SLQ Wiki facilities:bookableflabresources

Bookable Resources - 3D Printer

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 12:11:32 +0000

Bookable Resources - 3D Printer

Why use a 3D Printer?

In essence, 3D Printers turn digital objects into physical ones.

3D printing (aka Additive Manufacturing) is now pretty well established in industry as a prototyping tool, and is becoming more common as a process for creating customised parts, parts on demand, or small production runs.

In the home, printers can be a marvelous tool for solving practical household problems—for example, by repairing items, or creating new items that are fully customised for their position or use case. Printers also can be used for fun, and are popular for making tabletop gaming minis, toys and artwork.

====Video==== Daniels idea of quick video: Portrait 5 things to remember about this equipment, tik tok style really short safety eg laser, vector files, check settings. portrait mode. refresher for after induction. ====Workshops==== Below you will find a slideshow of some of the workshops we have done over the years that utilize 3D Printers. 3D printing workshops

====Projects Gallery==== Here are some cool projects that patrons of the Fabrication Lab have made with our 3D printers. *Slideshow here

Getting Started

Induction & Booking

To use this equipment you will need to have completed a general induction (which brings you up to speed with the overall safety of the Fabrication Lab) and an additional, specific equipment induction. Check out the Inductions Page for more info.

Induction Info

After you have completed the inductions you will be able to book in to use the machines. Check out the Booking Policy page for info and book in via The Edge page on the SLQ Website.

Our Machines

We currently have 5 Prusa MK3s 3D Printers. They have a maximum build volume of 250 x 210 x 210 mm and they can print a wide range of materials and colours, though our default set up is grey PLA filament, and a 0.4mm nozzle.

One of our five machines is our 'experimental' machine where materials other than PLA (such as PETG, chopped carbon fibre, etc), different sized nozzles and novel techniques can be explored once your proposal has been approved by staff.

Our info about these machines

Manufacturer's info

Guides

The creation of a 3D print starts with a digital 3D model comprised of triangulated surfaces. The model is imported into a software program called a slicer, which works out the code for the 3D printer to follow. Once the object has been printed, there is often some post-processing (e.g., support material removal, sanding, assembly, painting) required.

To obtain a digital model you have 3 main options:

Download them from websites such as Thingiverse, PrusaPrinters and My Mini Factory. PrusaSlicer will import *.stl, *obj, and *.step file types.
Make your own using 3D modeling software:
- Hard surface modeling which is great for if you're just starting out and allows you to make blocky objects. TinkerCAD or 3D Builder are great options, especially if you've never done any 3D modeling at all before.
- Sculpting is great for making organic shapes like people, animals, trees or landscapes. It's akin to working a digital block of clay. A great piece of free software for this is SculptGL, though Meshmixer is another option.
- Parametric Design is great for making highly dimensioned-objects. things that need very specific distances and angles for example tools, boxes etc. Fusion 360 is a common choice, as is FreeCAD. There's also OpenSCAD if you think you might like syntax-based parametric design.
Another option for getting a 3D model is to scan an existing object into the computer. Photogrammetry software such as AliceVision is great for this if you want to use a digital camera you already have. The Fabrication Lab also has various other scanning technologies such as the Konica Minolta Laser Scanner.

Once you have your 3D model you will need to slice it to turn it into code the printer can read, this is done through software which is generally called a 'slicer' because it cuts the object into layers before working out the code. The most common slicers include PrusaSlicer (which we use here in the Fabrication Lab) and Cura. Both are free to download.

Then it's onto printing! There are many kinds of 3D Printers, but ours fall into the range of FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) machines, which work kind of like hot glue guns that move around. These machines work by squeezing a plastic string called 'filament' through a hot nozzle (which melts the filament). As the filament is squeezed out, the nozzle moves around to draw cross sections of our object. After completing a cross section, the nozzle lifts up and draws another cross section of our object. In this way an object is built up in layers.

Once our print is complete we remove it from the bed and have a physical object! Woo! From here some people like to prime, sand, paint or otherwise 'finish' their models, though others like to leave them raw. If you do wish to paint your model, automotive primer/filler is great and acrylic paint is best. Depending on the shape of the object there may be some support material to remove (support material is set up in the slicer and provides a temporary structure upon which the printer nozzle can build part details that aren't otherwise supported by the build plate. Some people might also use 3D prints as a prototype or as a master for taking a mould and casting in another material like silicone or resin.

Our Standard Operating Procedures contain a basic workflow with a focus on safety.

Standard Operating Procedures

More information about 3D printing using our current machines can be found on their page.

