Maker Hub

Maker Hub User Guide

The library’s Maker Hub is an evolving resource. Please note our current practices:

General:

• Equipment is available on a first-come first-serve basis
• Users must be library members, certified to use equipment and in grade 7 or older
• Users must follow safety procedures, report accidents and equipment problems
• Violation of intellectual property law is prohibited
• Creation of dangerous or offensive objects is prohibited

3D Printing:

• Library staff may abort failed prints
• Production for commercial purposes is prohibited
• An individual may use one 3D printer at a time
• For print jobs exceeding 2 hours, please contact staff to inquire about printer availability

Please Note: There may be times throughout the year where the Maker Hub is closed due to maintenance or staff shortage. You may want to contact us before visiting to ask if the Maker Hub will be available on the day you arrive.

3D Printers

Quick Prints - Drop in and quickly print something

If you want to print something to take home the day of your visit, ask us about our Quick Prints! These are pre-selected 3D designs that are ready to print on demand. Choose your design and what colour you want and we can print it for you. No certification needed! Quick Print samples are available in the maker hub. Drop in during open hours to see what is available, as well as the length of time it takes to print and the cost for each Quick Print design.

Hardware

• UM2+ (Ultimaker 2+)
• UM3 (Ultimaker 3)

Please visit the Ultimaker website for the UM2+ printer specifications and UM3 printer specifications to see information on build volume, layer resolutions, and more.

Material

• PLA (polylactic acid) filament is biodegradeable material made from renewable resources, like corn starch
• PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) filament can dissolve in water and is used for supports when a design needs extra help to print successfully.

Software

• Ultimaker Cura is the software we use to slice a CAD file to prepare it for printing on our printers.
• A CAD (Computer-Assisted Design) software is used to make original 3D objects. Use CAD software (e.g.Sketchup, AutoDesk Fusion360, etc.) or a CAD website (e.g.TinkerCAD). Designs should be made using metric measurements and saved as an STL file.
• Visit popular websites like Thingiverse, Pinshape, MyMiniFactory, and others to find 3D designs that other people have created and shared. No design skills needed.

How to use the 3D printer yourself

1. Make sure you are certified to use the printer. 

2. You will need a 3D design that was designed using metric (mm) measurements and saved as an STL file. You can make this using CAD (Computer-Assisted Design) software, or by finding a file online that someone else has designed and shared.

3. Use slicing software to prepare the STL file using the settings you want. Save it as a GCODE file and put it on a USB (Ultimaker 3) or SD card (Ultimaker 2+). We have SD cards and USB sticks in the Maker Hub if you do not have one at home. TIP: Cura will tell you how much filament your print job will use. Reference this amount to calculate the cost of your print.

4. Come to the Maker Hub during open hours to use a printer. Printers are available on a first come, first serve basis and cannot be reserved. You can call before you come to see if a printer is free.

5. Prints must be paid for before the start of printing.

6. You must stay with your print for the first 20 minutes of actual printing, to make sure it starts successfully.

7. You can leave the library if you do not want to wait for the print to finish. Finished prints will be held in the Maker Hub for pickup. Pick them up during open Maker Hub hours, or ask at the children's information desk for staff to get your print for you. NOTE: prints that have not been picked up in 3 months become property of the library.

How to get certified to use the 3D printer

3D printer certification will teach you how to use the printers at the library (including our processes, how to be safe, and how to find things to print). To get certified, please come to a Make Your Own 3D Object class. Class dates are listed in the calendar.

How to ask us to prepare the file and print for you

We can prepare the STL file and print your object for you. Send us an STL file using the 3D print submission form. We will contact you with a quote. Please allow 2 weeks turnaround time for us to print your object.

Please note there is a $10 charge for each STL file that library staff prints for you (this is in addition to the regular cost for each print).

Cost

You can calculate the cost of your print when you prepare your file using Cura or other slicing software. Cura will tell you how many metres your print will use. Multiply this number by the cost of material. e.g. if your print will use 0.67 metres of PLA filament, it will cost $1.07.

PLA is $1.60/meter

PVA is $3.60/meter

Vinyl Cutter

Hardware

Roland GS-24

Material

Sign vinyl, Removeable vinyl

Software

We use Roland CutStudio to prepare images to send to the cutter. Use your favourite image editing software to prepare the file for import into CutStudio, or use a free program, such as Inkscape. Please make sure your file is a free or open licensed image (we recommend Vecteezy, Pexels, Pixabay, Unsplash, Deposit Photos or Brands of the World) and has a *.bmp, *.jpg, or *.png extension.

