Hands-on learning comes to RHPL

Our Eureka Lab is our newest space, where you can create! The Eureka Lab will continually gain more equipment and resources, to better serve our intelligent community. Next time you’re in the Library, show your interest and see what’s new!

Eureka Lab Equipment 3D printing Vinyl Cutters Laser Cutters Materials And Costs Hardware & Software

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STEAM Night
3D Printing
HP Sign
Race Car
Bag Program
Christmas Tree Circuit

Eureka Lab Equipment

The Eureka Lab contains the following equipment:

  • Button Maker
  • Die-Cut Machine
  • Lulzbot Mini 3D Printer
  • Lulzbot Taz 6 3D Printer
  • Makey Makey
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Silhouette Cameo 3 Vinyl Cutter (Please supply your own materials)
  • Silhouette Portrait Vinyl Cutter (Please supply your own materials)
  • VHS to DVD converter (Please bring a blank DVD per VHS)
  • Glowforge Laser Cutter (New)
  • Cricut Explore Air 2 (Please supply own materials)
  • Brothers Sewing and Embroidery machine SE400 (Please supply own materials)
  • Serger Sewing Machine (Please supply own materials)
  • Heat Press

3D Printing

The Eureka Lab provides 3D printing services! If you have an item you would like to be 3D printed, please provide us with your 3D model files, and some information about what you’re printing. Your print will be added a queue, and we will contact you to pick it up when it is done! For all information about our 3D printing services, click here!

All prints typically cost $.20 cents per gram. Users will also incur a fee of $.50 cents per hour beginning at 4 hours. This may change according to material type. Once your print has completed, it will be weighed to determine the total cost.

What is 3D Printing?

3D printing is the process of creating a physical object from a digital model. It is also known as additive manufacturing because the physical model is built one layer at a time from the bottom up. 3D printing provides an opportunity for everyone to take an idea from their imagination, design it, and create a physical model. RHPL is actively building a community environment that nurtures creativity while stimulating and supporting learning and innovation.

Click here to learn more about 3D Printing technology!

What types of 3D printers are available?

The LulzBot Taz 6 and the Lulzbot Mini are available at RHPL.

LulzBot Taz 6:

  • Filament options: Materials that can be used include: PLA, HIPS, PVA, wood filled filaments, Polyester (Tritan), PETT, bronze, copper, stainless steel-filled filaments, Polycarbonate, Nylon, PETG, conductive PLA and ABS, UV luminescent filaments, PCTPE, PC-ABS, Alloy 910, and more.  (Users who require filament besides PLA will have to provide their own material, and must be approved by library staff). Library staff reserves the right to determine whether or not a print can be completed with the requested material.
  • LulzBot Taz 6 can create a two color object
  • One example of a two color object that we have successfully printed: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:62536
  • Maximum print size (inches): 11 in x 11 in x 9.8

LulzBot Mini:

  • ABS, PLA, HIPS, PVA, wood filled filaments, Polyester (Tritan), PETT, bronze and copper filled filaments, Polycarbonate, Nylon, PETG, conductive PLA and ABS, UV luminescent filaments, PCTPE, PC-ABS, Alloy 910.  (Users who require filament besides PLA will have to provide their own material, and must be approved by library staff). Library staff reserves the right to determine whether or not a print can be completed with the requested material.
  • Maximum print size (inches): 6 in x 6 in x 6.2
  • LulzBot Mini can print one color per print

What software is available to create 3D models?

We recommend the free, browser-based program called Tinkercad for beginners. Other free programs are Blender and Sketchup. Designs can also be downloaded from Thingiverse, a design community for sharing 3D printable objects.

Whenever we’re open, we’re happy to show you our 3D printers, and answer any questions you have about this fascinating technology!

Vinyl Cutter

We have 3 Vinyl Cutters available. A Silhouette Cameo 3, a Silhouette Portait, and a Cricut Explore Air 2.
Click here for more information on Silhouette!
Click here for more information on Cricut!

