Intro to 3D Printing

Design and make functional objects with filament 3D printing! In this three-hour class, students will be introduced to filament 3D printers, known for versatility and durable prints. We will cover material selection and handling, files and slicing, the print process, post-processing, and design for manufacture. We’ll walk through the steps of designing parts in CAD software, preparing files for printing using 3D slicer software, and printing parts on Factory 3’s printers. Students may choose to follow along with software demonstrations on their own computer. No technical background is required. About the instructor: Suzanne Wendelken is a biomedical engineer, physician, and lifelong tinkerer who has spent years building everything from research prototypes and medical devices to decidedly less practical projects at home. She enjoys 3D printing, electronics, Arduino, programming, wrenching, and figuring out how to make different technologies work together. Outside of work, she enjoys cycling, skiing, kayaking, painting, photography, and making things ranging from useful to completely unnecessary. She loves helping new makers get comfortable with unfamiliar tools and turn an idea into something they can actually hold in their hands.