3D Printing at the Ipswich Libraries Makerspaces

Unleash your imagination in the third dimension: step into the world of limitless creation with 3D printing.

If you are new to 3D printing, here is an overview.

“What is 3D printing”

3D printing turns a digital design into a physical object, whether the object is made with PLA or Resin, the design is broken down into individual layers which the printer completes one at a time until the design is fully formed. At Ipswich Libraries Makerspaces, we print with 2 different materials.

PLA: PLA printing builds objects layer by layer using melted plastic. Once the plastic cools down, the printer continues onto the next layer until the object is completed.

Resin: Resin printing build objects layer by layer using a special liquid that hardens when exposed to UV light in short flashes. This is a more complicated and lengthy process due to safety procedures when handling uncured resin.

“How many 3D printers do you have available?”

Ipswich Libraries Makerspace have a total of 6 printers available to print jobs submitted by library members.
We have four PLA printers that can print in a variety of colours and two Resin printers that print in Grey only.

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About our Printers 

Prusa Mini +: 180mm(L) x 180mm(W) x 180mm(H). Prints in PLA

Bambu Lab P1P: 256mm(L) x 256mm(W) x 256mm(H) Prints in PLA

Flashforge Hunter: 120mm(L) × 67.5mm(W) x 150mm(H) Prints in Resin

“What Can I Print?”

3D Gallery: Library members can select from Ipswich Libraries Makerspaces’ 3D Gallery.

Thingiverse: Thingiverse is a large collection of users submitted 3D models ranging from all over the internet. These prints are only available to Library members who have attended a Book a Champion session. The Makerspace will only print items within a certain size limit, genre and within our policies.

3D Modelling: Alternatively, we have the following programs available in the Makerspaces if you would like to design your own 3D model. We offer a 3D modelling session in our Book a Champion sessions. Within the Makerspace, you will have access to Tinkercad, 360 Fusion and Blender.

Please Note: The library does not provide a design service. While we can help you use the Tinkercad, Fusion 360 and Blender (Book a Champion for training sessions), Champions are unable to create designs for you or refine your designs. 

“How do I submit a Print?”

3D Printing can be tricky, and we would like to show you how it works. To learn how to print on the Ipswich Libraries Makerspaces 3D Printers, please attend a Book a Championsession.  

If you have attended a Book a Champion session and want to request a print, either:

  • reply to your last ‘ready for collection’ email with your print request, or
  • book another session where we can further discuss your print

Please be aware this will may take a couple of weeks before your print is ready and is subject to our printing conditions.

Access

The 3D print service operates as ‘first come, first served’ and can depend on the size of the print queue. We may be able to print but it could take longer than a week. Due to the technical nature of 3D printing and difficulty with some prints, this timeframe may vary.  Completed prints can be collected, once notified, from the Welcome Desk at your selected branch.

Hints and tips

If you choose to paint your build, it’s recommended to use acrylic paints on the PLA surface, although enamel hobby paint has also been used successfully, Makerbot has released a handy painting guide as well.

Restrictions: We have the following restrictions when it comes to using the 3D printers.

  • 3D Printing is available to those who have completed a Book a Champion
  • Limit of 4 prints per year per customer.
  • Makerspace Officers will not accept the printing of inappropriate content or weapons of any kind, in functionality or appearance.
  • The total print time must be within 5 hours, we do not run the printers overnight or outside Makerspace working hours due to potential unexpected machine failure.
  • Only filament provided by the Makerspace may be used on the 3D printers.

    3D Printing & Copyright

    Ipswich Libraries Makerspace has a duty to respect copyright, and the Makerspace Team may refuse jobs that are potentially illegal or inappropriate.

    For more information on 3D printing and copyright, please click on the link below to download the information sheet provided by the Australian Copyright Council.

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