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Podcast: Technology Conversations

Welcome to Technology Conversations, brought to you by the IT Training team, Center for Instructional Technology and Training (CITT). Here you will hear conversations from IT experts in different fields as well as discussions on how technology plays a key role in individuals’ personal and professional lives.


Episode 9: 3D Printing

In this episode Sarah Prentice, Makerspace and 3D Manager with UF Smathers Libraries share with us how we can utilize 3D printing technology for work, school, or even personal projects and how we can easily access their services right on our campus.

View Podcast Transcript

Anchalee Phataralaoha: Welcome to our podcast Technology Conversations, where we discuss technology related topics from how to find resources for your technology needs to how technology can impact our lives. My name is Anchalee Phataralaoha and I will be your host.

You might have heard about 3D printing. If not, today we will learn more and see how it can help us. With me today is Sarah Prentice, Makerspace and 3D Manager with UF Smathers Libraries. Hi Sarah, and welcome.

Sarah Prentice: Hi Anchalee, thank you for having me.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: So to start off could you share with us how did you come to UF?

Sarah Prentice: So I am a graduate of UF, I went to UF. My master's degree is actually in plant pathology with a focus in mycology, but my career background has been in libraries. So I've been full time at Marston Science Library here at UF since 2013 and I worked at the Service Desk and closed the library at 1:00 AM for nearly a decade. And I was at Marston when we acquired our very first 3D printer, I think it was 2014 or 2015. And so I was able to see 3D printing really develop from an emerging technology to a mainstay and when the 3D Printing Manager position opened up, I applied and that's how I came to be.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: That's where you are. OK, sounds good. Now what your day today is like?

Sarah Prentice: So right now I manage the 3D printing service in addition to Marston Makerspace. Marston Makerspace provides shared equipment and workspace for creative projects and collaboration. So we're in the basement of Marston Science Library, right across from the elevators. Just look for the neon sign. We have open lab hours. This semester open lab is Monday through Friday 2:00 to 7:00 PM and during this time anybody can come and use our equipment, use the space. It's supervised. There's somebody there to help you.

So we have sewing and embroidery. We have a soldering electronics workbench, we have hand tools. We have light power tools. We're not like a full workshop, not a full wood shop, but we do have some power tools as well. Things like irons and ironing boards and hot glue guns, and things you might need for a project that you wouldn't necessarily have access to if you live in a dorm here on campus. There's a combination of projects happening in the Makerspace. There are obviously class projects and then there're hobby projects. UF has a very active cosplay community and so we're happy to support them with 3D printing and sewing. And there are different conventions throughout the year, different events, different class assignments.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: So you mentioned 3D printing. What exactly is that?

Sarah Prentice: So 3D printing uses digital files to create physical objects. Our 3D printing service it's available to you as students, faculty, staff, and members of the community, and anybody can make 3 dimensional objects and PLA plastic. We exclusively print in PLA.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: OK, what is PLA?

Sarah Prentice: PLA is polylactic acid. It's a bioplastic made from sugar cane or cornstarch. We print in PLA because it's non-toxic. So the way the process works is that we have an online form and you need an

STL file. To 3D print first you need a model in STL format and there are several options for getting this STL file. You can download a ready-made STL file.

So two big websites with many free files are Thingiverse and Printables. And if you go on Thingiverse or Printables and you're looking through the different options, one thing that I encourage people to look at is the number of makes. So if you go on Thingiverse and you see a model that interests you, see how many people have made it and reported back, then it's a good file.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: Can you maybe spell out that site that you mentioned?

Sarah Prentice: Thingiverse. T-H-I-N-G-I-V-E-R-S-E

Anchalee Phataralaoha: Dot com?

Sarah Prentice: Yes. Dot com. And Printables which is P-R-I-N-T-A-B-L-E-S.

Sarah Prentice: You can download a ready-made STL file from Thingiverse or Printables. You can create your own STL file from scratch using software like Tinkercad, Onshape, Fusion 360, SOLIDWORKS®. There're many options. Another option is to customize an existing SCAD file in OpenSCAD and then download the STL from there. That's something I enjoy in particular. So SCAD it stands for Solid Computer Aided Design and you can edit the code to change the shape of the model. So that's kind of the middle way between downloading a ready-made STL file and creating your own STL file from scratch.

But you need an STL file however you choose to design it or obtain it. And then you go to our online form and you upload your STL file and you can at that point tell us what color you want, if you have any special instructions like scaling up or down or infill preferences and we’ll review your file. We slice it in our slicing software. We use PrusaSlicer currently, and the software will tell us how many grams of filament the print requires and it's 15 cents a gram. That's 0.15, fifteen cents a gram. Sometimes people hear 50 and are a little shocked. So it's 15 cents a gram and we have a three dollar minimum.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: What is the average cost for, you know, like?

Sarah Prentice: It really varies. We do get many small prints that just hit the $3 minimum.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: OK, so now people probably got very excited. Which lead to how can they request this service? Is there some steps they have to follow?

Sarah Prentice: So I talked a bit about STL files. Once you have your STL file, whether you choose to download one from the Internet or create one from scratch, you submit your STL file on the online form. The website is 3Dprint.uflib.ufl.edu. There’s an order form there. You'll just give us your contact info. You'll upload the STL file, tell us what color you want, include any special instructions for scaling or infill or supports. And we'll take a look at it, figure out how many grams of material it is. It's 15 cents a gram with a $3 minimum and then we will send you a price quote. And once you pay it, we print it and then you pick it up.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: Oh, So what is the turnaround time?

Sarah Prentice: So it really varies. We typically try to have things done within a few business days of payment.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: And they have to come pick it up. You do not ship, right?

Sarah Prentice: We don't ship, no. There are lots of online 3D printing services that people can use.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: I see. So it's probably best for the local folks here.

Sarah Prentice: For pickups I actually put them up at our 24/7 Service Desk at the Science Library. Science Library is currently 24/7, though it varies a little bit around breaks and holidays. But finished 3D prints I have a pickup drawer up at the Service Desk, so you don't have to pick up your 3D print during open lab hours. You can pick them up whenever the library is open.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: When it's open -- the Science Library. OK. So how can people reach out to you if they have any further questions? Sarah Prentice: So people can e-mail the 3D printing service at MSL3D@uflib.ufl.edu.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: Anything else you would like to add? Or maybe something that people should know or need to know?

Sarah Prentice: You know a lot of people are curious about 3D printing, or they're interested in 3D printing and they don't know where to start. They don't know how to select an STL file and I'm happy to help with something like that if, you know, I'm there during open lab Monday through Friday 2:00 to 7:00 PM and anybody is welcome to come in during that time and chat with me about 3D printing and we can find you something to print or work up something to print.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: OK, sounds good. So check it out 3D printing at Marston Science Library. And thank you very much for spending time with us today.

Sarah Prentice: Thank you.

Anchalee Phataralaoha: That's it everyone, and we will see you next time for a topic of interest in it.

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