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3D Printing Lab

All you need is a library card and an idea!

El Dorado Hills Library 3D Print Lab

Submission Form
Volunteer Schedule

To confirm lab hours, please call the El Dorado Hills Library at 916-358-3500.
The 3D Print Lab is run by volunteers, hours are subject to change based on availability.

El Dorado Hills Library hours and location

Rules for 3D Printing

  • Printing is free! There is no charge for materials or time, though donations are welcome.
  • You may print one project per month, print time not to exceed four hours per library card.
  • You must have a current El Dorado County Library card, in good standing, to print or to pick up a completed project.
    • Need a card? Fill out an application at any El Dorado County Library. Or complete our online library card application, and visit the library within two weeks of online registration. A valid photo identification will also be required to get your library card. For juveniles a parent or guardian must accompany the child, complete the library card application and show valid photo identification.
  • All print projects must be approved by talking to a 3D Print Lab volunteer in person.
  • The library reserves the right to refuse any print requests.
  • You may not use the Library's 3D printers to print:
    • material prohibited by law or by library 3D Print Lab guidelines
    • weapons, weapon parts, or weapon models
    • inappropriate content
    • print jobs exceeding allotted time, depending on library branch

Please note services may not always be available due to technical difficulties.



3D Printing Books

How Does 3D Printing Work?

Schematic of subtractive manufacturing showing a block of material being cut by a milling tool to create a finished part.

Before 3D printing, there was subtractive manufacturing. Equipment such as CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling machines create products by carving away, or subtracting, from a larger piece of material, such as a block of metal. This process creates sturdy, high-quality products, but is also very expensive and creates a lot of waste.

 

Image source: hubs.com/knowledge-base/3d-printing-vs-cnc-machining/

Diagram of additive manufacturing showing a 3D printer depositing material layer by layer to create a finished part.

3D printing is also known as 'additive manufacturing,' meaning 3D printers create products by gradually adding material in layers. This process is easier, less expensive, and less wasteful than traditional subtractive manufacturing.

 

Image source: hubs.com/knowledge-base/3d-printing-vs-cnc-machining/

 

Schematic of fused filament fabrication. Filament a) feeds through heated moving head b). Head melts and extrudes material, depositing it layer by layer to form shape c). Moving platform e) lowers after each layer. Support structures d) sustain overhangs.
There are many different types of printers, all of which work in different ways. The library's 3D Print Lab uses what are known as 'fused filament fabrication' printers.

In fused filament fabrication, a filament (a) of plastic material is fed through a heated moving head (b) that melts and extrudes it depositing it, layer after layer, in the desired shape (c). A moving platform (e) lowers after each layer is deposited. For this kind of 3D printing technology additional vertical support structures (d) are needed to sustain overhanging parts.

 

Source: Wikipedia, "Fused Filament Fabrication"

Six rolls of 3D filament in the colors of yellow, green, white, red, gold, and blue.Filament is a thin strand of material which a 3D printer melts and extrudes to print. Filament is to 3D printers what ink is to a regular printer.

There are many different kinds of filament, including various metals and carbon fiber. There are even filaments make out of edible material, such as chocolate!

Most filaments are types of plastic. In the 3D print lab, we use Polylactic Acid (PLA), which is biodegradable and non-toxic, which means it's safe to use in the library and environmentally friendly.

Screenshot of a simple house modelled in TInkerCAD. The house has a pitched roof with one door opening and no windows.

3D printers cannot print from a standard image file. Instead, they need a 3D model to print. 3D models can be made in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. There are many free CAD programs, including TinkerCAD and Blender.

Screenshot of PrusaSlicer showing a 3D design of a bunny rabbit.

Once a 3D model file is completed, it needs to be broken down into paths that the 3D printer can follow. This is done using slicing software, which 'slices' the model into layers.

The library's slicer of choice is PrusaSlicer. Slicers are also great tools to check for holes, unconnected pieces, and unsupported overhangs in a 3D model.

Bed of a 3D printer with a small yellow structure being printed.

Once it's sliced, the file is sent to the printer. The printer melts the filament and follows the path created by the slicing software, laying down layer after layer of material until the print is complete.

Three of the same 3D print objects showing the different stages of supports.

When a project is finished printing, there may still be work to do. Projects with overhangs may require additional temporary supports in order to print correctly. These supports are generated during the slicing process and can be removed afterward with pliers or diagonal cutters.

In order to look their best, some projects may require light sanding, priming, and painting.

 

Image source: https://amfg.ai/2018/10/17/3d-printing-support-structures-guide/

Free Resources

The world of 3D printing is populated by makers who are constantly learning and sharing information with one another. This means that there are plenty of free resources available for you to use at home!

Please note these links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement by El Dorado County Library.

Software

TinkerCAD - A great 3D design tool for beginners or even experts who need to design a simple object. Runs in your browser, which means that you don't even need to download anything to use it. Take a look at TinkerCAD's official YouTube channel for help getting started.

Autodesk Fusion 360 - If you are looking for a CAD program with more functionality or are trying to work on a larger scale project, Autodesk's Fusion 360 is a solid next step up from working with TinkerCAD. There are multiple free and paid versions to check out depending on how you plan to use the program. Whether it is for personal use or multi-user collaboration, there is a version for you.

PrusaSlicer - Unlike the rest of the programs on this list, PrusaSlicer will not allow you to design 3D models. Instead, PrusaSlicer is what's known as a slicer program, which 'slices' digital 3D models into layers and tells the printer how to print that object.

PrusaSlicer is the EDH 3D Print Lab's slicer program of choice, and downloading it at home will allow you to view your model layer-by-layer and identify any structural problems. The 3D Print lab uses Prusa printers exclusively, specifically the two models: MK3.9 and Prusa Mini, both with .4mm nozzles. PrusaSlicer will allow you to add these two printer's settings to estimate at home if your file will be printable in the lab.

Videos
Need a little help figuring out how to use your CAD software? Video tutorials are a great place to start. Try these out:

123D Design Official Youtube Channel

C3 @ Library 21c

TinkerCAD Official Youtube Channel

ProfDrafting