Wellington Public Library receives grant for 3D printer
Wellington Public Library Director Jo Plumb presents the 3D printer the only one of its kind in south-central Kansas.
by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow — Wellington Public Library patrons are now able to print 3D projects – the latest in printing technology.
Library Director Jo Plumb received training for the Tinkerine 3D printer in Hutchinson on May 10, when the printer was brought to Wellington. Purchase for the printer was made possible with a $2,000 grant from the State Library of Kansas and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
“Wellington was one of seven libraries in the state to receive a 3D printer, as selected by the library system,” Plumb said. “Wellington was chosen as the library in South Central Kansas to receive one.”
Plumb completed an all day training through ESSDACK, who does educational training and teaches STEM projects. Her training was paid for by the state.
An image being printed by new 3D printer.
Patrons will be charged for materials with projects starting at $1 each. The environmentally friendly PLA fillament costs 20 cents per gram. The printer requires special software and is very quiet when in use.
“I was amazed at how quiet it is,” Plumb said.
Library staff will be available to help patrons find projects online to print, or they can bring their own projects in on a SD card. Projects must be saved in STL or OBJ format, and have OS compatibility with Windows and Mac. Tinkerine Suite is the software used to print the projects. Patrons will be allowed to print projects with library staff assistance. The printer is a user friendly model.
Projects can take minutes or hours to print, depending on size and detail, and it prints at 230 degrees Celsius.
Car printed with 3D printer.
“This car took 2 1/2 hours to print, and a mustache takes 17 minutes,” Plumb said.
As part of the grant’s requirements, the 3D printer had to be made available to the public, and they must keep statistics for the state.
Shown on KAKE Channel 10 recently was a segment about 3D printers and how they will soon be part of the curriculum at West High.
“3D printers will soon be part of the classroom,” Plumb said.
The library plans to utilize the printer during the summer reading program.
“I am hoping that the kids really get into it,” Plumb said.
Specifics are still being ironed out, but public demonstrations will take place on June 1-2 during regular library hours.
