Makerbot 3D Printer Gains Traction on College Campus

I received our academic library Makerbot Replicator (the first generation model with dual extrusion) in the summer of 2012.  I spent a good deal of time tinkering with it during the summer, but still didn't have great success implementing it in the fall until I met a freshmen design student in a graphic design class I was visiting. Read more about my first experience with 3D Printing.

So, before I explain how the printer has "taken off" with some needed help, I have to back up a bit and explain what I tried to do to launch a 3D printer on a small private liberal arts college campus.

First, I created a step by step how-to guide on how to get started with 3D Printing.  This guide was meant to "flip the classroom" or give students on campus all of the resources and training they needed (in one place) up until they were ready to load their creation on the actual 3D printer (hardware).  Then I dropped links on the library's home page and sprinkled invitations to get involved with the printer on the library's and university's social media sites.  I got some initial attention and emails from students wanting to know how to get involved even before the school year started. This 3D Printer will be easy to get off the ground - I thought.

However, the undergrad students that did contact me either quickly found out that there was some actual work that went into designing and printing in 3D or were swept away with the beginning of the school year's coursework and social engagements (probably the latter). I also had some students come into my office with drawings days before the semester ended looking to print out a prototype or project for a class.  I had to turn those students away since they had nothing in terms of actual designs nor had spent any time trying to even learn about what a 3D printer was capable of.  So, my next bet was on the faculty.

I got invited to visit a 3D design class in the Art department after some self (and printer) promotion- and thought it was a great chance for these students to put the first student designs through the Makerbot. I showed up to the class and gave a demo of SketchUp, explained the workflow of file types up until you get to Replicator G, passed around a few sample prints, and left the link to my online Getting Started guide.  I instructed students to make their initial designs small or at most something that was 2" tall and 2" wide.

Fox with Hat from Makerbot (painted)

One student in particular responded quickly with her Fox with Hat design (left)- the first student to put a design through.  While it was a little rough going with the brim of the hat  falling off due to the lack of support, it showed a lot of promise.  I had even heard from the instructor that this particular student was helping her classmates navigate the software and the overall process. 

So, I did the smartest thing I could do and hired the student as the Makerbot 3D Printer Work Study for the Spring semester.  Since coming on the library payroll, she has made great strides in being the library liaison for the 3D Printer.  The student has made a video of the printer in action, gave a workshop to a spring 3D design class, printed out her peers' projects from the fall 3D design class, and was recently featured on the front page of the local newspaper. Most importantly, the student is printing student work and orchestrating everything (workshops, software, promotion) with interested professors and students.  

Our next venture will be to feature the Makerbot in action at an upcoming Student Achievement Showcase in the spring, where we will have a chance to take down more names of interested students.  The excitement and interest over the printer did not happen right at the start, but thankfully did finally happen.  While securing the grant to buy the Makerbot and the job of implementing it on campus was mine and mine alone, I always knew that these types of projects and technology belong in the hands of students.  Hopefully in 6-9 months I will post again and have much more to say about how our Makerbot is being used on campus.

*Information contained within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Schreiner University.

 

Designing for Makerbot using SketchUp- Get Started Guide

The Makerbot Arrives

A few months ago I received a mini-grant for a Makerbot for our library which serves a small 4 year liberal arts university.  While my excitement was met with some raised eyebrows and confused looks from some colleagues- I quickly realized that it was "on me" to figure the Makerbot out and ultimately implement the thing for student use.  While the summer days are burning away at a rapid rate, I have at least experimented and designed an original simple object which carried me through the process from design to 3D printing.

Using Google SketchUp for Makerbot 3D Design

I decided to go with Google SketchUp for the 3D design software and after a few minutes of watching some tutorial videos, I was on my way to designing a baseball holder for a MLB game-used ball that I had sitting on the mantle at home.  I used the free version of Google SketchUp for the Mac. 

There is one crucial plug-in that you must install on Google SketchUp 7 or 8 (I used 8) that will enable you to export your digital file to the compulsory .STL file format (that you will open in Replicator G).

The SKP to STL plug-in is available here and if you are on a Mac with 10.7 you will have to locate your Library folder which has been hidden for some reason by Apple.  Anyway, this video helped me locate the HD Library folder (I am a somewhat new Mac OS X user). Locating the Library folder on Mac OS X Lion 


Once you have downloaded and installed the SketchUp to .STL plugin and put the plug-in file in the right SketchUp folder you should find the "Export to .STL" option under Tools in Google SketchUp.