Prusa MK3s info

Materials

The default filament we provide for use with our printers is grey-coloured PLA (polylactic acid). PLA is a thermoplastic polyester polymer made with the byproducts of renewable resources such as corn and sugar cane. It is a great material to print with, as it is really easy to work with and quite strong (albeit not particularly flexible). Its only real downside is that it can warp out of shape at relatively low temperatures (60°C) which makes it unsuitable for some applications (for example, objects intended for use inside a hot car). If different material properties or colours are required, we do have an experimental printer where we can print other thermoplastics such as PETG and flexible filaments. We have some of these in stock, but not all materials are suitable for use in our facility. Have a chat to us before you buy stuff.

Currently we don't charge for 3D prints unless you are doing a lot of printing/ using a lot of material, as the material cost is relatively negligible. If you plan on doing large runs of items, printing very large things, or running jobs with long print times, have a chat to us so we can work out a plan.

More info

There are many communities (external to State Library Queensland) that have been built around 3D Printers, which each host a lot of information if you would like to learn more, including:

The 3D Printing Discord is great for help and friends and also maintains and excellent wiki which is jam-packed with resources
The 3D Printing Subreddit is a great place to get inspiration about projects

We have collected loads of handy guides, interesting techniques, resources, tools etc. If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of lasers and expand your know-how you will find many great resources here. 3D Printer Resources

Bookable Resources - CNC Router

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 15:31:39 +0000

Bookable Resources - CNC Router

Book and use a CNC router for free once you've successfully completed your induction.

The Edge's bookable CNC Router is a -

Multicam M-2412

Working Area: 2440 x 1220

Materials: Timber, Plastics (up to 25mm thick) We have a range of of materials for sale in stock. Please seek approval from the Fabrication Lab Supervisor in advance if you are planning to cut materials sourced externally. AppliedCreativity@slq.qld.gov.au

Workflow:

Design files generated in vector drawing / CAD software (DXF, DWG)
Toolpaths programmed in Vetrix V-Carve CAD/CAM software.

For more technical information, the materials that can be used on our machines visit

Multicam m-2412

And the up-to-date prices of materials in the Fab Lab Shop visit

Fab Lab Shop

IF YOU COMPLETED YOUR INDUCTION BEFORE 10 MAY 2019 YOU WILL NEED TO UPDATE YOUR MEMBER RECORD BY CALLING US ON 3842 9449 DURING THE EDGE OPENING HOURS OR DROPPING INTO THE SPACE.

Bookable Resources - Electronics bench

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 17:22:51 +0000

Bookable Resources - Electronics bench

Book and use the electronics bench for free once you've successfully completed your induction. Just pay for your materials

The Edge Electronics Bench are a resource with a range of tools and diagnostic equipment including:

All Stations

Weller Soldering Iron

858D+ Hot Air Reflow Station

Longwei K3010D Bench Supply

600x500mm heat resistant antistatic mat

Bright LED lighting

Helping hands with magnifying lens

Basic hand tools

Shared

KONRAD KA3005D Bench Supply

Agilent 54621A Oscilloscope

EEVblog (Brymen) Bm235 True RMS Digital Multimeters

GW Instek 0-1Mhz analogue signal generator

Bench Multimeters

High temperature hot-glue gun

Tweezers, screwdrivers and assorted other tools.

For up-to-date prices of materials visit the Fab Lab Shop

IF YOU COMPLETED YOUR INDUCTION BEFORE 10 MAY 2019 YOU WILL NEED TO UPDATE YOUR MEMBER RECORD BY CALLING US ON 3842 9449 DURING THE EDGE OPENING HOURS OR DROPPING INTO THE SPACE.

Bookable Resources - Laser Cutter / Engraver

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 12:11:32 +0000

Bookable Resources - Laser Cutter / Engraver

Why use a laser cutter?

Laser cutters are used to cut and engrave a range of flat sheets of material with a high degree of accuracy. This allows you to very quickly make items such as boxes, jewellery, stamps, stencils, and models.

Workshops

Below you will find a slideshow of some of the workshops we have done over the years that utilize a laser cutter.

Public workshops

====Projects Gallery==== Here are some cool projects that patrons of the Fabrication Lab have made with our laser cutter. **Slideshow here

Getting Started

Induction & Booking

To use this equipment you will need an general induction (which brings you up to speed with the overall safety of the Fabrication Lab, and a specific equipment induction. Check out the Inductions Page for more info.

Induction Info

After you have completed the inductions you will be able to book in to use the machines. Check out the Booking Policy page for info and book in via The Edge page on the SLQ Website.

