Want to learn about 3D printing technology? 

Join the STEM Club for a 3D workshop activity from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Truax STEM Center,  A 2101.  

The workshops will take place every Wednesday (2/26, 3/05, 3/26, 04/02, and 04/09.)  

Thomas Fleming, a student support assistant in the STEM center, describes 3-D printing as an additive process, comparing it to taking a pen and drawing an object, raising the pen and drawing the next layer, and continuing to build. 

As far as products capable of being 3D printed, “If you can dream it and if you can design it, you can print.” Fleming said  

The Wednesday, Feb. 19 3-D Workshop will focus on “slicing,” which is taking an object a student has designed and putting it into G code. Then, that G code is sent to the printer for processing  

Fleming said that the 3-D printer virtually takes the model and builds it layer by layer. Slicers understand the material being used and that each material has different characteristics like melting points and cooling. 

“The slicer is actually the brains of the 3-D printing. Once you understand how to work different slicers, you can then start making things and you can understand how things actually are printed,” Fleming said.   

 Upcoming 3-D printing topics:  

 Wednesday, Feb. 26:  Glowforge

 Wednesday, March 5: The different styles of 3-D printers  

If students have a project they wish to have printed or have questions, all are welcome to get to know the STEM Center, where several students on hand are willing to help.