Who wouldn’t like to have a free car? A Lamborghini even?
Okay, it might be only three inches long, but it’d still be cool.
The Clearwater Main Library boasts a couple of 3D printers where you can make all kinds of things from animals, gadgets, jewelry, toys and tools, just to name a few.
How about a robot? Egyptian objets d’ art? Baby Groot or Picachu?
Over time, you could even design your own chess set.
One of the 3D printers is located on the second floor in the Children’s section.
Kids can put requests in for all kinds of fun things to be made in a choice of 20 colors (including metallic gold, silver and shiny blue.) All for free!
Upstairs on the third floor, adults over the age of 16 can print their own dream ideas.
Three-dimensional artists can pick pre-designed items by visiting Thingiverse.com and choosing models made by other talented inventors. Possibilities are limited only by one’s imagination.
Of course, some caveats do exist. You can’t, for instance, print a life-size Lamborghini (or else my husband would at the doorstep immediately!)
Users must adhere to Maker Studios Terms of Use, the Library Code of Conduct, and all federal, state and local laws.
For our first time, my grandson J. and I chose to order up a golden cheetah for him (I still say it’s a leopard) and a shiny blue hedgehog for me.
We wrote up an order form in the Children’s Department and were notified by email when to pick up our animals. It was like Christmas! We both were ecstatic with the results. A queue does exist for people waiting for their 3D prints, so it’s not like you can get a free item every day.
So what are you waiting for? Go get that free Lamborghini!
3D Printing Rules:
- 3D prints must be submitted to library staff for printing. Library patrons can use the online form or fill out a paper form at the Main Library. https://form.jotform.com/90074316941152
- All 3D print jobs should be printable within four hours.
- Not all objects and designs can be printed as originally submitted. Upon staff review, designs may be modified, including scaling, grouping parts, and/or dividing parts, in order to print within the allotted time and space.
- The maximum dimensions for prints are 6″ wide x 6″ deep x 18″ tall.
- Users are not permitted to create any weapons or any obscene, pornographic, or illegal materials. Staff reserves the right to refuse to print any design.
- One print can be requested at a time. Once printed another request may be submitted. All prints are added to a queue of print jobs and will be printed on a turn-by-turn basis.
- Print jobs will be completed within 14 days from submission. Staff will contact you in the event of a delay beyond the 14 days.
- Users are responsible for the removal of any support structures needed to print designs.
- Users must pick up completed prints within 30 days of notice. Failure to collect completed prints may result in a loss of printing privileges.
Prints can be collected at the Main Library during open hours at the 2nd floor Youth Desk (ages 0-18) and 3rd floor Reference Desk (ages 18+).
