Tri-Township Library Now Has 3D Printer Available For Public Use

As part of the 25th Anniversary of its building, the Tri-Township Public Library has purchased a 3D printer. The printer was hard at work during the pandemic printing face shields, but now it is available for public use. The printer is a Makerbot Replicator + that uses PLA filaments to create physical prints of .stl files. Printing costs $0.15 per gram of filament used during the print, and printed objects are subject to the library’s full 3D printing policies, which can be found on the library’s website troylibrary.org. Files can be submitted by email to info@troylibrary.org or can be brought to the library on a flash drive. Completed prints must be picked up within seven days of completion by the patron who submitted the request. The library is excited to offer this new service to its patrons, and anyone who wishes to see the printer in action can visit the library and watch it work.

The Tri-Township Public Library District has a 3D Printer that is available for non-commercial public use. Printing costs .15 cents per gram of filament used. Please note that this includes any additional supports needed during printing and may not reflect the printed product’s final weight. 3D prints must be picked up within 7 days of completion by the individual who requested the print or they will become property of the Tri-Township Public Library District. Designs for printing must be submitted as a .stl (Stereo Lithography) file either via a USB flash drive or by email to info@troylibrary.org if file size allows. The maximum print dimensions are 11.6 X 7.6 X 6.5 IN. When requesting a print, a patron may request any of the available filament colors.

All print requests must abide by the following restrictions.

1. Only Tri-Township Public Library staff members may operate the 3D printer.

2. The 3D printer may be used for lawful purposes only. The public will not be permitted to use the Library’s 3D printer to create objects that are:

a. Prohibited by state or federal law.

b. In violation of another’s intellectual property rights. The printer will not be used to reproduce material that is subject to copyright, patent, or trademark protection.

c. Unsafe, harmful, dangerous, or poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others; such as, guns, knives, or any other weapon or weapon components.

d. Obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the library environment.

3. The Tri-Township Public Library District reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.

a. Non-commercial use of the 3D printer is at the discretion of designated library staff, and quantities will be limited.

b. 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.

4. Acknowledgement of the following by patrons utilizing the 3D printer:

a. By submitting content or objects, the patron agrees to assume all responsibility for, and shall hold the library harmless in, all matters related to patented, trademarked, or copyrighted materials.

b. The Tri-Township Public Library District is not responsible for any damage, loss, or security of data arising from the use of its computers or network, nor for the functionality or quality of content produced on the 3D printer.