We are incredibly excited about the current development of our STEM Maker Space. It will be a place for students to explore technology, and bring their ideas to life.
Technology is embedded in so much we do nowadays, including in workplaces where items were traditionally built by hand. Modern workers need to be able to move between both types of skill.
With this in mind, our curriculum includes opportunities to design and create items using high-tech machines. Students work with Computer Aided Design programs to create a digital file that includes all the information needed for their design, and then a test model or prototype is built.
Two of the most important pieces of equipment in our STEM Maker Space are our
3D printers External link and our laser engraver.
3D Printer
3D printers heat thin plastic filament and then squeeze it through a nozzle to create a thin layer in a set shape. Multiple layers are laid one on top of the other and the molten plastic fuses together. Using this process, an entire plastic 3D shape is created.
The printer reads instructions stored in an electronic file to create the shape. These files are loaded onto a USB, which is then inserted in the printer.
To create their digital file, students use
TinkerCAD External link, which is an online resource hosted by the industry standard Computer Aided Design software suite
AutoDesk External link. Students are absolutely fascinated by this process, and really enjoy designing an object and seeing the printers bring their idea to life.
Laser Engraver