We live in an ever-changing world that’s constantly and rapidly evolving; there could be jobs that have yet to exist right now which may become highly demanded in the near-future.  That means new skill sets, new roles and jobs in the employment scene.

It is undeniable that there is more and more involvement of 3D printing technologies in New Zealand and around the world. This indicates that it is more than just a passing trend and an opportunity that we must give to our children. After all, they are our future engineers, scientists, designers, problem-solvers and leaders.

3D printers have taken off all around New Zealand, with a strong presence across the different education levels: from primary schools like Remarkables Primary School down in Queenstown, to Pakuranga College in Auckland, to Victoria University of Wellington in our capital city. Many more are keen to incorporate 3D printing and CAD designing into the curriculum but often find that there is a lack of educational resources to support the technology.

If you weren’t aware already, the way 3D printers and additive manufacturing works is to heat up ABS or PLA plastic filaments to a pliable state. During this process, Ultra Fine Particles (UFP) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are emitted. While there is generally a low exposure to these emissions, it does not change the fact it still exists nor does it mean we should let down our guard.

Precautionary actions must be taken to ensure users are protected. To further reduce exposure to the UFP and VOC, always look for 3D printers with active carbon filtration systems and that are fully enclosed.

Your students and your teachers’ safety is our top priority, that’s why when it comes to providing New Zealand schools (whether it’s K-12 or universities) with the best and safest 3D printers, UP Mini 2 and UP BOX+ are the top choices.

All UP Mini 2 and UP BOX+ 3D printers are fitted with a smart HEPA active carbon filtration system that can be easily replaced. The filtration system is constantly active for the duration of printing and it draws in the UFP emission within the enclosure. Of course, it goes without saying the fully enclosed chamber will keep both the emission and the heat within; heat retention is generally ideal as it keeps the printing environment a consistent temperature, which reduces chances of printing failure.

Not only that, both 3D printers will automatically cease all operations when it detects the door has been opened. This prevents possible injuries from happening to students if they place their hands inside. Access to printer control or ability to resume the paused print job will be available once the 3D printer has detected that the door has been closed.

So, you have your MakerSpace set up at your school, equipped your classroom with the latest 3D technology. Now what? While there is a hype or even a pressure to introduce 3D printing into the school’s curriculum, as an educator, you might find a lack of resources or guidance to begin gaining student interest and engagement.

 

Apart from being New Zealand’s biggest supplier of 3D printers, 3D scanners & laser cutters to schools and universities, we also provide a wide variety of different STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) kits for your classroom. Every kit comes with a detailed teaching and activity booklet which supports the learning process for students, making the design process easy to understand and follow. Students will design, print and build their very own projects.