Materials all of the available vinyl cutters can cut Vinyl, Heat Transfer Vinyl, leather, fabric, paper, copy paper, card stock, adhesive paper, foil, craft foam, sticker sheets, vellum and much more.

Laser Engraver/Cutter

You can make an endless variety of useful, beautiful, and practical things from a bunch of different materials like wood, leather, felt, fabric, acrylic, paper, and more with the Glowforge. To schedule an appointment or learn more contact our digital librarian: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What material can the Glowforge cut/engrave?

Glowforge can cut wood, fabric, leather, paper, Plexiglas (acrylic), Delrin (acetal), mylar, rubber, fiberglass, Corian, foods, and more. Glowforge can also engrave all of the above plus glass, coated metal, marble, anodized aluminum, titanium, some phones, tablets, and laptops, and more.

What is the thickest material Glowforge can cut?

Glowforge performs well with many materials 1/4" and less on a single pass. It can accommodate material as thick as 1/2", but may require multiple passes or flipping the material over. For engraving, you can remove the tray and insert objects as thick as 2”. It can then engrave the surface up to 0.5”, depending on the material.

For more information click here: https://glowforge.com/faq

Materials And Costs

3D PRINTER FILAMENTS

PLA – A versatile, durable plastic. Made from plant starches. The most popular material for 3D printing.
Available In: Black, White, Grey, Red, Orange, Yellow, Gold, Light Green, Dark Green, Turquoise, Transluscent Blue, Purple, Pink, and others.

The library can provide PLA to you, if you do not have any materials. We allow printing with other materials incuding: wood filled filaments, Polyester (Tritan), PETT, bronze, copper, stainless steel-filed filaments, Polycarbonate, Nylon, PETG, conductive PLA and ABS, UV luminescent filaments, PCTPE, Pc-ABS, and Alloy 910.

These other materials may be approved upon request and the customer must supply the materials. Please remember you will be charged by weight per gram.

For more information on 3D Printer filament types:  Click here for a helpful article comparing all currently marketed filament varieties

Material Costs

There is no additional cost to use Eureka Lab materials and equipment during an official library sponsored program. Patrons using the Eureka Lab on their own will incur the following nominal charges:

3D Printing

  • Printed items are based upon finished weight.
  • $0.20/gram, plus $0.50 per hour of print time beginning at four hours.
  • Every effort will be made to verify print and pricing within two business days of submittal. Payment for materials must be received before the item is printed.
  • Maximum print size is 280 mm x 280 mm x 250 mm (11.02 inches x 11.02 inches x 9.8 inches).

Craft Vinyl with the Silhouette or Cricut

  • Heat transfer vinyl: $2 for use of one sheet up to 72 square inches; $4 for use up to 144 square inches. Additional sheets/colors will incur additional charges.
  • Adhesive vinyl: $0.75 for use of one sheet up to 72 square inches; $1.25 for use up to 144 square inches. Additional sheets/colors will incur additional charges.
  • Payment for materials must be received before use. Library staff will work with the patron to provide an accurate estimate of costs before payment.

Glowforge

  • Patrons must bring in their own materials to use in the Glowforge. The library does not provide any laser safe material.
  • Materials that can be used in the Glowforge can include: Glowforge can cut hardwood, acrylic, plywood, leather, fabric, paper, Plexiglas (acrylic), Delrin (acetal), mylar, rubber, fiberglass, Corian, foods, and more. Glowforge can also engrave all of the above plus glass, coated metal, marble, anodized aluminum, titanium, some phones, tablets, and laptops, and more. Library staff must approve the material before it is used in the laser engraver.

Button Maker

  • $0.15 per button set (mylar, shell, and pin back).
  • Printing costs are extra, at the current library rate.
  • Payment must be received before use.

VHS to DVD Converter

  • Patrons must bring in their own materials to use with the VHS to DVD converter. The library does not currently provide recordable DVDs.

Hardware & Software

We have 2 high definition monitors, with high processing computers available for public use. We also have several high processing laptops available when these computers are in use.

Software

The following software is available:

  • Video Editing Software
  • Photo Editing Software
  • 3D Object Editing Software
  • Adobe Suite Access