The Maker Studio

Welcome

The Maker Studio

The Maker Studio is a Do It Yourself design space located in the Delaware Main Library. We provide the tools and knowledge to get you up and running on any of our equipment. Specialized equipment includes 3D printers, a vinyl cutter, laser cutter/engraver, sewing machines and more available for use by the public during open lab hours. Computers with design software are also available.

In 2022 the Maker Studio transitioned to a DIY space. Staff will continue to train you how to run all the equipment so you can make your design ideas a reality, and then you can work independently on future projects.

Just getting started? Drop in anytime the Maker Studio is open and take a look around or get individual help from our staff. We also offer classes every Wednesday that will help you get started on any of the specialized equipment or software programs in our Maker Studio. To search for upcoming Maker Studio classes on our events page, simply enter your date range and click “Maker Studio” under the location filter.

Note: Our new Liberty Branch Library will also have a second Maker Studio location! Watch this page for upcoming details on equipment and how to make reservations at the Maker Studio – Liberty.

Hours

Monday – Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wednesday: Closed for classes
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: Closed

Equipment - Delaware

Our lab is equipped with some of the best design software, computers, and hardware you can find on the market today. All are available for our patron’s use! Read on to learn more about the equipment available at our Delaware Maker Studio.

3D Printers

We have Prusa Mini and Prusa MK3S 3D printers. They can create 3D shapes out of plastic filament by printing thin layers of the filament over time in order to create the object.

Our 3D printers use an additive process where PLA filament is heated and extruded (like a hot glue gun) onto a flat bed. The filament is then added in very thin layers to build up a 3D shape. The models are created in either a program like Tinkercad, or downloaded from a site like thingiverse.com, and exported into an .STL file. This file is then placed into slicing software on a computer to convert the .STL file into G-code which tells the printer how to move.

Considerations:

Models that are large or that have a lot of detail take a long time to print.
Because the printer can’t print over open air, support material may be needed in order to ensure the printing can be completed. This material snaps off when the print is done. Some light sanding or filing may be necessary in order to remove all traces of the support material. It is also possible to design your model in multiple pieces and then glue them together.
Projects that take longer than 8 hours to print are unable to be printed.
Download our user’s manual

Laser Cutter

The Epilog Zing 24 is a laser cutter/engraver designed for ease of use and high quality results. It allows for cutting and engraving on a variety of materials.

A design is created using software such as Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, or Inkscape. From there it’s sent to the laser cutter. A CO2 powered laser burns the material in order to create the image.

Considerations:

Our laser cannot engrave metal on its own. It can, however, remove a painted or applied coating to the metal. Things like YETI tumblers or anodized aluminum work great.
Cardboard is a cheap and handy tool to test a design if you’re unsure how it will look before using a more expensive material like aluminum or acrylic.
If there is a material you are interested in using with the laser cutter, we may be able to order it for you. Please talk to a Maker Studio staff member to discuss your project ideas.
If creating your design in Inkscape, please export your design as an .EPS before submitting.
We provide some materials to use on the laser cutter, but you are welcome to supply your own materials. Talk to a Maker Studio staff member if you have questions about material options.
Download our user’s manual

Cricut Maker 3

Our Cricut Maker 3 is designed to cut detailed shapes in adhesive or heat transfer vinyl.

First you’ll create a design using the Design Space program. Or you can upload an SVG image into the software. It uses a very small blade to cut through only the vinyl along the cutting path. After it is removed from the cutting mat, the image then needs to be “weeded,” where all the unwanted vinyl is removed from the backing paper. Transfer tape is then applied over the weeded vinyl. The transfer tape holds onto the vinyl when the backing paper is peeled away, but then releases from the vinyl once the image is applied to the intended surface.

The Cricut is also equipped with a rotary blade to cut custom shapes from fabrics.

Considerations:

We have two sizes of cutting mat, 12″x12″ and 12″x24″. The maximum size of your design must fit within these size parameters.
The thinner the object the harder it is to keep it after weeding. Big, bold shapes and letters will cut and weed much more easily than thin letters.
Doing letters in negative space is possible, but it is harder to weed than leaving the letters as the intended object.
We provide a variety of color options in permanent (suitable for outdoor use), removable (suitable for indoor use), and heat transfer vinyl (pressed onto fabrics). However, you are welcome to bring your own vinyl to the Maker Studio if there is a specific color you are interested in using.

Wide-Format Cutter/Printer

Our Mimaki CJV150-75 Wide Format Printer/Cutter can print and cut on a variety of media types such as stickers, canvas, window cling, and heat transfer. The media often comes on rolls of at least 24″ wide allowing for large scale projects to be created easily. Images can also be given a custom cut shape for a unique finished project depending on the selected media type.

