By Tom Gensichen
3D printing is a rapidly expanding technology area and the McGoogan Library will soon join the growing number of public and academic libraries that have installed 3D printing areas in their facilities. The 3D printer renders a physical object from a digital model by the process of fused filament fabrication. Plastic filament is fed through a heated nozzle that the computer moves, building layer upon layer from the base of the item upwards. The McGoogan Makerspace, located on the 6th floor of the library near the main entrance, will open the end of March. The space will be featured as part of a larger Innovation Open House at the Library on March 31 from 2:00-4:00 pm.
The Makerspace will be the home of a MakerBot Replicator, 5th Generation 3D Printer, a MakerBot Digitizer for scanning objects to be printed on the 3D printer and a workstation for creating 3D objects using 3D imaging software including MeshLab, NetFabb Basic, MakerBot MakerWare and MakerBot Desktop. UNMC students, faculty and staff will be able to submit objects to be printed on the 3D printer either through an online form or by bringing in a flash drive. Through September 2015 there will be no charge for printing an object. UNMC students, faculty and staff will be able to schedule time on the 3D workstation to create or refine objects they would like to print. All 3D printing will be handled by library staff.
For more information including the 3D Printing Policy and FAQ, please visit the 3D Printing@McGoogan Library page.
To submit an object for printing, please use the 3D Printing Request Form.