3D Printing

In 2015, with support of the Friends of Tompkins County Public Library, the Finger Lakes Library System purchased an Ultimaker² 3D printer by Dynamism. The printer was used for demonstrations and was available for member libraries to borrow in support of programs and makerspaced. The Ultimaker² model is capable of printing both PLA and ABS plastic and came with the option to be upgraded by adding a second print head which would allow printing with two filaments simultaneously.

The 3D printer was given away at the 2016 Annual Meeting to the Groton Public Library where it is still available for loan to FLLS member libraries.

Home and small business printers can range in price from as low $400 to several thousand dollars. The Ultimaker² is $2,500 and is an average price for a printer of its size and capabilities. Hobbyists have the option of less expensive models, such as the Printrbot Simple from Adafruit, which retails for $399 but comes in a kit form and requires assembly.

For those that want to create a 3D item but don’t have access to a printer, there are online services, such as Shapeways, that will print your design for a fee.

Most hobby printers print with PLA plastic which is made from plant products, such as corn or sugar-beets, making it recyclable via commercial composting facilities. PLA has a low melting temperature and is rigid when cool but can be brittle. PLA also allows for fine detail.

ABS plastic, which is oil based, has a higher melting temperature but is more flexible.

High-end printers are available to print metal items or can be used with food-grade material to print custom candy or cake decorations.

3D printers have a wide range of uses in business. They can be used for rapid prototyping of tools and parts or collectibles. They’re used by medical companies to create titanium implants or to create models based on MRI data to assist with operations. They can be used to recreate lost parts to a board game, computer, musical instrument or piece of office furniture.

3D Printing Resources

Software

Cura: The Cura application is an open source program used to convert 3D models into printer readable files for the Ultimaker. The program can be downloaded for free from the Ultimaker website.
MakerBot Thingiverse: Thingiverse is a website that features 3D models uploaded by independent designers. Most of the models can be downloaded and converted, with Cura, for the Ultimaker printer.
SketchUp: SketchUp is a design program for creating 3D models which can be printed on any 3D printer. Both free (SketchUp Make) and paid (SketchUp Pro) versions are offered.
Tinkercad: Tinkercad by Autodesk is a free, web browser-based design program.
123D Design: 123D Design is also by Autodesk, and free, and can be downloaded for both PC and MAC and offers an iPad app. 123D Design adds more features than Tinkercad.
Microsoft 3D Builder: View, capture, personalize, and print 3D models. Free from Microsoft via their app store.

Printers

3D Systems: 3D Systems offers printers and printing services as well as the iSense 3D Scanner which integrates with Apple mobile devices to take 3D scans
Dremel: Dremel offers printers as well as pre-made downloadable designs.
IMADE3D: IMAD3D sells the Jellybox printer as a kit that can be assembled, which also reduces the cost.
MakerBot: MakerBot offers printers and 3D scanners, filament, and downloads of pre-made designs through the Thingiverse website.
Ultimaker: Ultimaker offers printers and filament (PLA, ABS and CPE).

3D Scanners

Structure Sensor/iSense: Compatible with iPads, produced by Occipital and sold as Structure Sensor, licensed to 3D Systems as iSense
Sense 3D Scanner: Sold by 3D Systems, handheld scanner compatible with Windows operating systems
Makerbot Digitizer: Flatbed 3D scanner.
Microsoft Kinect for Windows: Used with Microsoft 3D Builder

Consumables

Most of the hobby printers use PLA plastic. We recommend looking at the website for the printer manufacturer to see which spools of filament are recommended. Pricing can range from approximately $60 to $70 depending on the type of plastic used for the Ultimaker. The Ultimaker² can hold spools of .75kg while printers such as the Makerbot Replicator use spools of .22kg, which also come in at a lower price ($48 from the Makerbot store).

Additional resources on Library Programming and Makerspaces.