Why does the library tech center always feel 5 years behind

I went to the downtown library last weekend to use their 3D printer and the software was so old it wouldn't even load my file. The guy at the desk said they haven't updated the firmware since 2021 and the printer keeps jamming. After 45 minutes of waiting he just handed me a flash drive with a slicer from 2019 and said try this. Has anyone else run into public tech that's just completely ignored? How do you even use gear that's that outdated?

3 comments

3 Comments

jessica70728d ago

@the_piper nailed it, old hardware can't handle new software.

the_piper28d ago

Wait, are you sure the slicer was from 2019? Honestly, most library tech centers I've been to are running stuff from like 2016 or earlier. I went to one last year and their 3D printer still had a firmware from 2018, and the computer it was hooked up to was running Windows 7. Ngl, it's a crapshoot whether the software will even recognize a modern file format. Tbh, they probably ditched upgrading because the hardware itself is so old it can't run anything newer without crashing.

adams.uma28d ago

Gotta add to that - I've seen libraries using printers that are literally held together with zip ties and hope. One place I went to had a Prusa that was so beat up the build plate was held down with tape. They had to manually calibrate it every single print because the sensor was busted. And the sad part is nobody there even knew how to fix it, they just kept using it as is. It's like these places get donated old gear from schools or businesses and just run it into the ground instead of buying new stuff.