I teach 2 high school CAD classes. We are considering a 3d printer. I have done a lot of research, but as you know more is not always better. I have changed my mind about ten times and as a result am more confused than when I started this process 6 weeks ago.
Do any of you have classroom experience with 3d printers and willing to “confuse” me further? We are looking to spend about $2000 but I am also concerned with the ongoing costs. We are creating our models using Sketchup and ProgCAD. Thank you for your input.
I have a PrintrBot Simple, and I would NOT recommend it for the classroom. It’s a bit too finicky and needs frequent adjustment. They’re (relatively) cheap, but I wouldn’t want to multiply the maintenance time.
From my little experience, I’d suggest a printer that does not use wood as a part of the printing structure (housing is okay).
Ongoing costs are minimal. With kids, maybe some spare nozzles ($10-15/ea). A couple of spare motor drivers ($5-20/ea) if the board supports socketed drivers. Other than that, it’s just consumables (filament - PLA best around kids, blue tape).
Good luck! BTW: Where is the school?
I’ve worked with schools that have Alfina Up! Printers and they have a hell of a time with them as the kids keep messing with them. I would recommend an Ultimaker, better to spend a little more and have something reliable.
@Carlton_Dodd I guess it all hinges on what you want to teach. Personally, I don’t see what a no-maintenance unit teaches kids. Building and maintaining a simple printer teaches basic concepts. Then again, I’m not a teacher, and maybe I’m overestimating what you can accomplish in a group setting.
Start with a cheap one - perhaps the PrintrBot - and print parts that can be used for a better printer. Have the kids assemble it, as a hands-on assignment.
There’s another benefit to making one from parts: you know exactly what went into it, and have a BOM and source files if the kids want to experiment with different designs for some components.
If you can manage an Ultimaker (not sure what they are going for ATM) I’d go that way for a cad classroom, and then start printing Reprap parts for a follow-up Mechanical/Electrical/Software Engineering class
If you build it you will truly OWN it. You will be able to fix it when it breaks, and it will break. You will know how to adjust it when it gets out of calibration, and it will fall out of calibration. Seriously Build your own.
I’ve built a reprap prusa with my students (15-16) last year. Building it themselves was the greatest experience and the best chance to learn. We had not the best prints and the machine itself was unreliable, but neither me or my students would trade that for the time and the knowledge we had in the way.
The Replicator is a really good choice for this use. Also, a better option for software is Autodesk Inventor. It’s free for educational uses and also way more powerful. Also Sketchup does not (at least when I last used it) have native STL file support.
Do you just want to buy one and hit the Print button? Do you want a kit? Do you want to self-source? That will narrow the field a bit.
As much as I love Wally, he’s not ready for prime time. There’s still a lot of things that need done on him so I wouldn’t consider him ready for a school classroom, but he will be soon.
I’m gonna chime in and go ahead and recommend the Ultimaker as well. As far as a CAD class goes, you want to be focused on modeling, not working with a 3D printers settings. However, if it is somewhat focused on mechanical engineering then build a Graber i3.
But I think they do not match your budget.