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What do I need for 3D printing?

  • A Lake County Public Library Full Access library card in good standing.
    • Patrons under 14 must have an adult with a Full Access library card who agrees to pick up and pay for the print job.
  • An .stl, .obj, or .thing file or the link to the item on Thingiverse.com.

How do I request a 3D print?

  • Send your 3D print request to lab@lcplin.org.
  • 3D print requests must include the following information:
    1. First and Last Name:
    2. Phone #:
    3. Library Card #:
    4. Filament Color Choice:
    5. Print Resolution Choice:
    6. Amount of Infill Desired:
    7. An .stl, .obj, or .thing file or the link to the item on Thingiverse.com
    8. Pick-up branch

How much does it cost to make a 3D print?

The library charges $0.10/gram

﻿When do I pay for my print?

After you send in your request, you will receive an email letting you know how much the print will cost and asking for approval to charge your library account.

Once we receive approval, we will charge your account with the cost of the print.

Payment is due at time of pickup.

  • Charges of less than $5 must be paid in cash or by check at a LCPL branch.
  • Charges of $5 or more can be paid by card online.

 

Will I have an opportunity to approve the cost of my print before it is processed?

Yes. Library staff will notify you of the estimated cost of your print before it is printed.

You will need to approve this cost before the library will send the request to the printer.

What are the specifications of the 3D printer?

Dremel 3D45 3d Printer

The library has two 3D printers: the Dremel 3D45 and the BambuLab X1-Carbon.

  • Both have a single drive print head
    • The 3D45 can only use one filament at a time.
    • The X1-Carbon has an Automatic Material System to use up to four filaments at a time.
  • Both use 1.75mm filament
  • Both have a nozzle diameter 0.4mm
  • Heated glass bed (3D45)
  • Heated flex plate bed (X1-Carbon)
  • 3D45 max build volume: 255 x 155 x 170mm (10" x 6" x 6.7")
  • x1-Carbon max build volume:256 x 256 x 256mm (10" x 10" x 10")

Can I bring in my own filament?

No. The library does not allow patron-supplied filament.

What types of filament does the library offer?

The library offers PLA, ECO-ABS, and, PETG filaments.

What color options are available?

  • ECO-ABS: black
  • PETG: translucent.
  • PLA: black, white, green, blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, silver, gold

What is print resolution and what options are available?

3D prints are created layer by layer. Print resolution determines how thin or thick each layer is. Thin layers will create more polished looking prints, while thicker layers will be more noticeable.

The library offers:

  • Low Resolution (0.28mm)
  • Standard Resolution (0.2mm)
  • High Resolution (0.12mm)
  • Ultra Resolution (0.08mm)

What is infill and what options are available?

3D printed swatches showing the different colors available

The level of infill determines if the printed object will be hollow or solid. Certain 3D models will require minimum amount of infill in order to print correctly.

The options available are 0%, 20%, 50%, 100%. We currently do not offer gradual infill.

Does the library have sample prints so I can see what each option looks like?

Yes! Each of our branches have 3D printed swatches for the colors available. You can also visit the Libratory during its open hours to see sample prints with different amounts of infill.

What are support materials?

Support materials are objects printed in addition to the main print in order to ensure the accuracy and stability of the print.

These can be added by the slicer software before printing, or they can be added during the initial design process using CAD software.

If you would like assistance in removing the support materials, please mention this in your correspondence and our staff will remove what they can before delivering the final print.

Will I be charged for support materials if the library adds them?

Support materials will not be added without approval from the patron requesting the print.

Library staff will notify you if they believe your print will benefit from support materials. You will also be given an estimate of the cost with and without support materials for comparison.

If you approve the addition of support materials, you will be responsible for paying for the support materials in addition to the main print.

How long does printing take?

Prints can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

Print time depends on the size of the object, the amount of infill, and the print resolution.

To ensure fair access to the library's 3D printing services, prints with estimated print times longer than six hours will not be processed.

What happens if my request isn't printed properly?

If there are errors in the final print, the patron is still responsible for paying for what was printed.

Fees will only be waived or refunded for mechanical error.

Does the library offer classes on how to create models for 3D printing?

The library does not currently offer classes on creating models for 3D printing.

Visit the Libratory page for some of our recommended courses and a list of other resources.

You can also set up a one-on-one appointment with staff to go over your file with you to evaluate it for any possible errors which might occur during the printing process.

Are 3D prints food-safe?

It is not recommended to use 3D printed objects for food. We cannot guarantee the material or manufacturing process is food-safe.

Can I pick up my print at any LCPL branch?

Yes! Let us know where you would like to pick up your print, and we will send it out.

Please remember to bring in the library card used to request the print when you come in to pick it up!

How long do I have to pick up my print?

You must pick up your print within two weeks from the time that we notify you that your print is ready.

After two weeks, you will need to contact the Libratory to make other arrangements for pick up.

If the print is not picked up within 30 days of the notification that it is ready for pick up, it becomes property of the Lake County Public Library.
https://www.lcplin.org/3D-Printing
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