Many libraries have adopted and adapted 3D printing services and have found great success in bringing their communities new and exciting technology. If you’re just getting started, this guide is for you! This guide will define 3D printing; go over the basics of getting started and understanding your machine; explain some problems you might encounter and how to solve them; and how to tailor 3D printing to suit the needs of your library and its community.
What is 3D printing?
3D printing is an additive fabrication or building process. An object is built by adding layers of material upon one another. As those layers come together, they often form a slightly hollow pattern in the middle of the design for stability. This creates a functional 3D object. Most of the time, these 3D objects are built by a combination of a 3D printer and computer software. The software is where a design can be created or downloaded, edited and be ready for printing.
3D printing is traditionally used for prototyping, printing parts, or even creating fun designs. For libraries, 3D printing can benefit your community in a traditional or alternative way, and creates an excellent learning experience for nearly all ages.
What are the common types of 3D printing?
There are two main types of 3D printing: one is Stereolithography, or SLA. This process of 3D printing uses a light source to cure resin material. SLA 3D printing is great for prototyping and making watertight designs with high detail, and is used frequently in the dental and engineering fields. However, this type of 3D printing is slightly more advanced and costly, so you may want to introduce this into your library after you’ve gotten used to the second and most common type of 3D printing: Fused Deposition Modeling, or FDM. FDM has actually been around since the 80s, and what usually comes to mind when 3D printing is mentioned. FDM melts filament — usually a kind of plastic — and extrudes it out of a 3D printer to build all kinds of objects. There are many different brands and models of FDM 3D printers. You’ll have to research which brand would fit your budget and the needs of your library. Commonly purchased 3D printer brands include, but are not limited to:
- Prusa
- MakerBot
- LulzBot Taz
- XYZ Da Vinci
- Ultimaker
- Form Labs (Resin printers)
Regardless of which you choose, you will need specific equipment to ensure your 3D printer works properly.
What do you need for 3D printing?
A computer: You can use either a PC or Mac, a desktop or a laptop, depending on how and where you intend the 3D printer to be used.
Software: This is where you will see the 3D object you’re printing and be able to make changes before printing. You can make the design bigger or smaller, rotate it for different views, check for any mistakes, add supports/rafts/bridges, and print your design. A lot of 3D printers come with software but there are also free or low-cost, and open source options available as well. These include, but are not limited to:
- Cura
- TinkerCad (a web-based 3D design service)
- SketchUp
- Fusion360
- And more!
Materials & accessories: The most important accessory for a 3D printer is its material. The material most commonly used with 3D printers is filament. 3D printing filament comes in many forms, but mostly various types of plastic, and comes in so many colors! Some 3D printers support different types of mixed filament — e.g. a plastic filament that is mixed with wood particles, to create a wood-based design. For more information on these materials, please see Materials for 3D Printing.
Your printer should come with material samples, and there are several places online that sell all different kinds of materials. Be sure to research the different types of materials you might be interested in using with your printer so that you can be sure your designs print properly.
A 3D object: Finally, you will need a 3D object file to print! The typical file types for 3D objects will be .STL and .OBJ, with STL being the most common. These files are readily available to be loaded into whichever software you use, and will either be saved onto an SD card or sent to your printer wirelessly (sort of like how a standard printer paper works) from a computer or laptop. When 3D designs are ready for print, they will need to be exported or saved as a GCode file — this file contains all of the print job’s correct movements. Some programs do this automatically, but others might have you manually export a file as a GCode.
3D objects can be designed by you or your patrons in software like Fusion360, Sketchup, or TinkerCad — to name a few. Alternatively, you or your patrons can find 3D objects using websites like Thingiverse. Thingiverse and other sites are community-run repositories where users will upload 3D objects they have designed. These objects can be downloaded and loaded right into your software. Users who have made the design can post pictures of their printed object, and leave comments with any tips or tricks for printing.
What are the main parts of a 3D printer?
The parts and pieces that make up a 3D printer will vary based on the type of printer. However, every 3D printer will come with a build plate, where the design is built. For more information on the parts of a 3D printer, please see our instructions on FDM and SLA printing.
How do you bring 3D printing to your community?
Providing a 3D printing service for your patrons can help show your community that libraries are always evolving and provide the perfect place to explore new technology. However, bringing a 3D printing service to your library involves research, discussion, and a lot of trial and error. In addition to which 3D printer and materials you will purchase, here are some things to consider:
- Type of service: do you want to
provide a print-on-demand 3D printing service, or do you want to focus on
providing classes and tutorials for patrons, where a staff member will
print out the jobs for the patrons.
- If you decide to offer an on-demand printing service, you will need to determine not only cost, but how you will communicate with the patrons about their job. Will they fill out a form to request a print? Who will email them? What is the policy for jobs that are not picked up? These are just a few questions to discuss.
- Location of the 3D printer, or printers: will these printers be out on the public floor for patrons to view? If so, you will need an enclosure around your printer and a spot in your library where the sound will not bother your patrons.
- Cost of service: many libraries
charge per gram for filament, and per mL for resin; depending on the cost
of your filament, you can charge anywhere from 5-20 cents per gram, with
the resin likely costing a bit more
- It might also be best to have your patrons pick up their finished 3D prints at your Circulation or similar desk so that they can easily pay for their job
- Staff: who will operate and maintain your 3D printer? This is actually the most important factor in your research stage. Your staff will have to be trained on every aspect of using the 3D printer, and be able to troubleshoot basic problems. You also want to be sure you have enough staff trained to meet the potential demand of your community.