PEMBROKE – The printing press is largely accepted as one of the most important inventions in the history of humankind.
The printer led to the ability to mass produce the written word and share huge amounts of information quickly and in large numbers.
Imagine what the future will hold now that Renfrew County District School Board students can print in 3-D. Fellowes High School is one of three secondary schools within the RCDSB to have 3-D printing technology. At Arnprior District High School, an anonymous alumnus made the very generous donation of a 3-D printer. Madawaska Valley District High School also has a 3-D printer.
At Fellowes the 3-D printer, a Makerbot model, is part of the Communications Technology program. The printer showed up just in time for semester two and students looking to enrol in the program didn’t even know they would have access to this brand new technology.
Grade 12 Fellowes students Ryan Roy and Alex Kenney shared their knowledge and experience with the school’s 3-D printer with the school board on March 3.
Both students were surprisingly thrilled upon learning the school was going to have the new technology.
Ryan signed up for Communication Technology to learn more about computer animation and was surprised to find a 3-D printer in his classroom. Alex had a bit more advance notice.
“I found out during first semester exams and was very excited,” he said.
Both students had read about 3-D printers and were very interested in the 21st Century technology.
Alex and Ryan have been working with the printer and the three different computer software programs necessary to use the device, since January.
“Learning takes lots of patience,” Ryan said.
The students spent their first two weeks in the classroom just learning how to manipulate the software.
Once they had a basic understanding of the software, they were able to start creating.
The printer itself is relatively small, although some models can be quite large, about two-and-a-half square feet.
The printer uses a corn-based, bio-degradable plastic, there are different plastic options the machine can use, fed into the machine from a spool. The printer heats the plastic to 215 degrees Fahrenheit to melt it and then, using the plastic and the computer created model, starts building the model on a small bed from the ground up.
Ryan designed and built an approximately six-inch tall Minion, one of the little creatures from the movie Despicable Me. He said it took him about three-and-a-half hours to build.
If the printer was set to high detail, it could take as much as a full day to create the model.
Alex has built some decorative throwing stars. He is currently working on building a model Tie fighter spaceship from the Star Wars movies.
Other students have built cell phone cases, key chains and even a small, working catapult.
“Once I learn to use the software better, we’ll be able to make more intricate stuff,” Ryan said.
So far the students have built projects the printer can create in one unit. With further practice and training students will be able to build larger models by creating the models in several parts, having the printer make each part separately and then combining all the parts into one model.
Communication technology teacher David Middlemiss says the printer cost the school about $3,000. The spool of plastic costs about $35. He said Ryan’s Minion probably cost less than $2 in product to build.
“For us, it’s relatively cost effective,” Mr. Middlemiss said.
