Educational 3D Printers

Add to this the experience it offers students in relatively new technology with far-reaching industrial implications as time moves on, then the benefits of introducing Educational  3D printers into certain curriculums become clear.

That is, of course, if the application is right. It’s easy to get swept along in the buzzwordery of 3D printing without actually adding value to students’ development, not to mention material overheads to wrangle and the physical demand of serving wave after wave of youngsters. Choosing the right Educational 3D printer for school and other educational spaces can be a challenge.

Some manufacturers make it easier, offering extensive supporting materials for educators, including lesson plans and ideas to inspire classroom fun alongside structured development goals. Others just build great machines with all the features you’d want in a classroom printer.

And then there are the differences in the machines themselves — what works for elementary students in need of safety features and durability needn’t be the best thing for a university lab tasked with high-quality output. The field is huge.

With that in mind, we’re here to help. Sorting the wheat from the chaff, we’ve picked out 3D printers we feel tick some (or all) of the boxes for the educational professional looking to introduce 3D printing to their classroom, lab, workshop and beyond.

We focus on those that are backed with educational resources for students and educators, plus the Educational 3D printers we feel are also worthy of attention despite lacking the well-developed ecosystems of their peers.

And we’re acutely aware of the potential costs equipping a classroom with enough 3D printers to serve the whole class can be a costly thing, so for good measure, we also flag educational discounts and take a look at grants and funding opportunities to help fund your school’s new machinery. Additionally, we’ve compiled a list of useful resources to get acquainted with 3D printing, and inspiration for lessons and projects for once you have one.