3D printing

Ready to Bring Your Ideas to Life?

Whether you want to snag a cool gadget from our 3D Print Catalog or upload a custom .stl design of your own, we are ready to print it for you!

Start Your 3D Print Request

Have an idea you want to bring to life? The Louisville Public Library offers free 3D printing by request. Just submit a request through our online form and we will print it for you!

How it works

The library's 3D printer is not available for hands-on public use, but anyone can submit a print request free of charge. Here is what to do:

Choose your object: Select an item from our 3D Print Catalog (image below), or prepare your own custom design.
Submit the form: You will be able to select your catalog choice from a drop-down menu or upload your own file directly to the form.
Pick up your print: We will notify you when your item is ready for pickup!

What you can print

You have two options for submitting a request:

From our 3D Print Catalog: Browse our collection of ready-to-print objects below and select your favorite from the drop-down menu on the request form.
Your own design: Upload your own .stl file directly to the request form for review. If approved, we will print it for you.

Note: An .stl file is the standard file format used for 3D printing designs.

About our printer and materials

The library uses two 3D printers: a LulzBot SideKick 747 and a Lulzbot Mini 2 with PLA filament. PLA is a bioplastic made from corn. It is an eco-friendly material, but it has a low melting point, which means it is not ideal for objects that need to be strong or withstand heat.

If you need a stronger print, ask us about increasing the infill or thickening the walls of your design. Infill refers to how solid the inside of the printed object is.