Unit 2: What is 3D Printing and What Machines are Out There?
Target Objectives:
Upon completion of this unit, participants will:
- Define 3D printing.
- Examine some 3D printers that are available in the market.
What is 3D Printing and What Machines are Out There?
3D printing is a very simple concept, you take a model you design (or download), upload it to a 3D printer, and watch as the printer extrudes melted plastic called filament into layers to build the desired object. No matter which machine you use, this concept stays true throughout the industry, and is call additive manufacturing because you are adding material instead of cutting material away. 3D printers have a range of upfront costs as well as additional costs throughout the life of your machine. So something to consider when thinking about getting a 3D printer for your classroom is, do you want to spend more money an amazing printer that shouldn't break and prints with amazing accuracy, or spend less on the printer knowing that the prints won't be perfect, and you might run into some mechanical issues with parts wearing out faster, or do you choose something in between? There is also the cost of the filament, but at $20 a spool, it isn't a cost that should prohibit anyone from trying this new technology. As far as the actual printers go, they can be anywhere from $200-$6,000 dollars, so your choices are immense, but here is a list of a three printers to take a look at to see if one of these can fit your classroom idea,
Special note: I interviewed multiple technology teachers about what printers they would want in their classroom both with and without budgets in mind, and this is the consensus list we came up with:
Dremel Digilab 3D40
https://digilab.dremel.com/products/3d40-FLEX
This printer is one of the more top of the line printers coming in at just under $1,700, but based on reviews, it has everything an educator would be looking for. It is easy to set up, it’s reliable, it’s fast at printing, and best of all, their customer service is excellent. Also, with this package, teachers also receive 30 lesson plans, support, and filament (the printing material) which is an excellent way to kickstart your experience.
Stratsys
https://www.stratasys.com/3d-printers
If your school has a huge budget and 3D printing is at the top of their wants, this printer is the printer to go with. It’s almost the size of a refrigerator, but it is the best on the market for producing legitimate prototypes quickly. There are companies out there that use this printer to do exactly that, develop prototypes prior to mass manufacturing. Most schools won’t even bother looking into something like this, but if you get the opportunity and want the best, this is the best (according to multiple teachers that I interviewed for this section).
FlashForge
https://www.flashforge.com/
In our classroom, we have 3 of these printers (the consumer level, not the professional grade), and they are fine. There’s no bells or whistles, but the prints come out pretty good and pretty quickly (relatively speaking). It is also straightforward to take a model you created (or downloaded) and upload it to the printer, so novice teachers don’t need to be intimidated with the new technology. The big issue we run into with this one is that it doesn’t print fast enough (even with 3) for every student to create something and have it printed. Even a small print can take 2 hours or more, and when you’re talking about 125 students per teacher trying to print to them, there’s just not enough time to get all of them done.
Summary of these ideas:
- Create/Download a model and upload it to your printer
- 3D printing is extruded melted plastic that is layered to create shapes
- There are a ton of options to choose from depending on your budget
- Less expensive machines have parts that will wear out more quickly than more expensive machines
Activities:
Activity #1:
Look into the three printers I listed above (or research other ones) and create a pros and cons list for each one and how it would fit into your classroom/curriculum.
Activity #2:
If cost is an issue, would it be better to team up with another class to afford multiple printers? In a group or individuals, what class (or classes) could you partner up with and would you want multiple decent printers or one really good printer? Could you do some cross-curriculum planning and sharing the equipment?
Reflection Activity:
Do you have a better idea of costs involved with something like this? Could you see having multiple printers in your room? What about sharing one with another teacher or department?
Back: Unit 1: Project Based Learning
Next: Unit 3: How Do I Find 3D Models to Print?
Home: Getting Started with 3D Printing in Your Classroom
ETAP 623 Spring 2021 (Byrne) |
Rock's Portfolio Page
NOTE: You will find citations for this course on the Getting Started with 3D Printing in Your Classroom References and Resources page.