300 W. Merrill St. Birmingham, MI 48009 | (248) 647-1700

Idea Lab

 

 

 3D Printing Now Available

Submit your 3D models, we will print them out, and you can pick them up using our Curbside Pickup service, or by retrieving them from our Grab-and-Go area. For more information, see our 3D Printing section below.

Contact Us

Email: idealab@baldwinlib.org

Phone: (248) 554-4659

Location - View Map

300 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009

Library Hours

Monday–Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Closures

Sunday, March 31

 

Hours of Operation

Regular Operating Hours:

Monday, 9:30am to 9pm

Tuesday, 9:30am to 9pm

Wednesday, 9:30am to 9pm

Thursday, 9:30am to 5pm

Friday, 9:30am to 5pm

Saturday, 10am to 5pm

Sunday, 12pm to 5pm

Hours subject to change. Please call prior to your visit.

 

3D Printing

The Idea Lab provides 3D printing services to you! If you have something you would like 3D printed, simply provide us with your 3D model files, and some information about what you’re printing. Your print will be added to the queue, and we will contact you to come and pick it up when it is done!

If you are unable to submit your request through this form please contact the Idea Lab for assistance.

There is currently no charge for 3D printing. The Idea Lab will supply up to 200g of any filament we have available, per user, per month. Patrons submitting print requests (or series of requests within 1 month) requiring more than 200 grams of filament will be asked to provide their own filament. The Idea Lab will provide guidance to assist patrons in purchasing filament.

Per our User Agreement BPL reserves the right to halt, delete or disallow the creation of items that violate Library policy, including the creation of weapons and illegal items; and to manage the 3D print queue to best accommodate demand from the Lab’s many users.    

 

Format Conversion

The Idea Lab can help convert your old media into new digital files. Including:

  • Video Cassettes (VHS, S-VHS, VHS-C, 8mm/Hi8/Digital8, DV and MiniDV)
  • Audio Cassettes
  • Microcassette
  • Vinyl Records, LPs, etc. (33/45/78)
  • 1/4″ Reel-to-reel audio tape
  • Film Slides (35mm, 110, 126, 127, and odd sizes)
  • Film Negatives
  • 8mm, Super 8mm and 16mm motion picture film
  • And more!

We are also able to extract data from older digital formats including 3.5″ and 5.25″ floppy disks, Zip disks, Jaz disks, etc., and convert their contents to formats compatible with modern computers.

You can bring your materials to The Idea Lab during our hours of operation. Be sure that they are in a bag or box, clearly labeled with your name and contact information. The lab must be open and staffed in order to drop off materials. Requests are limited to 10 items at a time. We may be unable to accept new requests if our request queue is full.

Please contact us via phone or email if you have questions about format conversion.

 Materials List

3D PRINTER FILAMENTS

We most commonly print using PLA, but we can print using just about any commercially available filament. Including:

  • PLA – Polylactic acid
  • PETG – Polyethylene terepthalate, glycol-modified 
  • TPU (Flexible) – Thermoplastic polyurethane
  • ABS – Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (We don’t like to print ABS if we can avoid it. We recommend PETG instead.)
  • ASA – Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate
  • PEEK – PolyEtherEtherKetone
  • HIPS – High impact polystyrene
  • NYLON – FDM Polyamides
  • WOOD COMPOSITE
  • METAL COMPOSITE
  • and more!

For more information on 3D Printer filament types:  Click here for a helpful article comparing all currently marketed filament varieties.

     

    Parking

    Free Two-Hour Parking in Chester Street Deck

    Metered street parking around Library

    Free Parking on Sundays

    248-647-1700

    300 W. Merrill St.
    Birmingham, MI 48009

    Library Hours:

    Monday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

    Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

    Sunday: 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

    Upcoming Closures:

    March 31: Closed

    Baldwin Library Idea Lab

     

    Explore. Tinker. And learn! The Idea Lab is our newest space where big ideas come to life and where people of all ages and tech levels are welcome. Drop in or sign up for a skill- or project-based class or make an appointment today to learn how to use our 3D printer or laser engraver. We also have a variety of tools available, including an embroidery machine, soldering equipment, design software, and more.

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