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Neighbors | Zack Shively .Poland librarian Missy Williams created a presentation on 3-D printing featuring informational documents, uses for 3-D printing and references to the work in popular culture.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively .Librarian Missy Williams opened the library's 3-D printer to describe how it works. She also used it to explain a story where she had to troubleshoot the machine.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively .Poland library offered an introduction to 3-D printing on Sept. 5 in its large meeting room. Librarian Missy Williams downloaded an owl bookmark and the printer created it.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively .Poland library's event on 3-D printing on Sept. 5 included a live demonstration of what a 3-D printer does while librarian Missy Williams explained how.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively .The Poland library gave an introduction to 3-D printing at the library on Sept. 5 and included sample products made with the printer and books for those looking to do their own 3-D printing.
by ZACK SHIVELY
Poland library offered an introduction to world of 3-D printing at the library on Sept. 5.
Missy Williams, Poland librarian, explained how to the library’s 3-D printer works using a presentation and demonstration. A table in front had books for 3-D printing as well as examples of things she has printed, like a three dimensional pumpkin and bookmarks that look like owls.
Her presentation had informative documents from her Google Docs that explained the many uses for 3-D printing, such as prosthetics and quick development of automotive parts. She included websites that offer free files for printing.
The presentation also had a video portion. The first video Williams played showed “Iron Man“ actor Robert Downey Jr. talking to a child about the child’s prosthetic arm made from a 3-D printer that the nonprofit organization Limbitless Solutions designed to look like an arm from Downey’s movie. The second video came from the television show “Bones“ where they used a 3-D printer to recreate a skeleton. Though fictional, the “Bones“ clip demonstrates the type of possibilities of 3-D printing.
Williams showed first-hand how to use a 3-D printer. She downloaded another owl bookmark from the internet and the 3-D printer began printing it. The piece that creates the shapes and designs first needed to reach 230 degrees Fahrenheit and then the machine pulled filament through to create the bookmark.
The printer uses a board that the finished product will lay on after the printing process. During the printing process, the machine moves the board up, down, diagonally and side-to-side along the x, y and z axes to make the product. Williams had to scrape the finished product from the board.
The library currently does not offer public use of the 3-D printer, but Williams mentioned other places may allow access to a printer. She also said products made through additive manufacturing like 3-D printing can be found for sale online on sites like Etsy, so no one needs to feel that they have to have a 3-D printer for these types of goods.