re: Is a 3-d printer useful or fun to play around with?

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This service is only available to East Baton Rouge Parish Library patrons in good standing.
Only one request can be submitted at a time.
Jobs that require the printing of many components may drop in the queue position.
Prints are handed over AS IS. If your print requires rafts or support structures, you will be responsible for removing these.
The cost is $0.10 per gram of material used. This includes rafts and support stuctures. There is a $1.00 charge to submit your own design or one from an outside source such as Thingiverse. Payments must be paid by cash or check when you pick up your print at the Main Library.
The colors available may change without notice, and we cannot guarantee that your selected color will be available. In the event that your chosen color is out of stock, we will use the most similar color available.
Staff review and prepare all project files, so please submit appropriate objects. No guns, gun parts, weapons of any kind, or salacious objects. The Library reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.
We will do our best to complete your model within 10-14 business days, but if demand for the printer is high, wait times may be longer.
Staff will provide you with an estimated cost and print time of the object but if the desired job is over 60 hours of print time we will not be able to complete the request.
EBRP Library's 3D printers may be used only for lawful purposes. No one will 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. (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 printer will not be used to reproduce material subject to copyright, patent or trademark protection.

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Files must be submitted in STL (Stereo Lithography) format. Nearly every 3D modeling program can save a file in this format. Some, like Sketchup, require a free add-on.

3D printers use metric coordinates. For consistency, it is recommended that you design in millimeters and export your STL in millimeters.

If you're submitting a file from Thingiverse, check to see that the model has been made on a desktop 3D printer, ideally a Makerbot Replicator 2, 2x or a Lulzbot Taz. Thingiverse hosts many different types of models, some of which may not be acceptable for 3D printing. For the best chances of getting a successful print, choose a model that other people have successfully printed.

For your first print, we highly recommend that you start small. Smaller than 75mm is a good size to start with.

The maximum dimensions are 28cm x 15cm x 15cm (11" x 11" x 9.80").

We are NOT taking 3D print submissions at this time! Thank you for your patience!

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Yes... you just have to buy a good 3d scanner and learn the modeling software

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