Using the 3D Printers
- Reserve up to four hours per week
- Only one overnight print per week allowed. Prints are limited to eight hours
- Reserving more than one piece of equipment is not permitted
- Equipment that is not reserved is available for same day reservations
About the equipment
2 x Filament 3D Printers – Ultimaker S5
Filament 3D printers create 3D objects by feeding plastic filament through a hot extruder and precisely depositing them layer by layer. Great for printing prototypes and small parts. These machines print with a rigid material (PLA) or a semi-flexible material (TPU).
The Ultimaker S5 has a print space of 12” x 9” x 11” and uses the slicing software Cura.
If you are utilizing a 3D printer for the first time, we highly recommend watching our in-depth 3D printer tutorial first, then making a minimum reservation time of two hours. This allows time for our staff to walk you through finding/preparing a 3D model, setting up the software, and time for your model to print.
Thanks to support from Black & Veatch, we provide the filament and resin needed for 3D printing at no cost to patrons.
FAQ
Thanks to support from Black & Veatch, we provide the filament needed for 3D printing at no cost to patrons.
Yes! We created an in-depth video tutorial for using our filament 3D printer.
Manufacturer PDFs for set up and use can also be found here.
The best way to get an accurate estimate for print times before you come into the MakerSpace:
- Download free Ultimaker Cura app
- Add a non-networked printer
- Ultimaker S5
- Add AA .4mm and .AA .8mm print cores
- Select Generic PLA or TPU materials
- Open .stl or .obj file
- Adjust print setting if needed and click Slice!
- Once your file has finished slicing, a time estimate will be available
If you have questions about this process, come in during open hours or send your question here.
Once you have reserved your time on the printer, the only thing you need to bring with you is the file for the 3D model you wish to print. We recommend .stl or .obj file types that are smaller than 10mb in size. You can bring your file on a storage device or access it via cloud storage or URL.
Thanks to support from Black & Veatch, we provide the filament needed for 3D printing at no cost to patrons. The materials we provide are PLA or polylactic acid, and TPU or thermoplastic polyurethane. PLA is a rigid material that it is derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugar cane. TPU is a flexible material that combines the properties of rubber and plastic.
You cannot bring your own materials for 3D printing
You can print overnight on the Ultimaker S5. To print overnight, reserve the last evening slot for the 3D Printer and we can run the print past closing. Patrons are limited to one 3D print overnight per week, limited to eight hours total print time. Please check-in with MakerSpace staff before printing to ensure a successful print!
Some exceptions can be made for prosthetics, community projects, etc. Ask us about how we can accommodate your project.
A great way to get started 3D modeling is using a free web-based program like TinkerCAD, known for its simplicity and ease of use.
We have a few different types of 3D modeling software including access to Fusion 360 and Blender. We also highly recommend new users check-out TinkerCAD.
If you are wanting to get inspired with ideas and download files created by others in the 3D printing community, we recommend checking out the following sites.
Patrons are more than welcome to bring their 3d printer in to the MakerSpace and utilize our tools to tinker and troubleshoot, but there is no guarantee that MakerSpace staff will be able to help you fix it.
In the past we have helped patrons with 3d printers experiencing poor print quality, and other common issues with extrusion, leveling, and delamination.
We recommend reaching out to us ahead of time here with details about the printer and the issue before bringing it in to the MakerSpace.
Each of these provide a fairly deep dive into 3D printing, enjoy!
- FDM 3D Printing – Simply Explained from All3DP
- The Complete Guide to 3D Printing from Xometry
- Complete Engineering Guide to 3d Printing from 3d Hubs
To ensure consistent and reliable prints, patrons are required to use the Cura slicer connected to our 3D printers. The use of our slicer software allows our staff to review and validate prints for safety, while also providing valuable learning opportunities for patrons on file preparation. By standardizing the slicing process, we can optimize printer settings, maintain quality control, and ensure a safe printing environment.
No. Per the Johnson County Library's Patron Code of Behavior, weapons are not allowed in the library.
