3D printing is now available to the public at the Centreville and Kent Island Branches. Any member of the public may submit a Print Request Form and 3D file (.stl or .obj) on a thumb or flash drive. Staff will copy the file and return the drive.

Staff experience with 3D printing varies and we can neither assist in the design of customer models, nor can we modify or change models once they have been submitted. Please read the Library’s 3D Printing Policy before submitting your project.

The Library’s Printers

The Centreville Branch currently has 2 Prusamini + Printers. The maximum size that can be printed on these is 7x7x7 inches. There is also a ToyBox Printer with a platform size of 9x8x10 centimeters available for smaller projects and children’s creations.

The Kent Island Branch currently has 2 Prusamini + Printers. The maximum size that can be printed on these is 7 x 7 x 7 inches. A Prusa MK 4 is also available for use, with a build volume of 9.84 x 8.3 x 8.6 inches for larger or more detailed projects. The Kent Island Branch also has an Anycubic Photon Mono X2 Resin Printer, a cutting-edge resin printer with a print volume of 7.55 x 4.72 x 9.65 inches, making it great for small, detailed, high-resolution projects. A Wash and Cure station is also available, making print rinsing and cleaning a breeze.

Available Filament

At this time, we have one type of filament: PLA (Poly Lactic Acid). PLA filament, a hard and durable plastic, is one of the most common 3D printing filaments. All library prints must be limited to one color of the customer’s choosing. While generally considered food-safe, we recommend that anyone intending to use 3D printed objects in contact with food also use a barrier such as plastic wrap or aluminum foil. The porous nature of the plastic makes it difficult to fully clean/disinfect.