Central IDEA Lab

We are excited to offer 3D Print by Request service! Send us your 3D designs and get them printed for pick up at the Central Library. At this time, we are unable to acommodate in person printing. Questions? Email lab staff at: weblibrary@sandiego.gov or call us at 619-236-5800.

3D Print by Request Procedures

• Complete 3D Print Request form (all fields are required to process your request).

• Send request form and .STL file to weblibrary@sandiego.gov.
  File name should read: Your First_Last Name_Date Submitted_Model Name.stl
  Example: Jane_Doe_1.2.20_thebestmodelever.stl

Policy

• Files will be printed in the order in which they are received.

• 3D print model must be in .STL format.

• Turnaround time for print requests will be at least one week, you will be notified when print is ready for pickup.

• Prints must be picked up at the holds pick up desk (Station #1) at the Central Library.

• 3-hour print time limit per week.

• Multi-Part Prints: Please submit separate requests for each part of your project.

• The library staff reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.

• Staff cannot guarantee model quality or stability, color, nor confidentiality of designs.
  Note: Staff do not remove rafts and supports

DIY with the Silhouette CAMEO which is an electronic cutting tool for personal use. The Silhouette CAMEO is amazingly versatile. It can create intricate projects of all sizes from small (1/4" wide) to large (12" wide) and has an unlimited cutting length. It can cut paper, cardstock, vinyl, fabric, and other materials. 

Machines Available

• Silhouette Cameo 3

• Silhouette Cameo 4

Using the Silhouette Cameos

• The lab provides access to a laptop, cutting mats, and weeding tools, depending on availability.
• Please bring your own project materials, such as paper, cardstock, or vinyl, and a laptop with the design software (Silhouette Studio) pre-installed.
• Silhouette Studio can import a variety of image file types including the following: STUDIO/STUDIO3 files, GSD/GST files, DXF files, JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and TIF files.
• Materials can be up to 12" wide. Length is limited to 12" for paper and can be longer for certain materials.

Instructional Guides & Resources

• Guide to the Silhouette Cameo
• Heat Transfer Vinyl suggestions for temperature and time to heat press:
  • See Cricut Easy Press 2 Heat Guide for pressing heat temperatures and times.  
  • See heat transfer vinyl settings for transfer temp/time chart here.

Silhouette Cameo Uses:

• Silhouette Cameos can cut and draw on different types of materials. 
• Card making or scrapbooking.
• Make custom vinyl decals.
• Make stencils for glass etching or screen printing.
• Cut fabric for custom textile projects.
• And more!

• Please bring your own project materials, such as fabrics, bobbins, special needles and threads.
• Depending upon availability, some threads, a bobbin, and a basic sewing machine needle will be provided. Additionally, irons, ironing boards, cutting mats, and fabric scissors may also be available.

Sewing & Embroidery Machines

• Brother LB6800PRW | Project Runway™ Limited Edition Combination Machine
• Brother SE400 | Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine with 4" x 4" Embroidery Area
• Brother LB5000 | Computerized Sewing & Embroidery Machine

• Brother HC1850 | 130-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine with Built-in Sewing Font & Wide Table
• Brother CS6000i | 60-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine with Wide Table

Serger

• Brother Homelock 1034D | 3/4 Thread Serger with Differential Feed

• Sewing Basics
• Guide to Embroidery
• Serger Basics

DIY with Carvey, a fully enclosed computer-controlled router, that can make quick work of a range of materials, including woods and plastics

Using the Carvey Milling Machine

• The lab currently has a Carvey CNC Milling Machine by Inventables.
• It is recommended that you bring your own bit if you have a specialized project. Please bring your own project materials.
• Limited bits will be provided; the lab has the following bits to use upon availability:
  • 1/16” Fishtail
  • 1/8” Straight 2F
  • 1/8” Ball 2F
  • 1/8” Upcut 1F
  • 1/8” Fishtail 2F
  • Carbide Tipped 2Flute Straight
  • Carbide V Bit, 90 deg, ¼ shank, 1/8 bit
  • Solid Carbide 1F Engraving Bit, ¼ in, 60 deg
  • Some PCB milling bits 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 deg
  • Collets to hold the bits: 3/16”, 1/4”, 1/8” 
• Only the following materials are approved: Carvey Approved Materials  
• To use the Carvey, users must have files imported into Easel to communicate with the machine. 
• The Easel app accepts the file types: SVG, DXF and gcode format.

Instructional Guides & Resources

• Carving with Easel instructions
• A Beginner's Guide to the Carvey

Things you can make/cut with the Carvey:

• PCB Circuit boards
• Wooden toys/signs/etc.
• Stamps
• Aluminum 
• ABS Plastic
• Machine Wax
• And More!

• The lab does not provide materials. Please bring in your own project materials.
• ONLY PROOFGRADE MATERIALS are approved and can be used with the Glowforge. 
• You will have access to the Glowforge app in the lab in order to upload your designs to the machine and edit the laser print settings. 
• The Glowforge app is compatible with JPG, PNG, SVG, PDF, and other file formats. You can design with any software that saves as a PDF, including dozens of graphic design software choices like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, CorelDraw, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Autodesk 360, and Sketchup.  

Instructional Guides & Resources

• Guide to the Glowforge 3D Laser Printer
• Introduction Video to Glowforge App Settings with Proofgrade Materials
• Tutorial: Using Inkscape to Design for Glowforge, Part 1 and Part 2

DIY with Dye sublimation, or dye sub, which is a digital printing process that uses heat and pressure to put ink into a product instead of on it. It utilizes a special dye and a molecular bonding process to apply and permanently adhere HD images, graphics and photos to polymers and polyesters at a sub-surface level. 

Using the Dye Sublimation Machines

• The lab has a Sawgrass SG500 dye sublimation printer and a HIX SwingMan heat press machine. There is also a  WALAPress 11x15 and Combo Mug Press for curved items like mugs and tumblers.
• Accepted file types for designs include .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .heic, .heif, .tiff, .pdf, .eps, and .ps. with a minimum resolution of 300 DPI.
• The lab will provide up to 5 sheets of transfer paper, upon availability. The lab's preferred sublimation paper is TexPrint-DTR Heavy.
• Please bring your own project materials. For fabric materials: Polyester and polyester blend fabrics yield best results as dye sub ink is designed to bond to these materials. Designs will show up best on a white surface. The item should be flat so the heat press can apply pressure and heat uniformly on the item. For mugs, tumblers, and other items: Designs will show up best on items poly-coated for sublimation.

Instructional Guides & Resources

• Guide to Dye Sublimation

Dye sublimate on such items as:

• Shirts
• Tote bags
• Aprons
• Pillowcases
• Potholders
• Mugs and tumblers
• Hats
• And More!