This workshop is built around a simple idea: 3D printing is not really about the printer. It is about helping students become creators, problem solvers, and designers.
Throughout the day, we will use the same design thinking principles from the presentation:
Start with a problem or purpose
Think about who you are designing for
Generate ideas
Create a prototype
Test it and improve it
The goal is not to make random objects. The goal is to help students design something meaningful, useful, or personal.
By the end of the workshop, participants will understand the complete process of moving from an idea to a finished print.
We will begin by unboxing the printer, identifying the major parts, loading filament, and preparing the printer for its first print.
Participants will learn:
What comes in the box
What each part of the printer does
How to safely power on and set up the printer
How to load filament and prepare for printing
Next, we will build a basic understanding of how 3D printing works.
We will discuss:
How filament becomes a printed object
What the build plate, nozzle, and extruder do
What a slicer is and why it matters
How layer height, speed, and material affect a print
Why some prints succeed and others fail
We will also introduce important concepts such as supports, orientation, and multicolor printing.
After learning the basics, we will move into Tinkercad and create a simple project.
We will focus on:
Using shapes and grouping tools
Measuring accurately
Designing in millimeters
Using a digital caliper
Making sure projects fit the printer's build plate
The goal is to create something simple, useful, and ready to print.
Once everyone understands the basics of designing, we will explore MakerLab as a faster and more creative way to make projects.
MakerLab makes it easy to create:
Signs
Keychains
Labels
Pixel art
Lightboxes
Multicolor projects
This gives teachers and students another way to quickly move from an idea to a printable design.
Finally, we will bring our designs into the slicer and learn how to prepare them for the printer.
We will cover:
Choosing print settings
Adding supports
Arranging multiple projects on the build plate
Preparing multicolor prints
Previewing the print before starting
By the end of the day, participants should leave with:
Confidence using the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2
A basic understanding of 3D printing
Experience creating designs in Tinkercad and MakerLab
A better understanding of how to slice and prepare files
Ideas for how to bring 3D printing into their classroom
Most importantly, participants will leave understanding that 3D printing is not just a technology tool. It is a way to help students think creatively, solve problems, and turn ideas into something real.