One
of our favorite parts of summer is having students come to the 3DThinkLinkCreativity Lab. We invite outstanding graduates of our introductory 3D
ThinkLink classes to attend advanced training sessions in the lab at our
headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia.
NeLazjay
Brown and Kelvin Stoddard from Washington, DC’s Capital Guardian YouthChalleNGe Academy and Henry Spiegelblatt from the PHILLIPS School in Annandale,
Virginia, spent two days in the lab last week exploring 3D printing methods and
materials that go far beyond what they experienced in their schools.
On Wednesday, Director of Instruction Tom Meeks introduced the students to the new M3D printer and the many types of filament it can use. The Cube machines they had in their classrooms print only with hard PLA or ABS plastic, but the M3D can handle flexible filament that feels like soft rubber and comes in many eye-catching translucent colors.
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| Henry Spiegelblatt, NeLazJay Brown and Kelvin Stoddard test materials |
Tom
also showed the kids Chameleon filament, which changes color when the
temperature rises or falls. They did experiments with hot and cold water to
record temperature points that produced color changes for various types of thermochromic
filaments.
Because
our 3D ThinkLink project is as much about thinking as it is about 3D printing,
the students spent the rest of the day coming up with ideas for things they
could make with the new materials they’d learned about – then designing and
printing their creations.
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| Kelvin Stoddard removes powder from a model car printed on the Z450 |
We
also demonstrated our Z450 printer, a full-color inkjet and powder bed machine,
to teach the kids about a 3D printing method that’s quite different from the
FDM (fused-deposition modeling) they used at school. Instead of extruding
layers of melted plastic filament like the Cube or M3D, the Z450 builds layers
of ink and liquid binder on super-fine gypsum powder.
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| IMade3D CEO Ladi Goc explains the JellyBox 3D printer to the lab class |
Thursday’s
lab session was devoted to the JellyBox, a unique 3D printer kit from IMade3D. It’s
designed to be assembled, operated and taken apart over and over again so
students can understand how 3D printers work. Besides being a great teaching
tool, the JellyBox produces beautiful, high-quality prints in a variety of
materials.
IMade3D
CEO Ladi Goc and outreach director Bruce Troutman spent the day with the kids
in the lab, but didn’t give them any written instructions. Instead, the students
examined a fully assembled JellyBox, asked questions and figured out what to do
through trial and error. This helped strengthen their problem-solving skills, a
key element of 3D ThinkLink training.
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| Our lab students assemble JellyBox 3D printers |
NeLazjay,
who has strong mechanical abilities, especially enjoyed the hands-on learning activity.
In about three hours, the kids finished building their JellyBox and started
doing test prints. Ladi and Bruce said they’d never seen a group complete the
project so quickly.
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| Tom and the students at YouthQuest's VIP Reception |
The
big payoff came on Thursday night, when the students attended our annual VIP
Reception to meet some of our leading supporters and show off their 3D printing
skills. Our guests at the event hosted by Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine
Bar in Tysons Corner were fascinated to see the JellyBox and M3D printers in
action and impressed by what the kids had accomplished.
Last
week’s experience was a confidence-builder for Henry, Kelvin and NeLazjay. We
hope it inspires them to go further with 3D printing and to build on the
thinking skills they’re developing.
We also want to thank technology
teacher Jim Field from the PHILLIPS School and CGYCA staffers Tonya Lewis and
Ricardo Abbott for being with us during the lab sessions. They seemed to enjoy
the activities as much as the kids!
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| Henry Spiegelblatt, NeLazJay Brown and Kelvin Stoddard receive certificates from YouthQuest President Lynda Mann and Director of Instruction Tom Meeks |
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