Several schools are interested in 3D printers and incorporating 3D design into the curriculum.

Tinkercad (free, online, no download needed) is an appropriate design software to consider until students are ready for more sophisticated software.

The 3D printer that is often supplied to schools (via Brilliant Labs Funding) is the Ender 3. A perfect addition to a school makerspace.

Ender 3

A general guide to 3-D printing - Several of the typical print errors are identified along with possible solutions.

(thanks to Wylie Butler for this document)

Ender 3 - leveling the bed, getting prints to stick, maintaining the printer - check out this blog for useful tips

Tinkercad Table Top Tips - (quick reference sheet)

If you need more help or want to tinker more, then look through the getting started guide below for Tinkercad.

Step 2:

Save or export your file when completed the 3 D design in Tinkercad.

Step 3:

Now we open Cura software and follow the procedure in the document below.

Step 4:

Before we print, it is time to level the printing bed on the Ender 3 and to load filament (if not already loaded). Please see the video below (start at the 3:15 mark).

Some examples of project descriptions for 3D printer

Example 1

We want to add a 3D Printer to the space so that students can make ANYTHING! Their rich imaginations are currently limited only by their materials. Having a 3D printer means that a child, who envisions a harness for the sphero, can design one in Tinker CAD and then print their design. At our school there is a lot of making going on with duct tape, Styrofoam, wood, and recycled materials but this piece of equipment would really bring our inventing to the next level!

All grades will be introduced to Tinker CAD in the coming weeks, in preparation for being able to 3D print. We will begin in the school's coding club and then use those students as peer teachers to introduce other students to the software.

The printer will also be on a rolling cart so that it can travel around the school as needed. Initially, we will be setting it up in the learning commons and using it during code club and after school with teachers and interested students so they can become familiar and begin to imagine its possibilities.

Our public library is located next to the learning commons, within the same building. We plan to initially make the software available to the public on the Chromebooks and then have the public librarian notify patrons of what day the 3D printer will be available to the public.

Example 2

It is our plan to encourage our students to create, explore, collaborate, problem solve, extend ideas and to innovate new and exciting ways to learn, and to discover as students work through the curriculum. For the purpose of this application, we will focus heavily on our plans using the 3D printer with grades 4, 5 and 6 students with a secondary goal of having our older students work with primary children as they become more familiar with using a 3D printer.

By the end of the year, we want to see all children knowing how a 3D printer is able to assist with problem solving as they work collaboratively to come up with solutions to problems that they would not normally think about. We would like for students to think about ways of making daily living easier as they work through science and math outcomes through inventions and adaptations to things they are already exposed to.

We want all students to really THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX when it comes to recognizing that they can actually come up with a solution to something they consider to be an issue through working with others, through planning and inquiry and trial and error as they adapt what thy create.

All of these skills will help our students think differently about problem solving and this will help them realize that they truly can become innovators when given the opportunity.

We would also want to involve the community with new 3D printer projects that our students will be involved in. . We want parents, family and other community members to see the work, to witness the progress and to watch students excitement grow as they carry out the work. Hopefully through this process of showcasing and highlighting what our students are doing, this can become a true school community initiative.

Here are some of the ways that we see using a 3D printer can help our students develop necessary skills as they move forward:

Grade 4- Say “What?”

In focusing on the Science Curriculum, (Sound specifically) we are looking at various ways we can further develop the concept of hearing devices and/or ways that a person can hear vibrations/ frequencies of sound. Students have a personal connection to this concept as there are several classmates/friends within the school who have hearing loss and wear various forms of hearing devices. Understanding the ultra fine aspects to hearing/sound and by “thinking outside the box”- it is our goal to promote students