Coming Soon!
What is a 3D Printer?
A 3D printer creates a three-dimensional object from a digital file by stacking thin layers of material on top of one another. Please note: 3D printing is not a quick process. Prints often take multiple hours to complete, depending on the size and complexity of the object.
How to Get Started
- Find or Design a File: You will need a digital file in .stl, .obj, or .3mf format.
- Submit Your File: Email your file, filament color and contact information to 3dprinter@rollapubliclibrary.org.
- Confirm the Job: Staff will review your file and email you back with a cost estimate and confirmation. You must reply to this confirmation email to officially start the print. By replying, you authorize the print and agree to pay any associated fees.
- Pick Up: You will be notified by email or phone when your item is ready. Please note: Items are added to print queue as they are confirmed. As the Library only has 2 printers, print jobs can take up to 2 weeks to complete.
Cost & Payment
- Fee: $0.15 per gram of filament.
- Payment: Fees can be paid in advance or upon pickup.
- Unpaid Items: If an item is not picked up and paid for within 14 days, the cost will be added to your library account. Your account must be paid in full to restore borrowing privileges.
Equipment & Specifications
- Printer: Creality Ender 3 Pro with a 0.4 nozzle
- Material: PLA (biodegradable polylactic acid) filament. Note: We do not allow the use of outside filament.
- Dimensions: Maximum print size is 8.6” x 8.6” x 9.8”.
- Colors: We offer over 10 filament colors (including Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pinkish-Beige, Gray, Black, and White). Colors are subject to availability and may vary from the reference samples.
Policies & Guidelines
- Patron Eligibility: Any Rolla Public Library patron in good standing may submit files.
- Submission Limits: Prints are limited to 5 hours per job. The total number of requests allowed per month 2 requests per patron.
- Priority: Library-owned projects take priority over patron printing. Patron files will typically be printed in the order they are received, subject to staff and printer availability.
- Right of Refusal: PRL reserves the right to refuse the production of any content at our discretion, including:
- Objects that are unsafe, harmful, or prohibited by law.
- Objects that are obscene or inappropriate for the library environment.
- Objects that violate intellectual property rights (copyright, patent, or trademark).
- Objects exceeding the printer’s maximum build volume.
Misprints & Failures
RPL is not responsible for misprints or design failures. If a print fails due to a printer malfunction, you will not be charged. However, users are responsible for paying for all successfully completed prints. Fees will not be refunded or waived due to dissatisfaction with the design, scale, or chosen color.
Resources & Design Tools
- Printables: Extensive library of free and paid designs.
- Creality Cloud: Extensive library of free and paid designs.
- Tinkercad: Free, easy-to-use web app for 3D design.
- Thingiverse: Browse thousands of free 3D designs.
- MakerWorld: Huge library of free models.
- Cults3D: Community marketplace for 3D designs.
- Thangs: Search engine that aggregates files across many 3D design sites.
- Blender: Professional-grade, free and open-source 3D creation software.
- SketchUp: Useful for 3D modeling and prototyping.
3D Printer Policy (Adopted 0/0/26)