Jan Veselý
7 min read
SAFE ACCESS TO 3D PRINTers
Many of our customers tell us that they started with do-it-yourself 3D printer kits before purchasing YSoft BE3D eDee, which is designed specifically for education. These kits were typically assembled by the school’s computer or tech club members.
When looking to expand use to a larger group of students, the schools realized these types of printers could not satisfy the need for safety, ease of use/accessibility, and security. Let’s look at each of these concerns.
1. 3D PRINT SAFETY
Safety is an obvious and very important consideration. The printing area of DIY kits and most off-the-shelf 3D printers are exposed. Because 3D printing involves heating elements that can reach 220 degrees centigrade or higher and moving parts, the risk of injury is too high.
Choosing a 3D printer with an enclosed print chamber protects students from both heat and moving parts. Further, choosing a 3D printer with an automatic, lockable door means the printer cannot be opened while it is in operation.
2. EASE OF USE & ACCESSIBILITY
To take advantage of the benefits behind 3D printing, including engaged students and better understanding, 3D printers need to be easy to use and accessible, part of the daily learning experience. Locking them away and surrounding them with processes to manage and police their use will seriously hinder their value in the classroom.
Educators cannot constantly oversee students' use or be present during the entire printing process – which can take hours. With DIY kits, constant calibration is needed, requiring supervision during the printing in case things go awry. Once again, these concerns drive educators to YSoft BE3D eDee.
Any student that can use a computer – and most are doing this at very early ages, can easily learn the three steps to 3D printing with eDee: download an existing 3D model file or easily your own; open the file in DeeControl, our layering software; log into the printer to start printing. Once the printing starts, the student can go on to do other things. The student can receive periodic emails showing a snapshot of the printing’s progress and a final email to notify that the printing is done.
To log into the printer, a student swipes their school ID badge or, alternatively, enters a PIN. In this way, the school can control who has login rights and can monitor what is being printed. This means that the 3D printers can be out in the open in the classroom or a 3D printing lab so that students can easily access them outside of scheduled class time. Many schools encourage students to use 3D printing on personal projects as part of learning technical skills that will be valuable in their future careers.
3. 3D PRINT SECURITY
Making your 3D printers easily accessible to students through a secure login also addresses a school’s security concerns. No one should use the 3D printer who shouldn’t be, and those who need it can freely access it. The 3D model itself is secure because the door unlocks only for the print job owner.
The above concerns are good reasons to think about a 3D printing solution designed specifically for education. Safety, ease of use, and accessibility with built-in security are concerns in every school.
Key Factors in the Successful Adoption of 3D Printing
More and more schools, colleges, and universities are investing in 3D printing. However, encouraging everyone to use 3D printing as part of their daily learning experience is a change.
1. SIMPLICITY IS KEY
There is a natural fear of new technology, and you may find some of your students and faculty staff reluctant to engage with 3D printing, especially if they think they need extensive training to use it (they don't!)
Simplicity and support are key when introducing 3D printing. A simple solution, not just for your students and faculty but also for your IT administrator, is critical to success. An intuitive interface can easily guide users through the process of creating and printing their projects. Done correctly, a student or faculty member should be able to follow a 3D printer’s quick guide without ever cracking open the operating manual.
2. CHAMPION YOUR CHAMPIONS
There will be staff and students who are interested in new technology, such as 3D printing; these are your champions. They will help you drive interest and engagement by actively and enthusiastically talking about the technology with fellow students and colleagues, including supporting them when they have questions.
Remember to support your champion(s) by highlighting their efforts within your school and within the community. Many schools highlight 3D printing when they host events aimed at parents or others within the educational community.
3. BUILD A RESOURCE LIBRARY
You want to ensure that your school is fully supported from the moment you launch 3D printing. 3D printing resources are vital, especially for beginners, who will rely on 3D design templates before they learn to design their own models. So, before launching, make sure you have a library of resources prepared to support your users. Check out Thingiverse and Google Group K12 Fablabs as examples of the many resources available.
4. LAUNCH & Communication
One of the most common mistakes any organization makes when launching new technology is the lack of promotion and communication. When you officially launch 3D printing, use the popular communication channels in your school, college, or university to promote the technology and offer informative sessions. Emails, posters, TV screens, and tannoy announcements are all good mediums to raise awareness.
5. SHOW THEM HOW to CELEBRATE SUCCESS
It is vital to show all users how to use any new technology. Use your champions to help run workshops and provide ongoing " go-to” help for users. Divide users into small groups of 5 to 10 people per printer and run regular workshops to help them develop their 3D printing skills. Once you are up and running, sharing ideas, showcasing your best projects, and celebrating success is a great way to sustain user engagement and ensure longevity.
