Main Library Workshop
Come and visit the workshop! Try using the different equipment, participate in communal projects and learn new things! The workshop is on the first floor of the main library.
Open house at the workshop
We regularly have open house events at the workshop, with people presenting the equipment and instructing users. Visitors of all ages are welcome.
Using the equipment is free during open house events. If you want to print your own image on fabric, for example, bring a monochrome T-shirt (100% cotton) and an image in digital form. The library also has some monochrome T-shirts and fabric bags for sale.
Dates:
- Tue 23.9. 14.00–18.00
- Thu 16.10. 10.00–16.00
- Sat 29.11. 11.00–14.00
What can you do in the workshop?
Try the equipment and learn new things:
- Print your image on a T-shirt, bag or other fabric with a heat press. Before printing, the chosen image is printed with a vinyl printer.
- Make stickers with a vinyl cutter.
- Make pins with a button maker.
- Print with our 3D printer.
- Convert old VHS cassettes, slides, cassette tapes or LPs to digital format at the digitization point.
- Do sewing work with our sewing machine and overlock.
- Use our paper shredder.
- Use our laminating machine.
The workshop also enables you to create community projects. Various groups, such as school classes, associations, hobby clubs, housing companies and voluntary clubs are welcome to use the library for learning.
How much does it cost?
The use of equipment is generally free. Some devices involve low material costs. The devices are intended for use by individuals and groups, not commercial operators.
- Material fee for 3D printer:
- €1.20/monochrome print
- €1.70/two-colour print
- Lamination:
- A4 €0.30/sheet
- A3 €0.60/sheet
- Pinback button: €0.60/button
- Vinyl cutter:
- Vinyl material: €2/10 cm long piece of 48 cm wide vinyl roll
- Sticker material: €2/10 cm long piece of 48 cm wide sticker roll
- Poster material: €10/1 m long piece of 48 cm wide poster roll
Guided tours and bookings
The staff can help you get started with using the equipment. However, the staff will not complete your projects, and you get to practise using the equipment yourself.
Guided tours can be booked Mon–Thu 10.00–18.00, Fri 10.00–16.00 and Sat 10.00–14.00. No guided tours during the last hour of opening.
Book an appointment by emailing kirjastonpaja@porvoo.fi. The time it takes to use the different equipment varies, time estimates are indicated in device-specific presentations.
Self-service in the workshop
You can also use the workshop equipment independently, and written instructions are provided for the equipment.
NOTE! If you want to use the 3D printer or vinyl cutter, or want to digitize materials, you need to book a slot in advance. Contact the workshop by email kirjastonpaja@porvoo.fi.
The patron is responsible for the use of the equipment. The equipment is turned off when the library closes.
3D Printer
Before you start printing anything:
- Check that there is enough material. The larger the printing job, the more material is needed.
- Check that you have sufficient time for a 3D printout. The equipment is turned off when the library closes.
Vinyl printer/cutter
Before you start printing anything:
- Check that the material is suitable for your purpose.
- Check that you have enough time reserved for the computer.
Digitization
Before you start digitizing:
- Check that you have sufficient time for digitization. The time it takes to digitize material is the same as the duration of the material being digitized. If you digitize an hour-long VHS cassette, it will take an hour to digitize it.
Copyright and restrictions on the use of the workshop
The patron is responsible for ensuring that the visits and activities in the workshop are in accordance with the law and good practice and do not violate any rights of a third party. Devices may not be used to publish or distribute material protected by copyright or other similar rights without the permission of the rightsholder, or in a manner that is otherwise harmful, offensive or illegal.
The use of equipment for commercial purposes is prohibited. 3D printing of weapons is prohibited.
Learn more about the workshop equipment
3D Printer
- 3D Printer Model: Ultimaker 3s
- Supported file formats: STL, OBJ, X3D or 3MF
- Build volume: Width and length 215 x 215 mm, height 200 mm
- Nozzle: 0.4 mm – 200–20 micron
- Materials: Biodegradable PLA plastic
- Heated build plate
- Software: Ultimaker Cura 5.0
The staff can support you with the basic use of the 3D printer. Unfortunately, we cannot help with creating 3D models or fixing errors related to the models.
Free models are available for download online, such as at:
If you want to create your own model, almost any CAD or 3D modelling program is compatible. Free modelling programs include:
Minimum booking length: 30 min
Maximum booking length: 8 hours
The build must be completed during the library’s opening hours. The patron does not have to be present throughout the build, but the ready product must be picked up the next working day.
The time it takes to build depends on the 3D model. We recommend booking at least 2 hours.
Digitization point
You can digitize and edit analogue material, such as old VHS tapes, cassette tapes and slides. You can also edit digital images, audio and moving image with editing software at the digitization workstation.
