3D Printing Instructions
Hey there! To get started, follow the instructions below! If it’s your first time, please take a look at our 3D Printing Guidelines at the bottom of the page!
Get an idea
The first step is to have an idea! Whether it’s your own creation or someone else’s, 3D printing lets you transform a file on your computer into something you can hold, and your imagination (and the size of our printers!) is the only limit!
Get a file
To get ready to print, you’ll need either a special kind of 3D image file called an STL, or a set of instructions for a 3D printer, known as a GCODE file. Our Bambu Lab P1S printers also use project files called 3MF files that have lots of extra information. If you need help finding STL files or you’re wondering how to make 3D images, ask our reference department!
Get it to us
You’ll need to bring your file on a flash drive, or send it via email (kids, get a grownup to help!) to earlgreyhot@ocrl.org.
Get your prints
Just like in a fairy tale, some day the prints will come. 3D Printing can take a little while, so when you submit a job, it may be a week or two before the magic happens. Don’t worry, though - our resident technomancers will make sure to let you know when your print is ready! While you wait, stop by the library and see what’s currently printing!
3D Printing Guidelines
Libraries are a space for creativity and innovation, and 3D printers give our patrons the ability to bring their ideas into the real world. 3D printing meets all of our mission objectives, allowing people to learn and create in the library.
The Library’s 3D printers may be used only for lawful purposes. Users will not be permitted to use the library’s 3D printers to create material that is
Prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
Unsafe, harmful, dangerous, poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others, or is otherwise inappropriate for the Library environment. (Such use may also violate the terms of use of the manufacturer).
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.
The Library reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.
Supervision of the use of the 3D printer by Library staff does not constitute knowledge, or acknowledgement, of any unapparent final use of the 3D product, and the Library specifically disclaims any knowledge thereof.
Patrons should be aware that the library’s 3D printers are publicly viewable. Print jobs will be visible to other patrons and must be appropriate for patrons of all ages.
Print jobs are submitted through the reference department and managed by library staff. Patrons will not have direct access to 3D printers, except during structured library activities or events.
To submit a print request, patrons must provide the ready-to-print sliced file they wish to use in a compatible format. We cannot currently accept jobs longer than an estimated eight hours. Their job will be placed in a queue. If there is a current waiting list, a patron may submit only one job at a time.
When their print job begins, staff will monitor the print job for fifteen minutes. If it fails in the first fifteen minutes, staff will restart the print for no additional charge. If the print job fails again, staff will require the patron’s permission to print additional attempts, and patrons will be charged for any additional attempts.
When a print job is completed, the patron will be contacted, the item will be tagged, and the print file deleted. Unclaimed 3D print jobs will be kept for two weeks after job completion.
All 3D print jobs are priced by weight. Finished print jobs will be charged at $.20 / gram, with a $1 printing job flat fee.