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Exploratory Digital Media Makerspace

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Contact

Please email questions to library@niagaracollege.ca.

Student Projects

See what students have created using the Exploratory:

3D Printer Projects

3D printed dragon egg lamp

Reserve the DJP Exploratory

This Exploratory is located in the Daniel J. Patterson Campus Library + Learning Commons.  Please note there are two separate rooms within the Exploratory: one side for editing/3D Printing/Makerspace/audio recording and one side for video recording (with a green screen); each side is booked separately.

Hours of operation are 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday.

Reserve the Daniel J. Patterson Campus Exploratory

For faculty/staff use of the Exploratory please contact Matt Bohun (DJP). 

Equipment in the Exploratory

Photograph of filming room

Filming/photography room with green screen, lighting, teleprompter, sound dampening, tripods, lightboard, and projector

with and without green screen wall

Green Screen

lightboard with try me written on it

Lightboard (courtesy of Business Division)

Photograph of podcasting booth

Podcasting booth with RODEcaster Pro Podcast Studio mixing board, 4 mics, headphones, sound dampening

photograph of Ultimaker printer

Ultimaker S5 3D printer

Photo Light Box

Button Maker and supplies

Button Maker

Various imagination building supplies

Various Imagination Building Supplies

iMac desktop computer

iMac

Dell XPS workstations

Dell XPS 27 Workstations (3)

Snowball Microphone

Snowball Microphone

headset microphones

Headset Microphone (2 pairs)

sound cancelling headphones

Sound Cancelling Headphones

OCULUS Go

OCULUS Go VR Headset

boom microphone

Boom Microphone

wireless microphone

Wireless Microphone

Cricut EasyPress 2

Cricut Maker

Canon EOS 7D SLR camera

Canon EOS 7D SLR Camera

Canon XA30 camcorder

Canon XA30 Camcorder

photograph of Protocycler filament recycler

Protocycler 3D printer filament recycler

Software + Help Guides

**Note: equipment is for use in the Exploratory ONLY.  Please provide your own USB stick or other device to save your files if you do not plan to upload them to the web.**

Licensed software on workstations include:

Recommended open source software alternatives:

Video:
Audio:
Photo:
Coding:
3D Modelling:
Animation:
Desktop publishing/graphic design:

Learn more about Creative Commons images, music, etc. to use with the green screen from our Copyright for Students guide. 

3D Printing and Scanning

Niagara College students, staff, and faculty have access to a 3D printer and scanner at the NOTL Campus Library’s Exploratory.

3D Printing Process:

  1. Choose or create a 3D model using free online software or the software available on the computers in The Exploratory. You may also use the Structure Sensor Pro 3D scanner to create a model you can manipulate (learn more about 3D scanning).  The final file must be in .stl format and the maximum building size is 30 cm tall x 33 cm wide x 24 cm deep.
  2. Read the guidelines listed in the next tab of this box.
  3. Submit your job using the link in the final tab of this box.
  4. Wait for the magic to happen. 

The filament used to create objects is Polylactic Acid (PLA) which is a biodegradable polymer derived from renewable resources. The material has a smooth appearance but it actually porous. This means that it should never be used to make articles that come into contact with food, for example.

Most requests will be printed by ncLibraries but keep in mind because this is an academic setting some items will not be printed.

Learn more about the basics of 3D printing and scanning from the tutorials available on ALL3DP.com!

Problems with your print?  Check out these troubleshooting guides:

Please review the following guidelines:

  1. This service is for non-commercial, academic, or personal use only. For these reasons ncLibraries Exploratory will NOT print large quantities of the same item.
  2. Please keep in mind that printing 3D items involves many aspects of intellectual property such as copyright, industrial design, patent, and trademark law. It is up to you to determine if you are infringing copyright or violating another’s intellectual property rights. Please be aware of this before submitting print requests. See the next tab in this box for a list of sites that offer free and/or open source 3D models and modeling software.
  3. ncLibraries Exploratory will not print anything that resembles a weapon, or parts of a weapon.
  4. ncLibraries will not print any material that violates Niagara College Conduct Practices.

ncLibraries Exploratory reserves the right to:

  1. Refuse any 3D print request.
  2. Use staff discretion to organize the print queue for overall efficient output.
  3. Photograph all 3D objects printed. Images may be used for monitoring, marketing, and/or reporting outcomes.
  4. Gather feedback from users.
  5. Implement additional requirements not listed here.

There is currently no fee for 3D printing services, however, this is subject to change in the future.

ncLibraries Exploratory does not have storage space to keep your item indefinitely. You will receive an email once your item is complete; this email will provide you with a deadline in which to pick-up your item (usually about 1 week). If your object has not been picked up by the deadline, it will be recycled.

Only authorized ncLibraries Exploratory staff will have hands-on access to the 3D printer, but you can watch items being printed!

Exploratory 3D Printer Software:

Find and print pre-designed models:

Edit/design your own 3D print:

SUBMIT YOUR JOB 

NOTE: The file must be in .stl format and the maximum building size is 330 x 240 x 300 mm.

Want to take your great idea further?  

ncTakeoff can help!  Working in partnership with ncResearch & Innovation, ncTakeoff is Niagara College's entrepreneurial hub, contact them today.

 

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