3D Printing in Libraries

I couldn't make a really interesting event in the city last Friday night, but Teresa and Jon were able to attend.  Jon has provided us with some information about the event:

Last Friday night at Adelaide City's Grote St Library a great evening event was held, showcasing the Council's new Innovation Lab, which includes 2 state-of-the-art 3D printers.

The launch (officially opened by Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood) was attended by over sixty people including councillors, the general public, media, Adelaide City Council staff members, library staff from the Network and PLS’ Teresa Brook and Jon Bentick.

The Lab includes laptops loaded with digital design software that communicate with the state-of-the-art MakerBot Replicator 3D printer and the UP Plus 3D printer. The MakerBot and the UP Plus can be fed rolls of plastic and can turn designs into actual three dimensional objects.

The pictures below show children & adults examining the intricate plastic shapes that can be produced by the Lab’s 3D printers.

Based on the already successful program at Fayetteville FreeLibrary in New York, the new Innovation Lab provides a safe and accessible space where everyone in the community can interact, understand, develop and create through technology.

We'll have more info about the launch in the next issue of Connect

To take a look at the Innovation Lab, head to the Grote Street Library at 18 Grote Street or visit their website.

3D printers are shaping up to have a big impact on industry and manufacturing, as can be seen in THIS article in The Age newspaper today.