3D Printing at Austin Public Library

How does it work?

  1. You send us your design through this form.
  2. We start the printing process. Depending on demand and other projects at Innovate it could take a few days before printing for your design starts. We will contact you with updates.
  3. You pick up your project at the Central Library's Innovation Lounge. You pick up your print within 2 weeks of print completion. Print jobs left greater than 2 weeks without pickup will be given away.

Maximum Print Area: 7.25 x 7.25 x 7in

Any questions about 3D printing or this form? Contact us at apl-innovate@austin.tx.libanswers.com.

3D Printing Procedures and Specifications

In order to submit this form, you must agree to the following 3D Printing Procedures and Guidelines:
 

  • A valid Austin Public Library Card in good standing (not expired, $24.99 or less in fees owed, no overdue items, no outstanding issues with the account) is required to submit a custom 3D print job.
  • Patrons may request one (1) free 3D print job in a single calendar month.
  • Files must take four (4) hours or less to print. 3D printers may only be run during normal Library operating hours.
  • Our printers have a maximum print area of 7.5in x 7.5in x 7.75in.
  • Submitted designs may be resized in order to fit size/time constraints.
  • 3D Prints must be picked up within two (2) weeks of notification of print completion. They may only be picked up at the Innovation Lab during its operating hours.
  • The public will not be permitted to use the Library's 3D printers to create material that is:
    • Prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
    • Unsafe, harmful, dangerous, or poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others. This includes weapons or life-like replicas, parts of weapons, ammunition, and defensive/offensive weapons.
    • Obscene or otherwise inappropriate for plain view of the general Library environment. This includes sexually explicit content.
  • The Austin Public Library reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.
  • Only designated Library staff and volunteers will have hands-on access to 3D printers.
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The Austin Public Library cannot guarantee model quality or stability, nor confidentiality of designs. Library staff will attempt to print a submission a maximum of three (3) times.

Responsibility for removing rafts and supports is up to the user. Customers may see slight imperfections in their prints. Small bumps, holes, or rough edges at the base of an object may occur with 3D printing. These imperfections can often be minimized with fine sandpaper or other tools. 

The Austin Public Library makes no commitment to being able to produce print submissions in a specific timeframe and will choose the order in which jobs are printed to maximize efficiency and give as many people as possible a chance to obtain a print. 

The Austin Public Library 3D printers and related equipment may only be used for lawful purposes in compliance with policy. Customers may not upload, transmit, display, or create content that violates any law, privacy, or property right. One cannot reproduce material subject to copyright, patent, or trademark protection. 

Violation of any of these rules or policies could result in 3D printing privileges with APL Innovate to be revoked. 

Do you agree to the Austin Public Library 3D Printing Guidelines? *
Send Us Your 3D Print

Use the file upload box below to send us your file. Please note: at this time we can only accept STL files.

If your STL file is too large, please upload it to a 3D printing repository (such as Thingiverse) and provide us the object's URL in the optional field below. If you need help uploading your file, please send us an email at apl-innovate@austin.tx.libanswers.com.

What color filament would you prefer? (We can make no guarantee of a given color's availability) *
Fields marked with * are required.