Teaching 3D printing skills to teenagers is essential in any 21st century STEM curriculum. With the ever expanding journey that the 3D printing industry is on, our current high school students will undoubtedly experience 3D printing in their future lives. The importance of learning the key concepts in 3D printing is on equal importance with the ability to learn how to code in computer classes. This month we are pleased to announce that we have published our Advanced 3D printing lessons to compliment our Beginners and Intermediate lesson packs. The Advanced lessons build upon the skills learnt in the Intermediate pack and can be used an a direct follow on or as a mix and match with the Intermediate pack.

Advanced Theory Knowledge

The Advanced lessons use the same software as the Intermediate lessons, Fusion 360 (free for education use) making the learning seamless for the students. There is the essential ‘Advanced CAD modelling skills‘ lesson that prepares students for the ‘Advanced Design challenge‘ lesson where they have to apply the new skills that they have learnt to a series of design challenges.

As well as new skills learnt, the lesson pack includes stand alone lessons on 3D printing and sustainability, 3D printing and manufacturing and also the end of module assessment that will test students on the topics that they have learnt. As part of the lessons, your classes will learn the environmental impacts of 3D printing on our society and also how to think about sustainability in the design process e.g. hints are included on how to actually design models with sustainability in mind. Key terminology such as ‘Carbon Footprint’ and ‘Product Miles’ are integrated into the lessons enabling students to learn new concepts and how they are applied to 3D printing.

CNC v 3D Printing?

Further to this, is the lesson on how 3D printers are being used in manufacturing and how they compare to other more established machining methods such as CNC milling. Students will also learn how supply chains work and how by using 3D printing to manufacture designs, you reduce the need for a global supply chain and can work with a more localised suppliers. As with all the lessons, homework tasks compliment each lesson and enable students to broaden their knowledge on 3D printing. An example of this is the concept of 3D printing businesses operating closed and open source business models.

3D printing Case studies

As part of the lesson on 3D printing and manufacturing your classes will learn how major companies are introducing customisation into their products. Case studies such as Carbon 3D and Adidas are analysed in depth with the benefits and drawbacks of mass customisation business models being introduced into mainstream consumer purchasing. As well case studies the learning encourages students to investigate and research as part of the homework activities. One example is the 3D printing of houses from concrete and environmental impact of this and also the environmental considerations of disposing of PLA in landfill, whilst bio plastic might seem like the sustainable answer on paper, what is the reality? All of this is covered as part of the lessons and home work tasks.

Advanced CAD skills

The core of the advanced curriculum is the Design skills lesson and the Advanced Design Challenge lesson. These lessons will enable students to bring together all the knowledge that they have learnt from the intermediate lessons and also apply new advanced skills e.g how to add features to curved surfaces and also how to pattern features around set geometry. Combine this with the ability to create technical engineering drawings in lesson 12 of the intermediate lesson pack and you have a complete lesson journey for students.

Bio plastics V recycled plastics?

Your classes will learn the main differences between bio plastics and recycled plastics and which one is better for the environment. There are lots of benefits to 3D printing with PLA and plant based materials, but how do these compare against plastic that is recycled? All of these questions are covered in the Advanced lesson pack. The Advanced lesson pack has been mapped against International education standards. In the table look at lessons 14 – 18 to see what standards they meet.

As an introductory offer and to help you prepare your curriculum for the new financial year, we are offering a 10% discount on the whole curriculum until the end of April. Use the discount code ‘save10’ at the checkout.