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Introduction
What would it be like to have the Replicator from Star Trek? Many trekkies and non-trekkies alike have probably wondered about this. While the Replicator itself is a bit beyond our reach at the moment, the idea behind it is already a part of our technology landscape. 3D printers are slowly become a fixture in everyone’s lives, you’ve probably seen them in news articles or even in your local library.
But what is 3D printing? The technology has been around for quite some time but it hasn’t been until within the last few years that the regular Joe off the street could take advantage of this technology. The 3D printing “is a type of additive manufacturing: a three-dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material that adhere to one another, creating a three-dimensional output” says Kurt and Colgrove (2012). Jason Griffey has a similar definition stating that “the simplest way to image a 3-D printer is that it’s a machine that makes bigger things out of smaller blocks. In some cases, the ‘blocks’ are a powder; in others, they are melted plastic” (p. 5). Another way of thinking about it would be to think about how you make a brick wall. You continually place layer upon layer of brick on top of each other with grout in between. With 3D printing the plastic is heated so that it will stick to itself. In this paper I will be presenting the views of those following or within the industry of 3D printing, I will discuss who is using the technology, and what it holds for the future.
Literature Review
3D printing isn’t quite as new as many people may think. It has been around for a little more than a decade according to several articles by Jason Griffey (2014), Massis (2013), and Moorefield-Lang (2014). Moorefield-Lang describes some of the first 3D prints which “were held together with cornstarch and glue, similar to Play-Doh modeling compound” (2014, p. 72). Today, the different plastics and resins that printers use are much better. So why have we only seen a boom in 3D printing for the past few years? Well one of the larger problems has been the cost of entry. 3D printers were just too expensive for a library or other non-commercial institution to afford. But within the last few years this has changed quite significantly. Advances in the technology have brought us far enough that consumer grade units are now dotting the landscape with much more frequency. “With the cost of technology inevitably dropping over time, and processes becoming more effective… a 3D printer is affordable for library use…” (Massis, 2013, p. 351).
But as with most new things many people ask why. Why have 3D printers in the library. Almost all of the articles agree that one of the main reasons why is because libraries have been the go-to place to experience technology before it was widely available in home. From the first typewriters to laser printers, libraries are often where people are able to interact with technology that may not be widely available to the consumer. Griffey states “that libraries, especially public libraries, have often been a technological leveler for their communities” (p. 5). While Ambler, Brosz, and Powelson say that “the library’s role as a central, discipline-neutral space for collaboration and innovation makes it ideally situated to make visualization technology available” (p. 236). Librarians “are the technology leaders of their schools, communities, and universities” according to Moorefield-Lang (2015).
Current Applications of 3D Printing
Makerspaces, hackerspaces, fab labs are all becoming a part of the library. Places where people don’t just consume, they also create (Colgrove, 2013). 3D printers are a great way of providing the means to do so. If you can think it, more than likely it can be printed. Jon Cobb, “executive vice president of corporate affairs, Stratasys Ltd. talks about how a library in downtown San Diego has multiple 3D printers and that the 3D printing lab is one of the most popular areas in the library (Pickett, 2014, p. 20). Colgrove (2013) gives a few examples of how makerspaces are being used, one being how a child reading about robots can get hands on experience working with toolkits. Another is a group of students who are able to get a 3D version of a chemical model in order to “tangibly explore the subject from all angles,” and the is the idea that people can meld knowledge from multiple disciplines and interact with people in those fields “in a non-threatening environment; learning, developing, and testing ideas…” (p. 4). Moorefield-Lang (2014) showcases two different instructors in her article who received Makerbot 3D printers. The first one is an art teacher who is incorporating the technology into her class making things like key chains and even a small house. She has plans to include the 3D printer in an Asian art lesson by creating Chinese calligraphy seals (p. 70). The other is a librarian who was in the process of creating a makerspace which would include “a sewing machine, large-screen television, old typewriter…” and of course the 3D printer (p. 71).
Challenges
With new technology, come new challenges. And 3D printing is no exception. Training is a large issue that was mentioned several times by multiple articles. Many of the librarians and teachers who have adopted 3D printers don’t have formal training. With a large number of them picking up knowledge from “peers in the field, YouTube, and other online sources, student assistants, friends, parent and community volunteers, as well as general exploration and tinkering…” (Moorefield-Lang, 2015, p. 110). Also finding or hiring the staff to be in charge of this new technology can become a burden for time and budget. If your institution doesn’t have enough funding to hire someone, then it will depend on existing staff to pick up the slack. But that puts more pressure on them, especially when they have other duties they need to fulfill. Picket (2015) quotes several prominent figures in the 3D printing industry who talk about the challenges facing this technology. Donovan Weber “COO and co founder of Forecast 3-D” states “ultimately, we need faster printers, and we need more and better materials” (p. 20). Robin Raskin “founder of Living in Digital Times and a tech expert” has similar views as Weber. Her suggestions are “to create 3-D printers that are faster and more robust… new print materials… larger print platforms… and better print resolutions” (p. 21). There is also the issue with 3D printing and copyright. If a patron wants to print a copy of their favorite action figure or character that is a violation of that law. “Libraries and library patrons must be aware of such issues when making use of this technology. The library must be fully cognizant of these issues so that staff can guide the patron in the proper and legally acceptable use of the 3D printing process” (Massis, 2013, p. 352).
Conclusion
The future of 3D printing is looking quite bright. With prices continuously falling and better technology being developed maybe the idea of the Replicator from Star Trek isn’t as silly as it once may have seemed. Time will help clear some of the obstacles like training and better, more efficient materials. Some challenges like cost will probably constantly be a battle but that is common among non-technological aspects of many institutions. I think that while the current crop of 3D printers are quite remarkable, the future appears more interesting. Faster print times, more detailed results, better firmware to help minimize bad prints. Right now we’re where laser-printing was when it was first introduced. It was this amazing thing but now it’s mundane. Everyone and their mother has a printer at home it seems like. There are some amazing websites that people can browse to see what sorts of objects people have printed. There are several 3D printing services on the web as well such as sculpteo.com and shapeways.com.
I’m glad to see libraries adding makerspaces. I am one of those people who like to learn in a hands-on type of approach. And I think it can been a great boon for libraries to not only have the literature about a subject, but to also be able to provide access to technology that many, if not most, people are unable to experience right now in the comfort of their own home. 3D printing gives minds, young and old, the ability to see something that they created in a program become real in a way that most technology doesn’t provide.
References
Colegrove, T. (2013). “Editorial board thoughts: libraries as makerspace?” Information Technology and Libraries 32(1), p. 2-5.
Griffey, J. (2012). “Absolutely fab-ulous.” Library Technology Reports 48(3), p. 21-24.
Griffey, J. (2014). “Chapter 1: 3-D printers for libraries.” Library Technology Reports 50(5), p. 5-7.
Massis, B.E. (2013). “3D printing and the library.” New Library World 114(7/8), p. 351-354.
Moorefield-Lang, H. (2014). “3-D printing in your libraries and classrooms.” Knowledge Quest 43(1), p. 70-72.
Moorefield-Lang, H. (2015). “Change in the making: Makerspaces and the ever-changing landscape of libraries.” Techtrends 59(3), p. 107-112.
Pickett, L. (2015). “3-D printing: The new normal.” available at http://www.appliancedesign.com/articles/94377--d-printing-the-new-normal
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