SVVSD Innovation Center pilots 3D printing lab – Longmont Times-Call

Erie Middle School sixth graders recently received a special delivery of the small 3D figures they designed in their Technology Exploration class.

A new 3D printing lab at the district’s Innovation Center, dubbed the Disco Lab, printed their projects as a pilot as the lab ramps up to accept more class projects. The Disco Lab was the idea of Danny Ford, an Innovation Center paraprofessional who now is managing the lab.

A storage room houses the 17 printers, a mix of more basic models and those that can print more complex designs or print in two filament colors. Another four 3D printers are located around the center.

Ford found a cloud-based system that allows students to submit their projects online from either a computer or iPad, then sends them to the printers — eliminating the need to submit projects in person on a USB device. Ford delivers the completed projects to schools using in-district mail.

“It makes 3D printing really accessible,” he said. “Even if middle schools have a 3D printer, it can require too much maintenance and knowing how to use it.”

Along with opening the online application for projects to middle schools, he said, Innovation Center students and the district’s robotics teams are using the printers, which typically are printing 10 to 15 pieces a day.

After testing the lab with more middle school classes next semester, Ford said, he hopes to open it up to any student in the district, for only a small processing fee to cover materials and processing. Next school year, the Innovation Center also plans to add a 3D design class that will use the lab.

Eric Berngen, Innovation Center coordinator of programs and workforce development, said there may also be an opportunity to print class materials, such as a skeletal models for science students.

“The sky is the limit with this project,” he said. “It’s very exciting work.”

At Erie Middle, technology and drama teacher Patricio Illanes said his sixth grade Technology Exploration class includes lessons in using Computer Aided Design software called Tinkercad.

“I want to teach them how you get something you create digitally into real life,” he said.

But while his school has a 3D printer, he said, it’s difficult to get an entire class worth of projects printed — and there’s no time for reprints if something goes wrong.

“It can take 45 minutes to two hours to print one tiny thing,” he said. “This district lab is a really awesome solution.”

Student designs included a polar bear, a ring, a tree, a bracelet and a pumpkin.

Andrew Fonseca dreamed up an egg with legs and sunglasses. He said the program was challenging, especially figuring out angles.

“Maneuvering it was hard,” he said. “It took time to get the egg on the legs.”

Still, he said, “I love it. It’s fun.”

Next steps for the Disco Lab include setting up time lapse cameras so students off-site can watch their projects being printed. Another plan is to establish a student project team, allowing high school students to work with a mentor to learn how to manage and process requests as a paid job.