Libraries Learning Commons: Exploratory Digital Media Makerspace: DJP Campus

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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

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

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

Green Screen

Lightboard (courtesy of Business Division)

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

Ultimaker S5 3D printer

Cubicon 210F Printer

Photo Light Box

Button Maker

Various Imagination Building Supplies

Makey Makey Kit

iMac

Dell XPS 27 Workstations (3)

Snowball Microphone

Headset Microphone (2 pairs)

Sound Cancelling Headphones

OCULUS Go VR Headset

Boom Microphone

Wireless Microphone

Cricut EasyPress 2

Cricut Maker

Canon EOS 7D SLR Camera

Canon XA30 Camcorder

photograph of Protocycler filament recycler

Protocycler 3D printer filament recycler

Structure Sensor Pro Scanner

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:

Adobe Creative Cloud (includes Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, After Effects, Audition, and more!)
Autodesk 3DS Max
Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Powerpoint, Access, Excel, Visio, and more!)

Recommended open source software alternatives:

Video:

HitFilm Express
OpenShot Video Editor
Shotcut
DaVinci Resolve 16
Screenpresso (screen capture and recording)
Powtoon (video tutorial creation)

Audio:

Audacity

Photo:

Coding:

Code Academy

3D Modelling:

SketchUp

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.

Help guides for Exploratory FAQs:

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:

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.
Read the guidelines listed in the next tab of this box.
Submit your job using the link in the final tab of this box.
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:

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.
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.
ncLibraries Exploratory will not print anything that resembles a weapon, or parts of a weapon.
ncLibraries will not print any material that violates Niagara College Conduct Practices.

ncLibraries Exploratory reserves the right to:

Refuse any 3D print request.
Use staff discretion to organize the print queue for overall efficient output.
Photograph all 3D objects printed. Images may be used for monitoring, marketing, and/or reporting outcomes.
Gather feedback from users.
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:

Cubicon: Cubicreator Software
Software for use with the Cubicreator printer. Free download.
Ultimaker: Cura Software
Software to for use with the Ultimaker printer. Free download.

Find and print pre-designed models:

Cults
Cults is a marketplace that connects designers and people who want to make some real objects with 3D printing, CNC machining and laser cutting technologies.
Cults is dedicated to all owners of 3D printers, CNC machines and laser cutters who wish to make premium and original creations.
Because everyone doesn't have an artistic soul or the ability to use CAO 3D software, Cults highlights the work of these designers who will make 3D printing accessible to all.
My Mini Factory
It all started in early 2013 in a small office in Brick Lane, London. At the time, the MyMiniFactory team was designing, testing prints, 3D printing, publishing and promoting every single STL file on the platform.
8 years later, MyMiniFactory continues to help creators, makers, painters, illustrators and writers share extraordinary creative content.
Pinshape
At Pinshape, our mission is to make 3D printing simple and fun! We strive to provide our users an easy-to-use platform that lets them explore, share and download high-quality 3D printable designs. We aim to build an engaging community of innovative makers and designers of all experience levels, who ultimately helps shape the future of 3D printing.
Thangs
Search over 5,912,120 models to find the perfect 3D model for your project. Upload your own model and do a geometric search to find similar models.
Thingiverse
MakerBot's Thingiverse is a thriving design community for discovering, making, and sharing 3D printable things. As the world's largest 3D printing community, we believe that everyone should be encouraged to create and remix 3D things, no matter their technical expertise or previous experience. In the spirit of maintaining an open platform, all designs are encouraged to be licensed under a Creative Commons license, meaning that anyone can use or alter any design.
YouMagine
YouMagine is an online community of 3D printing enthusiasts who wish to work together to share, remix and make better 3D printed things. YouMagine facilitates this community, empowers and gives you the tools you need in order to improve, invent & make.

Edit/design your own 3D print:

3D Slash
A unique interface: as fun as a building game!
The perfect tool for non-designers and children to create in 3D
A unique interface: « slash » a cube, using a set of tools
As fun and compelling as a building game!
VR View!
Project pictures or text on your model, and engrave them!
Blender
Blender’s comprehensive array of modeling tools make creating, transforming, sculpting and editing your models a breeze.
FreeCad
FreeCAD is made primarily to design objects for the real world. Everything you do in FreeCAD uses real-world units, be it microns, kilometers, inches or feet, or even any combination of units. FreeCAD offers tools to produce, export and edit solid, full-precision models, export them for 3D printing or CNC machining, create 2D drawings and views of your models, perform analyses such as Finite Element Analyses, or export model data such as quantities or bills of materials.
Fusion 360
Free CAD + CAM software for individuals who are doing hobby, non-commercial design, and manufacturing projects.
Sketch Up for Web
With SketchUp for Web, the canvas for your next idea is just a browser tab away. Our web-based modeler is a streamlined version of our desktop app that uses the same core technology. And, by saving projects to Trimble Connect, you’re always working on the most up-to-date version of a model; you can even look-up version history. SketchUp for Web also auto-saves, so in-progress modeling is recovered on those occasions you push your browser a bit too far.
more...less...
Paid versions also available.
Tinkercad
Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use web app that equips the next generation of designers and engineers with the foundational skills for innovation: 3D design, electronics, and coding! Great for beginners!

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.