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3D Printing

3D Printer Policy and Procedure
Purpose: This policy establishes how and under what circumstances the public may use the 3D printer.

The Lackawanna County Library System’s 3D Printer is available to the public to make three-dimensional objects in plastic using a design that is uploaded from a digital computer file.

Policy:

A valid Lackawanna County Library System card is required to use the 3D printer.

  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:
    1. Prohibited by local, state or federal law.
    2. Unsafe, harmful, dangerous or poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others, including but not limited to guns, knives, or other weapons, whether real or replicas. (Such use may violate the terms of use of the manufacturer.)
    3. Obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the Library environment.
    4. 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. Only designated Library staff and volunteers will have hands-on access to the 3D printer.

Procedures:

The procedure for printing from the Library’s 3D printers is as follows:

  1. Design creation:
    1. The 3D printer can be used with basic knowledge of Computer Assisted Drawing (CAD).
    2. Any 3D drafting software may be used to create a design as long as the file can be saved in .stl, .obj, or .thing file format.
    3. The Library has computers with Photoshop software that may be used to create a design.
    4. Digital designs also are available from various file-sharing databases such as Thingiverse.com.
  2. Submitting a design for printing:
    1. Persons wanting to use the 3D printer shall bring their file (in .stl, .obj, or .thing file format) (no larger than 25MB) to the Library during open hours. Staff will add the model to the printing queue.
    2. If there is high demand, the Library will schedule only one print per day per person or entity.  Staff may batch print smaller items.
    3. The files will be readied for printing in authorized software. The Library will view all files in the authorized software before printing.
    4. Wait/pickup time: Items may be picked up at the Library. It is sometimes difficult to estimate exact print times. Library staff will make an educated guess about the length of a job upon request.
    5. Objects unclaimed at 7 days may be discarded or recycled.
    6. The Library is not responsible for any projects that fail to print correctly.
    7. Please note that procedures governing the use of the Library’s 3D printers are subject to change.
  1. Cost:
    1. A cost will be incurred by the user for all items printed.

Adopted by the Lackawanna County Library Board by email vote on May 8, 2017.

Printing Resources

  1. Blender.org is a free and open source 3D creation suite that can run on Windows, Linux or MAC computers.
  2. GrabCAD.com is an online community of designers, engineers and manufacturers that share free CAD models.
  3. Tinkercad.com is an online 3D design and printing tool for all skill levels.
  4. Thingiverse.com is an online community to share 3D printable items.

Submit your file for printing:

Printing fee: $2.50 up to 10 grams of filament with  $0.25 for each additional gram of filament. The Lackawanna County Library System 3D printer is the LulzBot TAZ 6.  It has a print area: 280 mm x 280 mm x 250 mm (11.02 in x 11.02 in x 9.8 in).

Please email your .STL file to complab@albright.org along with your color preference.

Current Filament Colors:

Black
White
Grey/Silver
Blue
Red

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