Rules

1. The Library’s 3D printers may be used only for lawful purposes. The public will not be permitted to use the Library’s 3D printers to create material that is:
   • Prohibited by local, state or federal law.
   • Unsafe, harmful, dangerous or poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others. (Such use may violate the terms of use of the manufacturer.)
   • Obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the Library environment.
   • In violation of another’s intellectual property rights. For example, the printers will not be used to reproduce material that is subject to copyright, patent or trademark protection.
2. The Library reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.
3. Items printed from Library 3D printers that are not picked up within 7 days will become property of the Library. Items must be picked up by the individual who printed them.
4. Only designated Library staff and volunteers will have hands-on access to the 3D printer.

Caution

• The 3D object printed on our printer are not safe to put in your mouth or be used for food prep.
• We periodically film or take pictures of the 3D printer in action and of the objects that are printed to share on our social media sites or to promote the use of the 3D printer. You will have the option to allow or deny permission on the submission form.

Size

• Print jobs maximum size is 127 x 127 x 127 mm or 5 x 5 x 5 inches.
• Jobs cannot take longer than 6 hours to print.

Acceptable Formats

• .stl
• .obj
• .3mf
• .x3d

Filament

PolyLite PLA, 2.85mm in various colors

PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a biodegradable (under the correct conditions) thermoplastic derived from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane. It is one of the most popular bioplastics, used for many applications ranging from plastic cups to medical implants.

Costs

3D printing at the Library is currently free. It is anticipated that a fee will be charged in the future to cover the printing costs.

Design

• TinkerCad - Free website to design 3D print files or download a design to print. Must sign up for an account.
• Any 3D drafting software may be used to create a design as long as the file can be saved in .stl file format. Currently the library does not provide this software.

Digital designs also are available from various file-sharing websites:

• Thingiverse.com
• YouMagine.com
• NIH 3D Print Exchange
• Libre3D
• Other Free and Pay 3D Designs

Submitting a design for printing

1. Fill out the online form and PRINT IT OUT BEFORE SUBMITTING IT.
2. Put the print job on a thumb drive. No graphic cards, please. The file can be no larger than 32 MB.
3. Bring the printout of your form and the USB Flash Drive to the Customer Service Desk
4. Your USB Flash Drive and form will be put into a special bag.
5. Staff will add the model to the printing queue when they receive it.
6. Staff will contact you to when your model is ready to pick up.

If demand is high, the Library will schedule only one print per day per person or entity.

The files will be readied for printing in Cura or other authorized software. The Library will view all files in Cura or other authorized software before printing

It is sometimes difficult to estimate exact print times. Any print jobs not picked up during your appointment window will be given away.

Recycling

We have partnered with TerraCycle and Filabot to recycle any 3D print jobs or scraps we collect. You will find the box near the food can as you come in.

About TerraCycle

TerraCycle® is a social enterprise Eliminating the Idea of Waste®. In 20 countries, they tackle the issue from many angles. They have found that nearly everything we touch can be recycled and collect typically hard-to-recycle items through national, first-of-their-kind recycling programs. Leading companies work with them to transform recycled materials collected in their programs into new products.

How they recycle: Everything collected through the Zero Waste Box system is sorted and processed into raw materials that can be reused instead of being sent to landfill. Plastics are separated by number, melted down, and turned into pellets that can be molded and extruded to produce new products.

Definitions

• 3D printing: the process of making a physical object from a digital model.
• 3D Printer: A 3D printer uses melted plastic to produce objects designed on a computer.