3D Printing
About the Equipment
Filament 3D printers create 3D objects by feeding plastic filament through a hot extruder and precisely depositing them layer by layer. These 3D printers are great for printing prototypes and small parts. Johnson County Library's Black & Veatch MakerSpace has two filament 3D printers available for reservation.
Reserve Equipment
- Reserve up to four hours per week
- Reserving more than one piece of equipment is not permitted
- Equipment that is not reserved is available for same day reservations
Using the Equipment
The Ultimaker S5 has a print space of 12" x 9" x 11" and uses the slicing software Cura. These machines print with a rigid material (PLA).
Rules for Using the 3D Printers
- You may 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
If you are utilizing a 3D printer for the first time, we 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.
What's Provided
- PLA (PLA) filament in black, white, red, and blue. This is provided for free thanks to Black & Veatch.
- Computers with 3D modeling software, such as Fusion 360 and Blender
What To Bring
- A 3D model 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
- If you don't have one, we have a list of suggested prints on thingiverse
- Enough time to print your model
- We have a list of files that print in less than an hour
Inspiration
Tutorials and Resources
MakerSpace Tutorial: 3D Printer
3D Printing Resources
Looking to learn even more about 3D printing? Check out our list of 3D printing resources.
If you're looking for a quick (one hour or less) 3D print check-out our list on thingiverse.
Filament 3D Printing FAQs
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We have our printers stocked with black, white, red and blue PLA. Prints are printed in a single color. PLA material is paintable, you can use acrylic or craft paints to add details or change colors.
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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.
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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
- 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.
3D Printing FAQs
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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.
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Patrons are more than welcome to bring their 3D printer into 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.
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Yes! We have an in-depth video tutorial for using our filament 3D printer created by our MakerSpace staff.
Manufacturer PDFs for set up and use can also be found here.
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Thanks to support from Black & Veatch, we provide the resin or filament needed for 3D printing at no cost to patrons.
You cannot bring your own materials for 3D printing.
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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.
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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.
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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.
MakerSpace FAQs
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The Black & Veatch MakerSpace hours are slightly different than the Central Resource Library open hours. For up to date information about the MakerSpace, please visit the main MakerSpace page.
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The Black and Veatch MakerSpace is located at the Central Resource branch.
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You cannot create anything designed for or capable of causing harm, such as firearms, knives, swords, and other items that could be used to inflict injury or intimidate. If you’re unsure whether your project might fall under this rule, please ask a Maker staff member before starting. Library staff reserve the right to stop any print or job at their discretion if it is deemed unsafe, violates library policies, or is otherwise inappropriate.
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Welcome to the MakerSpace
Welcome to the MakerSpace
Questions? We're here for you.