3D Printing in Education - Part 4: The Business Case for 3D Print

In previous articles, we’ve discussed the benefits and costs of 3D printing. In this article, we provide guidance to help you write your business case. You might be asking why we are introducing this topic so early in the series. The reason is that it is important to start thinking about your business case as soon as you have decided that 3D printing is right for your school.
 

Writing a business case can be time-consuming, but it is an essential task if you are looking to secure funding. Certain details will relate specifically to your school or university, but there are also common elements. In this article, we give you hints and tips that help you write your business case quickly to get your 3D printing funding approved.

 

Real-life examples strengthen your business case. We include facts and case studies in this article that you can use to add gravitas to your proposal.

So, let’s look at the sections that your business case requires.

 

 

BUSINESS PROBLEM OR OPPORTUNITY

A question that any decision maker will ask is, “Why do we need 3D printing.” What problem does it solve, or what opportunity does it present at our school or university? The simple answer is that it improves student results, attracts new students, and also offers potential funding, such as government grants.

 

“77% of schools who have adopted 3D printing plan to expand their use of the technology.” - 3D Printing in Education 2016 Dimensional Research.

It is important to note that due to 3D printing’s success in education, many schools and universities have or intend to expand their use of the technology. 

 

1. Educational results: With 3D printing, students are more engaged, their motivation for learning increases, the quality of teaching improves, and results are boosted. 3D printing in schools also provides the space for ideas to develop and makes education more fun. When working on a 3D project, students work together, collaborating and problem-solving to improve their designs, skills that will help them in their future careers.
   
   
2. Student Registration: If you are an independent school or university, attracting new students plays a major part in your annual planning. Offering new and exciting ways to learn can have a strong influence on enticing new students through your doors.
   
   
3. Funding: Many educational authorities value offering new ways of learning and driving innovation in education. Innovation and strong student registrations both help secure funding for your school or university, so introducing new technology and demonstrating the impact of such initiatives puts you in a strong position for future funding.

“We saw an increase in both student registrations and funding after introducing 3D printing to the school. But by far the most rewarding benefit has been seeing the students becoming more engaged, having fun and succeeding where previously they may have struggled to grasp subjects.”
- Lukas Prochazka, Deputy Headmaster, Technical School Prosek

Using real-life examples of 3D printing supports your business case and offers insights that help you build your plan. Read how Technical School Prosek, based in the Czech Republic, adopted 3D printing. In addition to introducing modern technology into the education process, the school found many key benefits of 3D printing in the classroom, especially in strengthening students’ motivation to learn.

 

 

3D Printing Challenges

Anyone approving your business case will be interested in identifying challenges and stating how you will address them. The main challenges regarding 3D printing in education are accessibility, security, and health and safety.

Throughout this series, we offer guidance on how to address these challenges and get the most out of your 3D printing solution. Part two, “Do You Need a 3D Printer?” provides insights into finding the right 3D printing solution. In part five, “Creating the Right Physical Environment for 3D Printing,” we’ll cover tips for creating the right environment in more detail.

In short, your business plan can outline how to address these challenges by ensuring that your 3D printing system has integrated print management features.

 

1. Accessibility 

One of the main challenges when introducing 3D printing to a school or university is that the printer is locked up and not freely accessible. Many 3D printers are not secure, so the school or university cannot control who accesses them.

“We hear from schools that they buy 3D printers, but often lock them up so students and users cannot access them because there is no way to manage access and costs associated with their use. It defeats the purpose of the 3D printer in education which is meant to motivate student learning. In the end, the printer goes unused.” - Tim Greene, IDC Research Director.

This means that the students have to ask permission to use the device. The ideal environment is one where students have open access to a secure 3D printer in an area that doesn’t disturb ongoing classes but is accessible to all students, including those participating in a lesson. However, 3D printing costs need to be managed, so access needs to be both controlled and monitored.

2. Security of the 3D printer and object

3D printing requires more time than printing a page or two of written material. This can mean that the student must leave their project unattended. This risks the project being interrupted or, worse, stolen.

For these reasons, a closed unit with a print management solution that includes authorized ID login credentials for locking and unlocking the chamber doors is vital for securing the 3D printer and the 3D object during printing and once printing is done. Print management will also provide reports that serve as an audit on who is accessing the printers and when.

3. Health & Safety

Student safety is paramount. The printing material (known as the filament) can reach 215 degrees centigrade (419 Fahrenheit), meaning that open units risk severe injury should anyone touch the filament, working elements, or powerful stepper motors. An enclosed unit significantly reduces the risk of injury, which is vital in education.

 

3D PRINTING COSTS

It is vital to present the projected costs of your proposed initiative, not just the initial outlay but also ongoing management costs. When calculating 3D printing costs, several areas are to be considered: the cost of the unit, the cost of materials, print management software, and maintenance.

In part three of this series, we delve deeper into the costs associated with 3D printing and provide practical advice on estimating the cost to your school or university.

📖 Read on → Part 3: How Much Does 3D Printing Cost?