- VHS Recorder: Grundig VIVANCE GV 3100 VPS/1
- CD-DVD, RW burning station
- Film and photo scanner: Epson Perfection V370 Photo
- Cassette player: Teac AD-RW900-B
- Recorder: Stanton T.62 Direct drive, 2 playback speeds (33 or 45 RPM)
You can also connect your own video camera (8 mm tape) to the digitizer. You can also connect other devices to the digitizer.
At the digitization station, you can digitize:
- Videos: VHS tape or VHS-C tape can be digitized on a flash drive, external hard drive or DVD. We also have a VHS-C adapter. You can also digitize directly from your camcorder if you have your own RCA wire and camera.
- Pictures: Photos, negatives, positives and slides can be scanned to a flash drive, external hard drive, or burned to a CD-R.
- Recordings: C cassettes and LPs can be digitized on a computer for a flash drive, external hard drive, or burned to a CD-R.
NOTE! Beta tapes (Betamax) cannot be digitized in the library.
You can bring your own storage platform with you, such as a flash drive, CD or DVD, or an external storage platform. You can buy compatible CDs, DVDs and flash drives from the customer service desk of the main library.
When digitizing for the first time, it is a good idea to book an introduction on how to use the equipment. The staff will help you get started with digitization but will not digitize and editing material on your behalf.
To book the digitization equipment, you need a valid library card and to be at least 15 years of age.
Minimum booking length: 1 hour
Maximum booking length: 4 hours
Digitization equipment can be used during library opening hours. We recommend booking sufficient time for the material. For example, digitizing a VHS cassette takes as long as the duration of the cassette. In addition, we recommend reserving time to transfer the material to the storage platform.
Laminating machine
- Model: GBC Fusion Plus 6000L A3 Laminating Machine
The laminating machine can be used to laminate ordinary A4 and A3 paper sheets.
Using the laminating machine is fast and no booking is required.
Heat press
- Model: STAHLS’ MAXX Clam Heat Press
- Pressing base: Width and length 40 x 50 cm
The heat press is used to transfer an image printed with a vinyl printer to the desired fabric using a thermal-transfer film.
No booking is required to use the heat press.
Sewing machine
- Model: Husqvarna Emerald 118
The sewing machine is easy to use and has all the features needed for basic sewing.
The library has white and black sewing thread, pins, a stitch ripper, fabric scissors and other necessary equipment. Coloured threads must be supplied by the patron.
No booking is required to use the sewing machine.
Paper cutter
- Model: Fellowes Electron A3 Paper Trimmer
- Dimensions: 485 x 220 mm, cutting length 460 mm.
- Cutting types: straight, wave, perforated and scoring
- Cut up to 10 sheets (80 gsm) at once
- Cutting line is marked with a LED light
With a paper cutter, you can cut straight edges into paper easily and quickly. The cutter is suitable for cutting sheets of A3 size and smaller.
Thanks to SafeCut™, the blade is only exposed when used.
No booking is required to use the paper cutter.
Paper shredder
- Paper shredder model: HAMA Basic S6
- Dimensions of the shredding gap: Width and length 28.5 x 32.2 cm
- Cut up to 6 sheets (80 gsm) at once
The library’s paper shredder can be used to destroy documents safely.
No booking is required to use the paper shredder.
Pinback button machine
- Pinback button machine model: Pin Pops
- Pinback button size: For the button, you need a picture with a diameter of 54 mm. The finished button is 45 mm in size.
You can easily make pinback buttons with our machine. The image on the button is printed in the right size on ordinary, thin paper. There is a cutter next to the button machine, so you can cut the images to the right size.
Using the pinback button machine is fast and no booking is required.
Overlock
- Model: Baby Lock Victory
Easy to use 4-thread overlock with air threading.
We have white, black and light brown seam yarn available at the library.
No booking is required to use the overlock machine.
Vinyl printer/cutter
- Vinyl printer/cutter model: Roland BN-20
- Supported file formats: JPEG, TIFF, EPS, AI, PNG, VSG
- Build volume: Width about 480 mm
Materials
- Vinyl – STAHLS’ CAD-COLOR® Sportsfilm/Expressprint 50 cm x 25 m
- Heat transfer vinyl – STAHLS’ Tight glue transfer tape 0.5 x 50 m
- Sticker – 3M™ Scotchcal™ Marking Film 50-10 White (50 m/rll)
- Sticker – Solvoprint Easy Dot 100my Matt White 1.372x50m
- Poster – WhiteBack paper roll 140 g/m2
The vinyl printer can be used to print multi-colour prints for a variety of applications such as clothing, stickers, signage and interior decoration. At the end of the printout, the printer cuts either along the contours or into a square.
Please provide an image in digital format.
If you want to print the printed image on fabric, you will also use a heat transfer vinyl. The fabric you want to print the image on should be clean and iron-proof. You can also print at home using a heat transfer film and an ironing board.
Minimum booking length: 1 hour
Maximum booking length: 4 hours