Considerations:

When you have a cut line on your design, ensure you select the Print -> Cut feature within the software or else your project will only print.
When importing an image into Illustrator to prepare a cut line, open the file in Illustrator rather than dragging it into the current project. This allows for custom cut lines to be created from the image provided.
Cut lines can be any shape, and you can create them either by drawing a square or circle around the design, or but creating a custom shaped path if you want a more interesting sticker shape.
Download a copy of our user manual

Embroidery Machine

The Baby Lock Meridian is an embroidery machine capable of creating designs up to 9.5″x14″. The machine has several patterns installed plus the ability to include text in 20 different font options. You can also download a pattern from the internet in the .pes file type and load it using a flash drive.

Considerations:

If providing your own thread, use a 40 weight embroidery thread.
We provide a white bobbin thread for all projects. If you would like to use a different color for your bobbin thread, you will need to supply it yourself.
Download our user’s manual

And more!

Our Maker Studio also offers a Button Maker, Heat Press, Laminator, a Comb Book Binder, and several Brother Sewing Machines. The button maker is equipped to make both 1.25″ buttons, either with a pin back or magnet backing. Our heat press has a 15″x15″ bed and can be used to apply heat transfer vinyl to fabric surfaces, such as tee-shirts and canvas bags. We stock letter, legal, and tabloid size plastic pouches for use with our laminator. The comb book binder can punch and bind books from 20-200 pages. Our popular Brother SC9500 sewing machines have 90 stitching options, alphanumeric stitches, and an optional wide table for larger projects. Contact our Maker Studio for complete details on all of our equipment!

Download manuals for these other machines here:

Equipment - Liberty Branch

3D Printers

We have Prusa Mini and Prusa MK3S 3D printers. They can create 3D shapes out of plastic filament by printing thin layers of the filament over time in order to create the object.

Considerations:

Models that are large or that have a lot of detail take a long time to print.
Because the printer can’t print over open air, support material may be needed in order to ensure the printing can be completed. This material snaps off when the print is done. Some light sanding or filing may be necessary in order to remove all traces of the support material. It is also possible to design your model in multiple pieces and then glue them together.
Projects that take longer than 8 hours to print are unable to be printed.
Download our user’s manual

Wide-Format UV Printer/Cutter

Our Mimaki UCJV300-75 Wide Format UV Printer/Cutter can print full color images and cut a variety of media types such as stickers, canvas, window cling, and heat transfer. This model is equipped with an ink set up allowing for the printing onto clear material as well as adding spot gloss to designs.

Note: If your design is only a single basic color and you need an adhesive or heat transfer version, consider the Vinyl Cutter as an option.

Considerations:

When you have a cut line on your design, ensure you select the Print -> Cut feature within the software or else your project will only print.
When importing an image into Illustrator to prepare a cut line, open the file in Illustrator rather than dragging it into the current project. This allows for custom cut lines to be created from the image provided.
Cut lines can be any shape, and you can create them either by drawing a square or circle around the design, or but creating a custom shaped path if you want a more interesting sticker shape.
Download a copy of our user manual

Sublimation Printer

The Sawgrass SG1000 is able to print onto 8.5×11″ up to 11×17″ sublimation paper. These designs are then transferred onto a sublimation ready material and the ink is fused into the material using a heat press.

Specific sublimation ready materials can be purchased online or in many craft stores, and any light colored fabric with at least 50% polyester is able to be sublimated.

And more!

Our Maker Studio also offers a Button Maker, Heat Press, Roll and Pouch Laminators, a Comb Book Binder, and Audio/Video and Photo conversion from analog to digital format. The button maker is equipped to make both 1.25″ buttons, either with a pin back or magnet backing. Our heat press has a 15″x15″ bed and can be used to apply heat transfer vinyl to fabric surfaces, such as tee-shirts and canvas bags. We stock letter, legal, and tabloid size plastic pouches as well as 25″ wide rolls for use with our laminator. The comb book binder can punch and bind books from 20-200 pages. Contact our Maker Studio for complete details on all of our equipment!

Download manuals for these other machines here:

Computers & Software

The Maker Studio offers three computers with professional creative software available for patrons to use. Maker Studio computers are available for patron use by reservation; please contact us at 740-362-3861 or makerstudio@delawarelibrary.org to reserve your space.

