Possibilities abound with new 3D Printer at Swift Current Library
Swift Current imaginations will be put to the test thanks to the arrival of a 3D Printer at the Swift Current Library.
A special unveiling event was hosted on February 4 to share details of the new technology which is now available for public use. Staff have been testing the equipment during the early part of the year, and Library Manager Andrea Mccrimmon is excited to finally roll out their new piece of equipment.
“It’s becoming a really common technology, so I’m excited that people in Swift Current have a chance to try it out for themselves without having to make a big investment or having to start with a lot of technological expertise. So this is a great way to get introduced to how you can make it work for you,” Mccrimmon said during Saturday’s launch event.
Mccrimmon said there has been interest in 3D Printers over the past few years, and the library has hosted some demonstrations by community members showcasing the equipment.
“I think the technology has improved a bit since then, so this is the first time the Library has owned its own 3D Printer.”
“It fits with our mandate to improve people’s access to technology,” she added.
The 3D Printer uses PLA a biodegradable thermoplastic which is comprised partially of materials such as sugarcane and corn starch. This filament was chosen because it is biodegradable and there is little odour associated with it. The 3D Printer also works with different materials, including higher grade plastic as well as compatibility to also utilize a metal material or a wood filament. They are currently only printing PLA items in black, white, grey, blue, red and green. Depending on the complexity of the design the print process takes anywhere from half an hour to a full day or longer. They are beginning their service by primarily printing items that take approximately 35 to 40 minutes. There is a base charge of $2 per item, and a cost of 10 cents per gram for the PLA material.
“It’s a really user-friendly way to create your own design on a computer, which we can send to the 3D printer. There’s also another option to scan an object. We have some scanning software on our ipad, so we can render it into a 3D model and then we can print from there. So there’s lots of potential there for building what’s in your mind,” Mccrimmon said.
With the growing popularity of 3D Printed items in fields like design, business, technology and medicine, Mccrimmon hopes to provide a starting point for an endless list of possibilities.
“It’s also a great opportunity for entrepreneurs, or people with ideas in their mind. That they can actually create something from start, make a prototype, refine a prototype, in a very affordable way. Where 10 years ago it was really expensive to do that.”
The public can search for pre-made designs on the internet, but they can also make their own design.
This Saturday at 2 p.m., the Library will be hosting a 3D Modelling class utilizing Sketchup Pro. Interested individuals are asked to preregister for this class by contacting the library at 306778-2752.
For additional details about 3D Printing at the library, people can visit www. swiftcurrentlibrary.ca/3dprinting-2. The public is also invited to stop in at the Swift Current Library and talk to Krupali or Jordan about 3D Printing. Individuals requesting printing simply need a valid library card, and children aged 15 years and under will need parental permission to request a print.