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3D Printing

3D printing is a type of additive manufacturing. Material is laid down layer by layer to form a 3-dimensional object. Desktop 3D printers like the ones at the Library use a nozzle called an extruder to melt plastic and lay it down onto a print platform (like a super precise, computer-controlled hot glue gun!).

Belleville Public Library & John M. Parrott Art Gallery have two MakerBot Replicator+ 3D Printers. We would like to thank the Friends of the Belleville Public Library for their generous donation to the Library for the purchase of makerspace equipment including a 3D printer in 2022.

The type of filament material our printer uses is polylactic acid (PLA). PLA is a bioplastic derived from corn (note: although considered biodegradable in industrial conditions, PLA should not go in your compost bin). We cannot customize filament colour, but PLA can be lightly sanded and painted with acrylic paints.

Not sure what to print? Try searching the thousands of object files – everything from custom cookie cutters to smart phone stands to replacement parts – on websites like Thingiverse and Printables. If you’d like to design your own original object, we recommend trying the free Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software like Tinkercad or Blender.

How to prepare your file for our printer

Note: MakerBot CloudPrint slicing software is shutting down October 1, 2025. See step #2 below for details on how to use the new slicing software, UltiMaker Digital Factory.

Ready to Print?

Design or download a 3D model.
Use UltiMaker Digital Factory slicing software to prepare your file for our printer. See our UltiMaker Digital Factory instructions.
Complete the form below and upload your .MAKERBOT file.
Library staff will print your object and contact you when it’s ready for pickup.

The cost to print is $0.10 per gram of PLA filament + HST. UltiMaker Digital Factory slicing software provides an estimate of the filament required for your object.

Print projects must be no larger than 29.5 x 19.5 x 16.5cm (length x width x height) in size or 4 hours in print time. If you are printing a larger object, consider breaking the project into smaller components and print the project over multiple sessions.

Library staff will print your object and contact you to arrange payment and pick up. Most jobs will be ready within 1 week. You will need a valid library card from either Belleville Public Library or Quinte West Public Library.

If you have any questions about 3D Printing at the library, please email infoserv@bellevillelibrary.ca.

Limit of two 3D print jobs at one time per customer.

Submit your File

3D Printing

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Upload File (must be a .MAKERBOT file)*

Accepted file types: makerbot, Max. file size: 16 MB.

Belleville Public Library’s 3D printer may not be used to create material that is: prohibited by law; unsafe, harmful, or dangerous; or, in violation of any intellectual property rights, including materials that are subject to copyright, patent or trademark protection.*

I Agree

In submitting digital files for printing, I agree to assume all responsibility for, and shall hold Belleville Public Library harmless in, all matters related to the use of the object printed.*

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Belleville Public Library is not responsible for the functionality or quality of content produced on the 3D printer.*

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