3D Printing in an Academic Library – One Year Later
Marc Comeau & Michael Groenendyk
3D Printing?
Is This The Future of 3D Printing?
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Or Is This?
Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Curtiss_Autoplane_1917.jpg
Should we be doing this?Mission scope-creep?Novelty? Printing trinkets?Do people know how to use it?Too early to adopt?Could be very influential
technology?Bring relevant tools to patrons?Inspiring new forms of content
creation?
Why would we put a 3D Printer in a Library?Importance of 3D visualization in
our culture◦Object designs◦Video games, movies◦Medical imaging◦Mining, gas
Printer reduces barriers of bringing digital objects into reality
Bridge digital divide around this technology
Will it work? Let’s Find Out!
Difficult to predict, so we’re not going to try
Low cost overhead + free labourHad a good fit for deploymentDive in headfirst and see if
there’s water
Developing a 3D Printing ServiceResearch began January 2012
◦Health and safety◦One of the first services of this kind◦Difficulty in finding relevant information
Bought a Makerbot ReplicatorHurry up and wait (for delivery)Troubleshooting and testingDeployment to Help Desk in Killam
Learning Commons in June
Initial User BaseLaunch happened during summer
◦Different campus environmentUse by engineering and
architecture students◦Engineering graduate students and
their thesis projects◦Faculty of Architecture professor
involvement◦Unexpected
Initial ReactionFirst time seeing 3D printing in a
libraryAccessibility of the printer
appreciatedCost was also well received
◦$1 per hourLots of questionsDifficulty in bridging the gap
between questions and use
Promoting the ServiceOn campus promotionsCBC interviewsPresentations to various facultiesPresentation at NSCADDirectly engaging students
Fall 2012 SemesterUser base continued growingMuch higher usage from
computer science studentsUsage from NSCC and NSCADStill hard to attract students from
other faculties
Change in User Base in WinterSteady use through Winter 2013
semesterIncreasingly used for school
related projectsStronger interest from science
departments like biology and chemistry
Many questions
Change In The Broader LandscapeWhile our own service grew and
changed, so did everything elseDevicesService offeringsUsers
Growing Popularity of 3D Printers in LibrariesLast summer only a handful of
libraries offered 3D printingNow there are close to 50
librariesMajority in United States (38
total)Public libraries are the most
common providers◦74% public libraries, 22% academic,
4% school
Expanding 3D Printing Industry
Investment into 3D printing start-ups
Cheaper 3D printers – SolidoodleNext generation Makerbot:
Replicator 2◦Optimized for PLA
Cube 3D printers now sold in Staples
Wider SelectionGrowing variety of 3D printers to
choose from$500 - $5000 rangeDifferent printing materials
3D Printers Popular in Libraries
Replicator 2Solid Doodle 2RepRap and similar kits
◦Mendel, Prusa, DittoStratasys
Ways Libraries Are Offering 3D PrintingConsultation basis for many
academic libraries◦Little to no web presence
Demonstrations or demo sessions
Tutorials for simple designsRent the 3D printer itself
◦Charge for plastic used
Adapting our own Service
Purchase of two MakerBot Replicator 2s, two more coming.
PLA plastic source in MontrealWider variety of materials
◦Transparent◦Glow-in the dark◦Nylon *◦Wood *
Improvement in quality and consistency of pieces we can produce
Migrating to Replicator 2Optimized for PLABuilding board does not heatImportance of properly aligning
platform each buildReplicator 2 build quality
problemsDifficulty in using closed source
MakerWare software
Process OverviewSome changes in submission
systemMigration into ticket systemAdded documentationPlastic feeding modificationsBenefit of being able to print
multiple jobsFaster print times
Problems and Attempted Solutions by LibrariesHardware maintenance and
software learning curvesMakerspace environments
◦Outside experts inside libraries◦Librarians attending makerspace
eventsClasses in 3D designTime set aside for
librarian/student consultations
Monthly Users and Submissions
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Users Submissions
New vs Repeat Users
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Unique UsersRepeat Users
Users by Faculty
34%
12%27%
27%
Engineering
Architecture
Computer Science
Other
User Created vs Download Models
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CreatedDownloaded
Student vs Faculty Usage98% student usersVery few faculty usersFaculty interest in engineering,
computer science and architecture◦Links between this and developing
user base
Engineering ProjectsRC CarsRobotics partsTest gears and motorsEarly stage prototypesRings, necklaces, etc.
Bio-Medical EngineeringConversions of 3D modelsVisualization of human organsEarly stage prototypes of new
tools and products
Computer Science StudentsArduino chip casesRobotics parts / gearsLots of experimentingLargely submissions of non-
academic designs
Architecture StudentsBuilding modelsSelf-designedSegments of citiesGIS data conversionGoogle Earth
Local Business UsersDental moldsProduct prototypes
◦Hockey skates◦Toys
Building modelsGIS data visualization
Models from the 3D Model Repository
Dalhousie CrestDalhousie Engineering LogosThomas McCulloch Museum
It’s Been A Great Start139 users, 271 model
submissionsOngoing interestIncluding from a number of other
librariesService has maturedBuilt local capacityMany challenges remain
How to Teach 3D ModellingLots of questions around how to
create modelsOr how to create printable
modelsOpen source software made
available to studentsInstructions on how to do this
explained at the Killam IT Help Desk
Current PlansContinued promotionContinue to develop relationships
with existing users, especially non-traditional
Offer basic 3D design tutorial used in training
Expansion to other libraries (and more)
Load sharing amongst sites
Developing IdeasPartnering with C@P sites to train
and collaborate on new deployments
16 new printers going to all parts of Nova Scotia
Combined, 20 deployed available to the public by the fall
Three full-day training sessionsMailing list, shared knowledge
base and more
Develop a Makerspace?
Makerspace: essentially a community space for making things◦Commonly see open source hardware
and software projects◦Arduino, Raspberry Pi, robotics
Difficulty in bringing larger, noisier makerspace tools into a library setting
The makers are already there, a 3D printer will reveal them quickly
Should we be doing this?A good amount of downloaded
“trinkets”Operating a 3D printer is difficult
due to early adoptionNo inroads with faculty yetExpectations. People want a
perfect modelTime intensive
Should we be doing this?Students are using it, Students are
creatingWe were too early and it was
awesome!Different disciplines are using itBuilding an awarenessBuilding a literacy in emerging
technologyWe’re growing, demand is
increasing
Should WE be doing this?
YES!
Should YOU be doing this?It dependsRequires capacity, time, effortIf you build it, some will come, some
won’tPromotion will be needed, connecting
the dots for patronsTechnology is evolving, not evolvedCost is reasonableNew kind of engagementIt’s awesome!
Questions?