Our Machines

We currently have two trotec Speedy 300 Laser cutter/engravers. They have a maximum bed size of 730 x 430mm (a little over A2 paper size) and they can cut an array of materials (more info below).

Trotec Speedy 300

Guides

Laser cutters shoot a concentrated beam of light through material to selectively burn/vaporize it with extreme precision.

Laser cut files generally start life as a vector file, which is converted into machine code through special software.

Our Standard Operating Procedures contain a basic workflow with a focus on safety.

Standard Operating Procedures

A standard workflow of the current machine can be found on its page

Standard Workflow

The instructions for the practical exercise of the laser cutter induction can be found here

Induction Practical

Software options for making vectors (including tutorials and communities!) can be found here: Software

Materials

We encourage users to make use of the materials that The Edge has tested and keep in stock for purchase such as plywood and acrylic.

We also recognize users will want to experiment with new exotic materials. Here at The Edge we love seeing people experiment. But we need to check that new materials are safe to cut. There are many materials which produce extremely harmful (potentially deadly) fumes when cut, and for that reason we are very cautious about the materials that can be used in our laser cutters. Check out the Laser Materials page for more info:

Laser Materials

More info

Laser Resources

If you are having trouble with the laser cutter we have collected a bunch of resources here

Laser Troubleshooting

To add: communities

facilities:bookableflabresources:laser_test

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 09:39:38 +0000

TROTEC RAYJET 300 LASER CUTTER
Inductions required	General induction, Laser cutter induction
Bookings	Required
Machine type	80W CO2 (Educational version)
Commissioned	2015
Max. dimensions	735mmx435, 6.5mm (material thickness)
Cutting Materials	Plastics (acrylic, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene), Timber, Carboard, Paper, Leather, Textiles
	Approved materials only. Seek approval from FL Supervisor to use alternate materials prior to booking.
Available materials	Various materials are available to purchase in the Fabrication Lab Shop
Job Layout & File Input	Design files are imported via USB Drive and must be of vector file format supported by Corel Draw (.svg, .cdr, .ai, etc.) in RGB.

Open Lab - FAQs

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 15:17:34 +0000

Open Lab - FAQs

Open lab is located on Level 1 of The Edge, it is State Library’s free and accessible fabrication space for makers and designers to book and use the creative resources available with support from skilled staff. The basement level of the Edge closed after the February 2022 flooding event.

Bookable equipment resources include:

Two laser cutters
3D printers
Vinyl cutter
Sewing machines
Soldering stations

Open lab sessions are Wednesday 1.30pm to 7.30pm, Thursday 1.30pm to 8.00pm and Saturday 12.00pm to 6.00pm

Please note, equipment bookings are required for all Open lab sessions except at our weekly meet up, Hack the Evening on Thursdays from 5 to 8pm.

Requirements

In order to book and use resources you must:

Be over 16
Become a member
Attend the relevant inductions

Read the The Edge Fabrication Lab Terms of Use

Read through the The Edge Bookable Resources and Workshop FAQs

Equipment specs

2x Trotec Speedy 300 Laser Cutter / Engraver available for cutting paper, cardboard, plywood, and acrylic sheet

Roland GS24 Vinyl Cutter

4x Prusa i3 Mk3 FDM printers available for printing in PLA+

2x Bernina 800 Series Record Sewing Machines

Bernina 700D Overlocker

Iron, Ironing Board and sewing accessories

Electronics bench including hand tools, soldering iron, bench power supply, etc

How do I book the equipment?

If you previously completed an induction for safe use of the Lasers, 3D Printers, Sewing Machine or Electronics Bench, you can book time on this equipment by visiting the SLQ website Here. Note that the system won't permit you to book equipment on which you haven't been inducted. Web bookings are currently offered for Open lab sessions except for our Thursday meetup, Hack the evening where bookings are not required.

Inductions

Before you can book the equipment, you need to have done an induction for that piece of equipment.

Keep an eye on the Whats On pages on our website and sign up for The Edge enews here to stay up to date with the latest changes.

Can I store stuff?

We are not currently in a position to offer members of the public temporary storage for their projects.

Can I buy materials for the Laser, Vinyl Cutter, and 3D printer?

Yes we have a stock of standard materials you can purchase and use on the Laser and the Vinyl Cutter. Materials are provided by the Fab Lab supervisor but should be paid for at The Brink coffee shop in The Edge.

Check out our range of materials and prices here

If you would like to bring in your own material you will need to provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and have our Lab supervisor approve use, please email us on appliedcreativity@slq.qld.gov.au.

