3D printer adds to creativity at library

The Kimball Public Library received two grants were used to purchase educational tools, including a Leap Frog 3D printer.

"I read some really good reviews of it, but after the first month or so I wished I had gotten a different one," librarian Jamie Carpenter said of the printer. "It was in our price range and now that I know more about it, it isn't so bad."

The Howard and Peggy Atkins Foundation donated $5,000 and the Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund granted the library more than $2,500 toward the purchase of the printer, which cost in the neighborhood of $3,000, as well as several colors of plastic filament used to build the designs.

The printer arrived early in April and Carpenter has been busy since then getting it ready for the teen maker camp, scheduled for 1 p.m. daily July 20 through July 23.

"The other big purchase with the grant, for the maker camp we are doing for the teens, we bought 10 small Chromebooks, that they can do their designs on," Carpenter said.

The program is one that users can use at home on their time, even on a tablet, according to Carpenter.

All designs must go through Carpenter, the cataloging and technical services librarian, as licensing for the printer mandates that all designs be downloaded on one computer.

"We are mostly going to use Tinker CAD, because it is an easy, free program and it works on these laptops that can't support some of the more professional software," Carpenter said.

The idea for the maker camp was inspired by a similar program and it will begin with participants downloading someone else's design.

They can then manipulate that design before the participants make their own design from scratch, according to Carpenter.

"That takes a lot, and we will do a little tutorial, because it depends on which laptop I use and I keep forgetting which short cuts to use," she said.

By the end of the year Carpenter plans to purchase a grinder that will tear up recyclable plastics and form it into the filament used by the printer.

"We can reuse some of the (projects) that don't turn out well. It just melts it into new plastic filament," Carpenter said. "We can also work with the recycling center and grind up plastic bottles and make them into it, too."

Some plastics work better than others, according to Carpenter, as each number has different characteristics.

"I know there are people who are using number one plastic, like water bottles. It's a little bit softer, but it still can be used," she said.

Since the local recycling center only accepts number one and two plastic, Carpenter said the library may be able to accept the other numbers for re-use, eventually.

The printer will be used as a teaching tool for youth and adults to demonstrate computer aided drafting and design.

Additionally, the library is partnering with local entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations.

"We also have a partnership with economic development, though it may depend on whoever takes over that job and if they want to continue it," Carpenter said. "Entrepreneurs and small business owners can come in and try out prototypes of things they want to build."

The service will allow those individuals the opportunity to see what the item will look like, up to a certain size, in plastic.

Further, the library will host an entrepreneur camp to introduce the printer to those in the community that may wish to use it.

"We are still trying to work with the school because I know the school offers at least one computer aided drafting class," Carpenter said. "We haven't connected with them to have their teachers come in and help."

The printer may become part of the after-school program in the fall as well, Carpenter said, to further teach younger children the programs.

The library is in the process of adopting policies for the printer, which will include what items cannot be printed. Restrictions will include no weapons are to be printed as well as nothing offensive.

"Since it has to be printed from my computer anyways, I have to look at everything," Carpenter said.

Items to be printed are limited to fit within the mid-level machine as well as what kind of plastic is available.

"If someone was doing a really particular project for art class or some prototype or design, we could special order things," Carpenter said. "They would probably have to pay extra for that."

Cost to use the printer, once it is fully operational, is currently being decided, but Carpenter believes it will be between 10 and 25 cents per gram of plastic.

"For the maker camp there is no cost," Carpenter said.

The printer is expected to be available beginning in August, after the maker camp, during normal business hours while Carpenter is on duty, Monday through Wednesday.

Patrons wishing to use the printer would be better served if they call ahead, according to Carpenter, as her time will be limited to assist in the process.

"We can't promise we'll be able to print it that day, depending on how complicated the project is," Carpenter said. "They will submit their project and then if I have time that day I'll go ahead and print it."