3D Printers
3D printers let you print 3D objects — toys, jewelry, phone cases, home appliances and much more. Use ready-to-print designs from websites (e.g. Thingiverse) or create your own.
All of the library's Digital Innovation Hubs offer 3D printers and a variety of design software.
Locations with 3D printers
How to book a 3D printer
- Reserve by calling the branch. Also available on a first-come, first-served basis during library open hours.
- Reservations can be made up to three days in advance at North York Central and Toronto Reference and up to seven days in advance at all other locations.
- A maximum of two hours is allowed for most print jobs. This time includes file preparation.
- A dedicated printer is available for longer prints at all locations. Customers can make one booking every three business days for these printers. Reservations are held for 15 minutes.
- A Toronto Public Library card is required
Printing costs
A fee of $0.15 per one gram of filament (printing material) is charged for each print job. An average print job is about ten grams and costs $1.50.
Minimum charge of $0.15 per print job.
Using a 3D printer
- Please arrive on time for your booking.
- You will need to prepare your print job at the Digital Innovation Hub with the guidance of staff. You can bring your print file as an .OBJ, .STL, .3MF, or .STEP file on a USB or direct staff to the file. Staff need to approve and start the print job.
- You are responsible for your own 3D print. In most cases, after the first few layers are printed, you may leave and return later. As most 3D printing issues happen right at the start of the print, by staying to watch those crucial first few layers, you can help spot issues early.
- Staff will try to contact you if there are any issues with your print when you are not present. If your print fails, staff can help you troubleshoot your design and ensure the equipment is working properly.
- 3D printers at Digital Innovation Hubs support single-material printing only. Multi-material or multi-colour prints are not available.
Rules for 3D printing
- Printing weapons, weapon parts or weapon modifications are not permitted. This includes full-scale or replica weapons, such as cosplay props, accessories, and toys designed to appear and/or function as weapons. Small-scale models, miniatures, and figurines that depict weapons as part of a character are permitted at staff discretion.
- Printing sexually-explicit materials or other items that contravene the library's Rules of Conduct is not allowed.
- You will not infringe any person's intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademarks and patents, or any other rights, including privacy and publicity rights, when using the 3D printer and other equipment and software at Digital Innovation Hubs.
Programs & Classes
All programs and classes are free, but registration is required.
3D printing
Classes include our popular "Introduction to 3D Printing", which involves hands-on instruction with PrusaSlicer, the software used to prepare your 3D object file for printing on a 3D printer.
3D design
Learn to design 3D objects using software such as Autodesk Fusion 360, ZBrushCoreMini and TinkerCAD.