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Los Cuates Middle School Students Enjoy 3D Printing
- Updated: January 2, 2015
At Los Cuates Middle School STEM, has become STEAM.
Art has been added to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to form STEAM with the addition of the district’s first 3D printer, which is housed in the classroom of Art teacher John Danielson.
Since the printer arrived in October, the printer that looks like an industrial robot has been going non-stop with student projects.
The new 3D printing technology, also called Additive Manufacturing (AM), adds the use one of various processes to make a three-dimensional object.
In 3D printing, primarily additive processes are used, in which successive layers of material are laid down under computer control. These objects can be of almost any shape or geometry, and are produced from a 3D model or other electronic data source.
3D Printing has been an eye-opening experience for both students and staff who see the endless possibilities for
what can be designed, engineered, and created with the 3D printer.
Students first use CAD (computer-aided design) software to design an object that is sent to the 3D printer, which heats a filament to print the design. An extruder on the printer acts like a computerized hot glue gun and moves around as it lays down thin layers of melted plastic that cool very quickly. The printed object is built up from many layers of plastic as it takes the form designed in the virtual environment of the CAD software.
Students have studied, designed, and printed snowflakes, vases, and poppy flowers, which were presented to veterans attending Veteran’s Day ceremony. They have also engineered manipulatives for special-needs students to improve their fine motor skills.
This is just the beginning.
Danielson said that students plan to research, design, engineer and print a 3D topographical map of South Texas for the Science Department. The art students will continue to design vases, engineer kinetic sculptures and robots, and give the ancient technique of bas relief sculpture a modern twist.
“Our 3D printer unlocks a door to ideas and possibilities, giving them life.”