Library’s 3D Printer Opens Future of Design

COURT HOUSE – Hobbyists needing a hard-to-get part and those with some wild design in mind finally have a place to go: Cape May County Library main branch on Mechanic Street.
That’s because the library has a 3D printer, accessible to those with a library card, time and a few dollars to pay for supplies.
Freeholder E. Marie Hayes told the board of the printer at the June 24 meeting during her report.
A 3D printer? What’s that? Why would anyone want to use one?
The device is a Makerbot 2X, located in the Maker Station. In the system scan articles is a laser device that will scan the original into a computer. Then, it will be formed, layer by layer, in a device that resembles a popcorn maker.
Two heads supplied with colored monofilament-like line go round and round, imitating the original.
Library Director Deb Poillon admitted she was skeptical at first, thinking the device, located in the TLC (that’s Technical Learning Center) on the second floor, was “a toy.” She learned its value to patrons since its November 2013 installation. The device cost just over $2,000.
According to Jeff Trout, head of the TLC, there have been 50 patrons since then who used the device for 141 hours. As more patrons learn of the printer’s presence, it’s almost a given the appointment book will fill quickly.
For those who can’t visualize what a 3D printer can do, imagine your child made you a flower of clay. It was adorable, and you wished there could be two of them, but your child is now 27 years old, and playing with clay is out of the question.
Think 3D printer at the library. But be prepared, because while the device is amazing, it’s a slow process.
Trout and Kara Brehm, TLC head librarian will assist, but they won’t sit behind the computer screen and wait for completion.
With forethought and time to design, it’s possible to recreate that clay flower, or anything else, into yellow, blue or other colors. There are different types of plastic, one made of corn, others produce tougher results.
How expensive is it? $1 for the print plus five cents per gram to cover cost of plastic, any device is possible. The library reserves the right to refuse any inappropriate device to be copied. That includes any type of weapon, said Trout.
Brehm displayed a replica of a T-Rex skull, which took a total of seven hours to produce. The cost of that, $2.10.
Corrine Errico of Court House was overseeing the creation of an ocarina, a wind instrument made popular in the Nintendo “Legend of Zelda” games. When the two pieces were formed together, the instrument produced a ear-pleasing sound, all for just over $2.
Trout said one patron was a model railroad enthusiast who needed some small objects. He designed what he needed and produced it on the MakerBot Replicator.
Looking into the future, Trout believes 3D printers will “change the world.” In the TLC are pages that show some of the potentials for 3D printing. Among them is the story of a mother, whose son needed a hand. She could not afford the $18,000 one would cost, so she endeavored to work with a designer and produced one for $60. Her son now has an artificial hand.
Another use could be to form an image of one’s unborn child from a sonogram.
Trout noted Boeing uses 3D printers as does NASA, because of their versatility and speed, producing parts on-scene, eliminating delivery time and high production costs.
Larger 3D printers can even be used to produce housing parts of concrete.
Trout said they could possibly find use in hardware stores where small parts could be brought in and copies, thus also reducing the need for large inventories of small parts.
Some patrons have used the printer to make cell phone cases, while others have brought in some old toys to copy.
“We want it to be their project, not ours. We don’t have the time, but we’re happy to direct them.”
Appointments must be made to use the printer at 463-6341. “Figure at least two hours and maybe longer,” Trout said.