The Katonah Village Library has three 3D printers. A Bambu Labs X-1 Carbon, a Creality Ender 3 Pro, and a Creality Ender 3 Max. We are a learning lab and our goal is to teach you to use the printers on your own. Take lessons with Librarian Kim Naples and learn how to use the printers and how to design your own objects. Kim uses Tinkercad to teach design which is a free program that you can access from home. Lessons are for those 10 years and older only. You do not need to have a library card or be a resident of Katonah to take lessons and use the printers. Lessons are free, but prints are 5 cents a gram. You get a free print with your first class.
Email Librarian Kim Naples – knaples@katonahlibrary.org
What is 3D Printing and How Does It Work?
3D printing is the process of making a physical object from a digital design. It begins with a digital design created using a 3D modeling program. This can be done with programs such as SketchUp, Blender, etc., and/or a 3D scanner/digitizer. Designs others have made can be downloaded from the internet from sites such as thingiverse.com. Once the digital design is created, it is saved as a .STL file. This .STL file is then opened up in a program called Ultimaker Cura, where it can be sent to the 3D printer to print.
Plastic filament is fed through an extruder, which is like a motorized hot glue gun, heating and squirting out plastic into thin layers. The 3D printer builds an object by building one layer on top of the next until the object is complete.
Why 3D Print?
3D printing is used recreationally to make custom toys and jewelry. It is also used as a supplement to teaching various subjects, such as robot parts for an engineering class. Small businesses often like using 3D printers for demo models and prototyping. Medically, 3D printing is well suited for making custom-fit prosthetics for amputees.
Supervised 3D Printing:
Patrons are allowed to print under the supervision of the 3D Printing Instructor by appointment after attending one training lesson and signing our 3D Printer Policy. An appointment must be made in person or over the phone 914-232-3508. Printing hours are subject to change depending on staff availability and/or weather conditions. Appointments are for 1 hour. If your project exceeds 1 hour, depending on availability, you may book a longer appointment.
Unsupervised 3D Printing:
Experienced patrons may use the 3D printer without supervision during regular library hours if they have a certification sticker.
To earn a certification sticker, patrons must:
The 3D Printing Instructor will then check the above and send you an email you may show a front desk librarian to receive your certification sticker.
Submitting a 3D Print Job:
Contact Librarian Kim Naples at knaples@katonahlibrary.org or call (914)232-3508 ext. 102.
Cost:
Cost is based on the amount of plastic used at a rate of $0.25 per gram. Payment for plastic used is expected even if a print fails.
Free One-on-One 3D Printing Lessons:
One-on-one lessons are available for free to: