D Design: 

Learn to modify and create simple 3D shapes using TinkerCAD.com, and understand how 3D printers work. 

Prerequisites: Basic PC skills.

LinkedIn Learning - Use it for Free with your Library card and PIN: Learn business, software, technology, and creative skills to meet your personal or professional goals. Engaging, top-quality video courses taught by recognized industry experts, organized by skill level and subject. Learn a whole course or just the section you need.

Thingiverse.com - MakerBot's Thingiverse is a thriving design community for discovering, making, and sharing 3D printable things.

Thangs.com - A free 3D community for collaboration; with unlimited downloads and secure storage. The only platform with geometric search.

Learn TinkerCAD - Free step-by-step lessons to learn about 3D Design basics and projects.

Meshmixer - Free software to clean up 3D scans, combine models, add color, and more.

SculptGL - A digital sculpting web app featuring sculpting tools, VOXEL remeshing, and supports OBJ, PLY, and STL import/export.