Get certified to use the vinyl cutter

The vinyl cutter certification will teach you how to use the vinyl cutter at the library (including our processes, how to be safe, how to find and create images, and how to prepare the vinyl decal for application).

To get certified, please drop in to the Maker Hub during open hours, or contact us if you would like to be certified outside of these times.

How to make your own vinyl decal

1. Make sure you are certified to use the vinyl cutter.
2. You will need an image file that is simple and can easily be cut. Create your own or find one online.
3. Reserve the vinyl cutter for a time of your choice, or drop in the Maker Hub to see if it is available.
4. Come to the library at the time you reserved, or wish to drop in. The vinyl cutter must be vacated by the end of your booking.
5. Decals must be paid for when the vinyl cutter is finished cutting them out. Ask a staff member for help calculating the cost.
6. Weed the waste vinyl away using the tools in the Maker Hub.
7. Apply the transfer tape and take your vinyl home.

Cost

$0.02 per 1"x1" section of vinyl.

Button/Magnet Maker 

Hardware

People Power Press 1-1/2" Standard Button Maker

Materials

Shell, Mylar, Pin-Back, self adhesive peel and stick magnet

How to use

You will need to get a design to make your button. We have pre-made designs in the Maker Hub for drop-in visitors, or you can design your own original button or buttons.

You can make your own original design. The design should be 1.5" in diameter and should have a 0.25" margin around the edge (this is the part that is wrapped around the edge of the button). You can make your design on a piece of paper, use a template, or use an online website to design it. 

Cut out your design and bring it to the Maker Hub. Staff can help you make your button or buttons.

Online resources

• The Button-Guy Online Button Designer is a great website that makes designing buttons easy. Choose the 1.5" size of button. You will need to make an account to use this site, but then your designs will be saved if you want to print them again.

Cost

One free button per visit. Each additional button is $0.25. Magnets cost $0.50 each.

Cricut Machine

Hardware

Cricut Maker Machine

Software

Cricut Design Space (free online) 

Tools

Rotary blade, fine point blade, scoring stylus, weeder, tweezers, spatula, scraper and a variety of colored pens

Useful for

Cutting, scoring, and drawing on a variety of materials. Create projects such as invitations, banners, decorations, monograms, stencils, etc. for home, business, school, or hobby.

How to use

Get started by opening a free Cricut Design Space account to start creating your designs, or use the free templates provided. Drop by during Maker Hub hours to cut, draw and/or score your designs. You can also register for one of our Intro to Cricut and Design Space workshops via the online calendar.

Note: users must bring in their own materials to cut (cardstock, fabric etc.).

Digital Media Station

Hardware

Apple iMac computer, headphones, microphone

Software

Garage Band, iMovie, SpeedGrade, Story Plus, PhoneGap Build, Camtasia 2, Adobe Creative Cloud, and more.

Adobe Creative Cloud includes: 

• Acrobat DC
• After Effects 2017
• Animate CC and Mobile Device Packaging 2017 (formerly Flash Professional)
• Audition 2017
• Bridge 2017
• Camera Raw
• Character Animator
• Dimension
• Dreamweaver 2017
• Edge Animate 2015
• Edge Code
• Edge Inspect
• Edge Reflow
• Fireworks CS6
• Flash Builder Premium
• Fuse
• Gaming SDK 1.4
• Illustrator 2017
• InCopy 2017
• InDesign 2017
• Lightroom 2015
• Media Encoder 2017
• Muse 2017
• Photoshop 2017
• Portfolio
• Prelude 2017
• Premiere Pro 2017
• Scout
• Spark

Useful for

Audio editing, Computer Animation, Graphic Design, Image editing, Video editing, Webdesign, Writing, and more.

How to use

Drop by during Maker Hub hours, or contact us to reserve the station for use during library hours. You will need to bring your own storage device to save your project.

Lego Mindstorms

Hardware

2 Lego Mindstorms EV3 kits, laptops

Software

Lego Mindstorms Education

Workshops

Search our calendar for LEGO to find our Lego Mindstorms and Lego WeDo programs.

Age Minimum

10 years and up

How to use

Lego Mindstorms kits are kept in the Maker Hub. You can reserve a kit for two weeks and drop by the Maker Hub during open hours to work on your project. Please note children cannot be left unattended.

Borrow Maker Hub Tools

We have a great collection of things you can borrow to take home and use. Please see our catalogue of available Maker Hub items.

How to borrow: Check the catalogue to see what's available, or contact us to place a reservation for you. Drop by during Maker Hub hours and borrow what you want, and return the item to the Maker Hub during open hours.

Group Visits

Would you like to bring your group to the library for a special presentation? Fill out a Maker Hub Group Visit Application to tell us more about what you would like your group to experience.

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