3D Printing

Order a 3D print and pick it up at your local library!

Order a 3D print and pick it up at your local library! 

We are pleased to offer "Takeout-style" 3D printing services at the library. Simply find a file you’d like to print and submit it to our form. It will be printed at Northern Lights HQ and sent back to be picked up from the library you select. 

 Some ground rules (you will need to read our Terms of Service in full before submitting your print): 

  • You must be a member of a Northern Lights Library System library, but you may choose to pick up at any participating location. 
  • You will get an email notification indicating the cost of your print. Once you have confirmed the payment amount is acceptable, we will proceed with the print job.
  • You will receive a second email indicating that your print is ready for pickup. After that, you will have 3 weeks to get to the library to pick up your object before it becomes the property of that library. 
  • We will not print weapons or objects that are illegal to produce. 
  • It is your responsibility to ensure that the copyright holder to the file you submit has authorized you to use it. 

Submit Your Print!

Technical Details

  • NLLS uses an Ender- 3 3D Printer and standard 1.75mm PLA filament  

  • NLLS uses Cura slicing software and its auto-recommended settings for supports and build plate adhesion, layer height, and infill  

  • We can only accept submissions in .stl format

  • Patrons submitting a 3D print file have the responsibility to ensure that they are authorized to print it by the file’s copyright holder, such as with a Creative Commons license. 

  • We cannot print objects that are larger than our print bed (152 mm x 152 mm x 158 mm) or where the file contains non-manifold geometry). 

  • Prints are $0.10/gram, including supports and rafts/print bed adhesion, to be paid to the library where the item is picked up.

3D Printing Terms of Service

  1. In order to request a 3D print job, patrons must have a membership with a Northern Lights member library. Patrons can choose to pick up a 3D print at any participating location. 
  2. NLLS may reject a 3D print submission for any reason. If a print is rejected, NLLS will provide a notification by email citing the reason for the rejection. Reasons may include but are not limited to: 
  3. The object is unsuitable for our equipment (wrong file type, too large for print bed, non-manifold geometry) 
  4. The object is a weapon or part of a weapon. Recognizable cosplay props will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 
  5. The object is illegal under federal or provincial law. 
  6. The 3D print order volume is too large to be considered a fair and equitable use of NLLS’ 3D printer time. In this case, the rejection notification will include options for a reduced order volume. 
  7. Northern Lights Library System (NLLS) charges a cost-recovery fee of $0.10/gram, including supports and rafts/print bed adhesion. NLLS uses Cura slicing software to determine the supports, weight and cost of 3D printed objects.  
  8. Printing costs must be paid to the pickup library at the time of pickup. 
  9. Some libraries may be cash-only or have a minimum purchase necessary to use a debit or credit machine; payment method is at the pickup library’s discretion. 
  10. NLLS does not guarantee that every file submitted will be printed successfully. 
  11. NLLS will not alter .stl files to ensure success before printing. 
  12. Print jobs that fail due to printer error will be reprinted once by NLLS at no additional cost. 
  13. Print jobs that fail more than once will not be reattempted. 
  14. Patrons submitting a 3D print file have the responsibility to ensure that they are authorized to print it by the file’s copyright holder, such as with a Creative Commons license. 
  15. NLLS will send one pickup notification per form submission. Any further pickup notifications will be sent from the pickup library, at their discretion. 
  16. Printed objects will be held for a guaranteed 3 weeks’ grace period awaiting pickup. Any further amount of time is at the discretion of the pickup library. Once this grace period has elapsed, the 3D printed object becomes the property of the pickup library, to be used or disposed of at their discretion.  

Submit your Print!