What happened to the CNC?

Unfortunately, our CNC was damaged in the February 2022 flood and has been disposed of. The limitations of our current location does not allow us to offer this type of cutting equipment due to noise, dust, and isolation issues. We are investigating alternative resources but won't have any further updates till later in 2023.

Bookable Resources - Sewing machines

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 May 2019 15:07:13 +0000

Bookable Resources - Sewing machines

Book and use a sewing machine for free, once you’ve successfully completed your induction.

The Edge has a suite of the aging but reliable Bernina 730 series Sewing Machines and a 700D Overlocker.

For more more technical information on our sewing machines visit

Bernina 730 series or

Bernina 700D Overlocker

And the up-to-date prices of materials in the Fab Lab Shop visit

Fab Lab Shop

IF YOU COMPLETED YOUR INDUCTION BEFORE 10 MAY 2019 YOU WILL NEED TO UPDATE YOUR MEMBER RECORD BY CALLING US ON 3842 9449 DURING THE EDGE OPENING HOURS OR DROPPING INTO THE SPACE.

facilities:bookableflabresources:sidebar

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:59:40 +0000

Fabrication Lab Equipment

Laptops

Other Equipment at The Edge

Recording Studio

Digital Media Lab

Equipment Template

anonymous@undisclosed.example.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 May 2021 11:02:40 +0000

Equipment Template

This page, and it's related pages in the sidebar are stubs Which provide a standardized template for how equipment should be documented at The Edge, and particularity the Fabrication Lab.

Why would you want to use this machine?

paragraph describing the kinds of things it can be used to make (not how, just what, and why you would use this machine over other technologies to do it). this is to grab attention and inspire, and to help folk understand if this is the right tech for them/ their project before they read more detail

E.g “a laser cutter is used to cut and engrave flat sheets of material. It's great for making jewlery, boxes, stamps, stencils, etc and is much quicker than 3D Printing. ”

Gallery

Here are some of our workshops and projects that utilize this equipment (Project gallery slideshow and link)

Video

Portrait 5 things to remember about this equipment, tik tok style really short safety eg laser, vector files, check settings. portrait mode. refresher for after induction.

[Equipment] Introduction

What this machine is, how it works (high level concepts, no nitty gritty). overall workflow at a high level

E.g “The kinds of 3D printers we have work like a hot glue gun that moves around, drawing pictures that are layered on top of each other to form a final 3D object that you can hold in your hand.

Each 3D print starts out as a digital 3D model (made in software, found online, or scanned from real life) which is then run through some software called a 'slicer' that cuts the model into slices (kind of like an MRI image!) and then generates the instructions (called GCODE) that the 3D printer reads to draw these image slices, and layer them on top of each other.

Because our 3D printers work by squeezing out plastic they need to build on top of existing material, this can be tricky for pieces that hang out horizontally over nothing, called overhangs. To print these areas we use support, which is a temporary latticework structure which supports these areas, but which is removed after printing.

image here describing Digital Model > slicer >3D Printer> post-processing”

Our Machines

(specifications)

Machine Model/ Name:
Manufacturer:

button to go to further specifications/purchase information/ etc

Materials

Include any/all materials known to work with this machine. If we sell/stock material for this equipment mention it here and refer to the shop for pricing and specifications.

Link to page of materials of this becomes long

The following materials are known to work for this equipment:

Material	Specifications	Available to purchase from here? (Or supplier)	Settings/Notes/Pictures

How

Getting Access

To use this equipment you will need an general induction (which brings you up to speed with the overall safety of the space, and a specific equipment induction. Check out the Inductions Page for more info.

After you have completed the inductions you will be able to book in to use it. Check out the Booking Policy page for info and book in via The Edge page on the SLQ Website.

Guides

Overview of the technology and an overall workflow.

Standard Operating Procedures

[[|Standard Workflow] of the current machine

Special Techniques/ Extra Info & Resources

links to special techniques that we have recorded, links to external sites with info (e.g thingiverse for 3d printing, https://www.festi.info/boxes.py/ for laser)

Technique Name

Why you might want to use this technique and what it basically is, in a couple of sentences. learn more

Technique Name

Why you might want to use this technique and what it basically is, in a couple of sentences. learn more

Technique Name

Why you might want to use this technique and what it basically is, in a couple of sentences. learn more

Technique Name

Why you might want to use this technique and what it basically is, in a couple of sentences. learn more

More help

we can always help you with your project get in contact other communities around the web (facebook groups/ local meetups/ subreddits/ discords/ slacks/ etc