Run your STL through Netfab Cloud Service before Replicator G

The next step you want to do once you have a saved .STL file is to run it through Netfab Cloud Service (Beta) this really helped smooth out some of the design issues that occured within SketchUp and ultimately crashed my first build- with the help of Netfab my second print went smoothly.

Macbook Air Connected to Makerbot

Connect to Makerbot or dump .STL on to SD Card

It is nice to get all of the feedback when connecting to the Makerbot from your computer, though it seems a little more practical to just dump the final file from Replicator G on the SD Card and insert it into the Makerbot.  You can find the complete guide to using Replicator G at the link above and I found the program fairly easy to use and navigate around.

Simple but useful with raised lettering

While my design was simple and was not without flaws (I keep having one edge turn up even while using a raft or increasing the temp of the room) I did learn that the process from design conception to holding the final object in your hands (after a few hours work) is indeed possible and truly exciting. 

I am looking forward to having students experience this new medium in the fall and even hope to make it a part of a few related courses on campus.

Read an update on this academic library Makerbot.

*Information contained within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Schreiner University.

Keeping Libraries Current: Provide Access to Tech, Info, and People

A modern library in Tokyo, Japan

As print collections are gradually being reduced to make way for increased digital resource buying and physical equipment, libraries are looking to transform themselves into relevant and viable places to get things done.

For small academic libraries the challenge is often serving the campus community with small budgets and limited staff, yet keeping up with the community's needs by offering new and innovative technology.  Just like libraries were instrumental in giving access to computers and the Internet in the early days, we continue to look forward and work to bring the next wave of technology for patrons or students to access.

One way that libraries can stay current is by offering access to tools and technology that aid in creation and facilitate scholarly activity.  Recently, eBooks have been in the "library world" spotlight with the increased sales of tablets and eReaders combined with the emerging popularity of eTextbooks and the acceptance of many publishers to enter the digital realm.  While the eBook and the library have had a rocky start to their union, I believe over time things will work themselves out and we will have a decent model of lending eBooks from a wide array of content distributors.

Ways Libraries Can Provide Access to Technology and Stay Current

Here are a few ways that libraries can stay on the cutting edge and stay relevant in this increasingly digital world.

1. Provide Access to Creative Software

Products like Adobe's image and video editing suites don't come cheap for individuals but is affordable for libraries to provide for their patrons.  There are also Open Source alternatives like GIMP.  Libraries could consider offering upgraded printing abilities also so that students and patrons can produce professional looking flyers and posters.

2. Create a Mini Podcasting or Vodcasting Studio

Everyone can be a producer these days and it can be accomplished fairly cheap with a desktop computer and Open Source audio recording and editing software like Audacity.  All you need next is a decent video camera, a good quality microphone, and you are on your way to providing a place where students and patrons can produce digital content and projects.

3. Provide Screen Capture Software to Create ScreenCasts

Screen Capture software records your computer screen and audio/video at the same time and can be deployed easily to produce professional looking tutorials that can be accessed on YouTube or any other webpage.  The same screen capture software can also be deployed as an user interface research tool.  For example, students could use screen capture software to research how their peers use Google, shop online, popular software, or use Social Media websites. 

4. Create a MakerSpace or a HackerSpace

Increasingly the term "Hacker" is shifting from a dark mischievous internet bully to a person like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, well...someone who makes things, not necessarily a billionaire.  A MakerSpace or HackerSpace is simply a space to meet up with other people who are interested in technology and work on problems or projects collectively.  While space, power, and equipment might be out of range for many small libraries initially, you could always start small by buying a 3D printer as explained by Bre Pettis of MakerBot in the video on this page.

5.  Expand Outreach Programs to Include Digital Content Production and Information Literacy

Today's College students have been categorized as "digital natives" or "Computer Whiz Kids" and many assume that they can do anything with technology, and some are and can!  College freshmen may indeed have many skills that their parents do not have, but I am certainly surprised by how many 18 year olds do not know how to use a scanner, insert an image on a Word doc, or evaluate information on the web.  Everyone today should be comfortable working with digital files.  Like libraries have been offering workshops for years on using Microsoft Office or doing your taxes, instruction could be also be offered on blogging, manipulating digital images, basic web design, and information literacy.  Having basic digital file skills can mean the difference of landing that dream job and are great skills to list on a resume or application.

Libraries are in a Constant State of Flux

What will libraries be like in the future?  I really do not know.  However, I will tell you that they will be places where people get things done. From my vantage point (digital services librarian) I see future libraries all about access to technology, information, and knowledgeable professionals much the way they have been for years.

*Information contained within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Schreiner University.