6. MANAGE & EXPAND
To help ensure successful adoption, monitoring and managing the use of your 3D printer(s) is important. Using a print management solution will enable you to monitor and identify peak and quiet times to identify where printers need to be located and how many are needed to reduce waiting time. By effectively managing and planning for the future, you can ensure that students and faculty are always able to access a 3D printer and have a positive experience.
Y SOFT BE3D EDEE: 3D PRINTING DESIGNED FOR EDUCATION
At Y Soft, we understand the importance of finding a solution that enables staff and students to engage with 3D printing with minimal training and support easily. We have worked and continue to work with educators to develop YSoft BE3D eDee, a complete 3D printing solution designed specifically for education. This solution helps schools, colleges, and universities get the most out of 3D printing.
3D Printing in Education: Justifying the Investment
Most schools agree that 3D printing encourages active student engagement, which helps them retain information and quickly grasp relatively complex topics. Teachers can think of new, creative ways to deliver their lessons and help their students excel. What about hard data to support this?
3D PRINT BENEFITS (BEYOND ANECDOTES)
There is evidence of the wider impact that 3D printing has on developing students’ altruistic and business acumen. Below, you'll find a list of example benefits. To get more details, head over to our case studies section.
- Improving student performance: Studies on how 3D printing is improving students’ vital skills, for example, those required to excel in STEM subjects, are starting to appear.
- Inspiring Future Careers: 3D printing can play a central role in a student’s career choice, particularly in STEM subjects. Through 3D printing, students experience the sense of achievement, interest, and fun that a career in science or engineering can offer, areas they may not have otherwise considered.
- Preparing students for the future: 3D printing is now being used in a wide range of industries, including medicine and food, so students need to be knowledgeable and comfortable with it. However, 3D printing has a greater role to play in helping the next generation become excited and at ease with new technology. Whatever career path students choose to follow, being technologically proficient will be essential.
- Encouraging altruism and business acumen: Teaching our children about values is a hot topic for many parents and educators. Some schools and universities have used 3D printing to help children experience the joy of helping others and develop potential business opportunities.
RELIEVING BUDGETARY PRESSURE
With restricted budgets, it is vital to consider all the costs involved in 3D printing and how these can be covered. There are obvious costs, such as the printer and materials, but it is also important to consider how these printers will be managed, supported, and maintained.
To find out more about the costs of 3D printing, check out our blog article about 3D printing costs. Both grants and pay-to-print services can relieve the pressure on your budget, so let’s take a closer look at these.
📖 Read on → 3D Printing in Education: How Much Does 3D Printing Cost?
GRANTS
Technology is highly valued in education. All countries, districts, or municipalities offer grants to encourage schools and universities to introduce technology into the classroom. 3D printing is proving a popular investment where grants are available. Speak to your local education authority to find out the simplest ways of funding a 3D printing initiative.
PAY-TO-PRINT SERVICES
Many schools charge students for printing on a pay-to-print service for paper printing, and this can be applied to 3D printing. This can be very important, especially if students are encouraged to use 3D printing for personal use.
Whether you charge or not, it is important to know which classes or departments are using the 3D printer and 3D printing materials so that they can be charged accordingly. If you need to recoup all or some of your 3D printing costs, look for a 3D printer provider that enables you to offer 3D printing on a chargeable basis.
Case studies
Case Study #1 University of Arkansas
In 2018, students from the University of Arkansas studied the effect of using 3D printing to improve spatial visualization of 6th graders. For this study, students had to visualize the rotation of an object. They were asked to complete questions with and without the aid of 3D-printed blocks.
The study demonstrated an improvement across all five schools that participated, ranging from a 7% to a 16% improvement when using the 3D-printed blocks. The research also provided evidence that students retained their new visualization skills and were able to complete the questions more successfully following the experiment without the need for the blocks.
Case Study #2: Columbia College
Winning the Information Science Technology Challenge convinced three students from Columbia College, New Zealand, to pursue their interest in engineering. The students won the challenge for their business plan, which involved producing low-cost prosthetic limbs using a 3D printer.
The panel of judges was so impressed with the students’ business plan that they recommended every hospital in New Zealand be equipped with a 3D printer. Production costs of making the prosthetic limbs were so low that patients could purchase them for just $10.
Case Study #3: PWC
Analyst Insight: According to PwC, by 2020, 77% of all jobs will require some degree of technical skills. There’s a growing need for workers trained in STEM skills, but there's a shortage of graduates who have them. So, an aptitude for adopting new technology and understanding how this can improve business performance will be essential for the next generation.
Case Study #4: Illinois High School
Illinois High School used its 3D printer to provide a nine-year-old with a prosthetic hand that would have cost her parents $50,000. The school spent just $105, including materials, for a pair of prosthetics.
Is your school considering a 3D print approach to teaching and learning? If so, let's talk! We're happy to give you a demonstration of the YSoft BE3D system and answer any questions you may have.