Available software programs:

Autodesk Fusion 360
Adobe Creative Cloud (including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere)
Prusa Slicer (for 3D models)
VinylMaster Cut
Affinity Design Suite (including Photo, Publisher, and Designer)

We also have one computer equipped with an XP-Pen Artist 15.6 Pro Pen display. This device acts as a monitor you can use a stylus on to draw by hand. Popular with artists, pen displays allow you to draw directly onto the computer as if you were drawing on paper.

Prices & Policies

These are our current policies and prices, but please be aware that they may change. Please ask for the most up-to-date copies at our Maker Studio.

Price List

The following list is the pricing for materials the library stocks. If you are bringing your own material (for example, a cutting board for the laser cutter), there is no charge for the use of the machine itself. Please note that when measuring materials to calculate the fee, measurements will be rounded up (for example, a 5.5″ square sticker will be rounded up to 6″ x 6″).

3D Printing

$0.05 per gram of filament used. (Please note that support structures count towards the total cost.) The slicing software can provide an estimated cost for your project prior to printing.

Vinyl Cutter

$0.25 for every 6″ x 6″ of vinyl used, regardless of color, rounded up to the next 6″. (For example, if your design is 4″ x 10″, you would be charged $0.50; an 8″ x 8″ design would cost $1.00.) Transfer paper is included in the cost.

Laser Cutter

$0.10 per square inch of flat stock (rounded up to the nearest inch on each side). The following specialty items are also available from the Maker Studio for use with the Laser Cutter: Alder wood photo frame – $9.50 each; Bamboo cutting board – $2.50 each; Bamboo coaster – $1.50 each; Blank greeting cards – $0.25 each (includes envelope). Specialty items are subject to quantity on hand and may not be available as inventory runs out.

Buttons

1.25″ button: $0.10 per pin back or $0.15 per magnet back | 3″ button: $0.20 per pin back

Laminator

$0.10 per 8.5″ x 11″ pouch / $0.15 per 8.5″ x 14″ pouch / $0.20 per 11″ x 17″ pouch

Wide Format Printer

$1 for every 6″ of length of the roll used (regardless of width) for paper, banner, heat transfer, window cling, and sticker. $2 for every 6″ of length (regardless of width) of canvas used.

Embroidery Machine

$0.10 per 1,000 stitches

Comb Book Binder

$0.50 per book

Policies

The Maker Studio is designed for maker and design-related activities. Visitors who are not using the equipment for these purposes may be asked to make their station available to others.

Library staff will provide training to patrons for all equipment. Once trained, a patron is able to run the equipment on their own. Only Maker Studio staff and staff-trained patrons may use equipment.
Please ask for help if you aren’t sure how to operate software or equipment.
There are hazards to using the equipment. Work and behave in a safe way. Protect yourself, others, and the equipment.
Do not create anything intended to injure or endanger others. Respect intellectual property and follow US copyright laws.
Food and drink are not to be used at equipment or computers.
The equipment is free to use, but library provided materials incur a cost (see above). Payment may be made with cash, credit, or check.
Patrons may supply material to be used in the Maker Studio, accepting that mistakes happen and material may be unintentionally damaged during use.
Take responsibility for the things you use. Put things away. Use tools the way they were intended. Clean up messes. If equipment is damaged, stop using it and immediately notify library staff
To provide equitable access to equipment, patrons are limited to two hours a day to complete their projects. This may be extended by library staff depending on demand.
The Maker Studio equipment and tools belong to the Delaware County District Library and will be operated with oversight and training by library staff or a designated library representative.
Any items created in the Maker Studio do not necessarily reflect the values or views of the Delaware County District Library.
This Studio is under video surveillance. Theft will not be tolerated.
Failure to abide by this agreement will result in suspension or loss of Maker Studio privileges.

The terms of this agreement may change. This version is the current version and is the agreement that stands. Users may request a copy from Maker Studio staff.

Schedule

Need to reserve equipment or find a class? You’re in the right place!

Click here to reserve equipment, or continue reading below for upcoming Maker Studio events. Please note that 3D printers are available only on a first come, first served basis.

Be Inspired!

Just getting started? We’re here to help you become a pro!

Take a look at some of the items our patrons and staff members have created in our Maker Studio. Do you see something you like? You can make all of these projects and more!

With your own creative vision and some help from our Maker Studio staff, there’s no limit to what you can create.

Take a moment to explore the classes that we offer. You’ll be creating your own custom items and gifts in no time!

Mission Statement

The Delaware County District Library serves as the public information provider for our community, using traditional and innovative technology to encourage curiosity, free inquiry, and lifelong learning in a friendly environment.