Officeworks 3D printing, and where else to get something printed in Melbourne

Free: City of Melbourne library makerspaces

City of Melbourne Libraries runs makerspaces with 3D printers at three libraries: Library at The Dock in Docklands, narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services in the CBD's north, and Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre in Carlton. The libraries' own FAQ says:

• Filament is free to use.
• Keep prints under 4 hours at Library at The Dock and narrm ngarrgu, or under 7 hours at Kathleen Syme.
• Everyone completes a safety induction before using the equipment.

You run the print yourself, so you need a ready file. Other Melbourne councils have makerspaces too; check your own library's website.

Community makerspaces

Member-run workshops such as Melbourne Makerspace give members access to shared tools, often including 3D printers, plus people who have printed before and can help. They suit someone who wants to learn and print regularly rather than order one part.

Print services: local and online

A service takes your file, prints it and either posts it or has it ready to collect. Most quote from the file: material weight plus machine time, with a minimum charge. Several publish their rates; our cost guide lists them with the date we read them.

What to check before you order:

• Materials on offer, and whether they will recommend one for your use.
• Minimum charge per job.
• Turnaround and delivery or pickup.
• File types accepted: STL, 3MF, STEP. See what file to send.

Officeworks

Officeworks sells 3D printers and filament in store and online. In 2015 it trialled a "3D Experience Centre" with printing and scanning at its Russell Street store in Melbourne. On 3 October 2026 we found no 3D printing service listed on its print and copy pages, so ring your store before going in for one.

Officeworks 3D printing: what you can buy

Officeworks is still a place to start if you want to print at home. It sells 3D printers and filament in store and online, so you can see a printer before buying and pick up a spool on the same trip. When you compare printers, look at the build size, whether it has an enclosure (needed for ABS and ASA), how it levels the bed, whether it can print several colours, and how easy spare parts are to buy. Filament comes in many materials and colours; start with PLA. If you want a part printed for you rather than a printer of your own, use a library makerspace or a print service instead.

Do it yourself or have it printed

You want	Best option
One small part, and you have a file	A library makerspace, or a print service
A part printed for you, posted	An online or local print service
To learn 3D printing	A community makerspace, then your own printer
Regular prints for a hobby or business	Your own printer
Engineering materials, resin or metal	A specialist print service

Getting a file ready

Every option needs a print file. You can design simple parts yourself in free beginner-friendly software, download designs from model repositories (check the licence), or pay a designer to model a part from measurements and photos. If you have a physical object to copy, a 3D scanning service can capture it. Our guide to STL and 3MF files explains what to send.

How long it takes

At a library makerspace, you book a session and print within its time limits, so a small part can be done the same day once you have done the induction. A local service can often turn a simple print around in a few days; online services add postage time. Large, multi-part or finished prints take longer, so ask about turnaround when you get a quote.

Specialist printing

Some jobs need more than a desktop printer: very fine detail in resin, strong nylon parts made by powder-bed printing, large-format prints, or metal. Specialist services in Melbourne and online offer these processes, at higher prices than standard plastic printing. Describe what the part must do, and ask the service which process suits it.

At a makerspace: what to expect

Expect to complete an induction, follow the space's rules on materials and time limits, and stay with your print or check on it as the space requires. Bring your file in the format the space asks for, and allow time for a failed first attempt. Staff and other members are usually happy to help with settings if you ask.

Before you print anything

Check that the part is legal and safe to print. Do not print copies of other people's paid or licensed designs to sell, branded products, or anything regulated such as weapons or weapon parts. A makerspace or service can refuse a print it is not comfortable with. For parts that touch food, carry weight overhead, or go in a car seat or child's toy, ask a professional whether a printed part is suitable at all.

Outside the City of Melbourne

Many other councils across greater Melbourne run library makerspaces or digital hubs with 3D printers, and some TAFE and university campuses have makerspaces for students. The rules, costs and inductions vary from place to place, so check your own council library's website or ask at the desk before you bring a file in.

Costs at a glance

Library makerspaces can be free, with filament included within time limits. Community makerspaces charge a membership fee and sometimes a materials fee. Print services charge per job, usually with a minimum, based on material and machine time. Our cost guide lists published Australian rates and works through an example.

Getting help with a design

If you have an idea but no file, ask at a makerspace: many run beginner sessions on design software, and members often help newcomers. For a part that must fit exactly, a designer or a print service with design help can model it from your measurements and photos, then print it.

Common questions