Important 3D printing considerations will impact costs. Firstly, choose an enclosed, secure printer that protects students from heat and moving parts and prevents projects from being stolen, even if enclosed printers are more costly than unenclosed versions.

Secondly, some solutions on the market allow you to lease rather than buy your solution, enabling you to spread the cost of both the 3D printer and print management software. A 3D print management solution helps you monitor and manage costs and optionally offers pay-for-print services, thereby optimizing your print budget and covering the costs altogether.

Lastly, filaments' costs can vary widely in terms of materials, ranging from $10 per spool to $160 per spool. The cost depends on material type, quality, weight, color, and diameter. For most schools and universities, budgeting $60 per spool is sufficient.

Usage will vary, but here is a guide: If your school or university uses a 3D printer for 5 hours a day over the course of a year, it could expect to use approximately 40 spools of filament. Assuming a cost of $60 per spool, the total annual cost of materials would be $2,400.

As mentioned previously, to reduce or offset your costs, consider a solution that has an integrated pay-for-print service that allows you to charge users for all or part of their 3D printing. The solution should also enable you to monitor your use and project future costs accordingly. Be aware that costs depend on the size of the project and, therefore, may vary.

It is also important to use filaments designed for the printer. The chemical composition (most importantly, the melting temperature) can vary by filament. There are variations within PLA filaments, for example, from different manufacturers. Be sure to use filaments that are certified for use on the 3D printer, and these costs may vary.

 

3D PRINTING AS A SOLUTION

Presenting 3D printing as a solution to those reviewing your business case is important as it demonstrates that you have considered more than just a stand-alone printer. It also enables you to evaluate your options and build the case for your preferred solution.

Several solutions purport to be education-compatible. However, be aware. As already covered in this article, there are security, health, and safety considerations to make. A closed unit with login credentials is essential, as is a print management solution that enables you to monitor usage and costs and offer pay-to-print services to recoup 3D printing costs.

How many 3D printers do you need?

A key consideration when looking at a 3D printing solution is the number of 3D printers your school or university requires. Having one 3D printer benefits your school or university, but if or when you have the budget to expand, here is a guide to calculate the number of 3D printers you need going forward.

Both students and staff should have sufficient access to 3D printers. It is likely that your school or university will experience “peak times” when even tripling your current fleet would be insufficient. Do not worry; it is normal to have times during the day when your suite of 3D printers is at max capacity or even standing idle. Usage is not constant. If you plan to expand your fleet of printers, plan on ten to fifteen 3D printers per five hundred students.
 
Now, let’s look at using 3D printing in the formal classroom. Splitting your students into small groups will also help you to optimize 3D printing in the classroom. Imagine a class of twenty-five students trying to work with just two 3D printers. Splitting the students into groups of five provides a collaborative learning environment and will reduce queue times.

However, we would recommend purchasing five 3D printers to create the optimum classroom experience for your students. If you also plan to support extracurricular activities, as little as one unit will be sufficient to support the initial setup of an after-school 3D printing club.

In part six, we provide guidance on the considerations you need to make to find a professional 3D print solution that meets your needs and budget.

📖 Read on → Part 6: Finding Your Ideal Solution

What Are the Project Timescales?

Providing a timescale for your project is important as it helps the reviewer understand when the funding will be required and when they can expect to see the return on their investment.

The timescale for your project will be specific to your school or university, but the stages will remain the same. These are budget approval, planning, implementation, training, and launch. The time it takes to secure budget approval differs between schools and universities; this is something that you should be able to estimate at least. In terms of the remaining stages, your chosen provider will be able to offer advice and help you plan accordingly.

However, as a guide, we would advise you to allow between four to six months to plan and implement your 3D printing solution. These are the stages we advise you to follow:

1. Funding & budget approval: Before you start planning, check out the funding options and conditions available to your school or university. Allow one to two weeks for this stage.
2. Research & planning: Work with your teachers and administrators to discuss their requirements, 3D printing duties, and the scope of the project. At this stage, you need to narrow down your search for suitable 3D printing solutions and the number of printers you are going to start with. Allow one month for this stage; this will give you the time you need to gather, collate, and finalize decisions.
3. Funds available: Funding availability varies per case, potentially taking months for larger projects or those relying on EU funding.
4. Implementation: This is where the process speeds up. After submitting your order, shipping takes 1-3 business days. Setting up a dozen printers can take up a whole day. Some companies provide their own technicians on-site, significantly reducing the hassle you’ll encounter along the way.
5. Staff training: Find your local ICT trainers or IT partners that provide training and choose the learning path that best suits your needs. Training typically ranges from one day for beginners to two weeks for a more intensive program focused on integrating 3D printing into the curriculum.
6. Launch campaign: The last step is to create the much-needed buzz around your new 3D printing facilities. Designing an internal communications program should take no more than a day. Reminder campaigns are advisable to keep 3D printing fresh in everyone’s minds.

In part 5, we will take you through our guidelines and tips for creating the right physical environment for 3D printing.