The SPE Foundation Is Bringing 3D Printing to Schools With “Print the Future”
We have heard it time and time again: children are our future. The tools and knowledge that we give to students plays a direct role in shaping them and thus humanity, which is why education is so important. This is especially critical for manufacturing fields like 3D printing. For a long time, the industry has been working to overcome barriers to entry due to a lack of educated technicians and practitioners in the sector, an issue that is reflected in many other fields. We sat down with the SPE Foundation, which is dedicated to addressing issues such as these, to talk with them about their work and especially their new “Print the Future” campaign, which you can donate to directly HERE.
3DN: Could you introduce the SPE Foundation and the “Print the Future” campaign?
The SPE Foundation’s mission was established in 1977 with a mission to support workplace development in the plastics industry. This is done by funding quality educational programs, grants and scholarships that emphasize science, engineering and sustainability. The foundation also works to create inclusive opportunities for students around the world.
Students worldwide benefit from programs from the SPE Foundation (photo credits: SPE Foundation)
One way that this is done is with the 3D Printer Grant program. In 2024, twenty-one 3D printers were awarded to middle and high schools across the US and Canada, benefiting over 3,100 students. This is more than three times the number of 3D printers we donated in 2023, and the interest has only been increasing. Grant applications have been piling up, showing the excitement that schools have for this technology. But right now, the budget cannot meet the demand.
To meet this growing need, we are now introducing the “Print the Future” campaign, launching this December 3rd, which is also Giving Tuesday, a National Day of Philanthropy after Thanksgiving in the US. The goal of the campaign is to raise $30,000 to fund 3D printers and PlastiVan® visits for twelve schools. This campaign is designed to equip students with valuable hands-on experience in engineering and design as well as introduce them to topics like chemistry, history, processing and sustainability.
3DN: Why has the SPE Foundation chosen 3D printing as a method of getting students involved in plastics?
3D printing is an exciting plastics technology that has a vast and active online community. Students get excited about the creative possibilities and can go as deep as they want into the “tech” of 3D printing. There is a wealth of information in online forums and on YouTube, as well as websites to easily find and download free 3D models.
If students are taking classes in CAD or 3D modeling, or just want to learn more, they can create their own models to print. At its core, plastics manufacturing is the art and science of melting, moving and making plastic. 3D printing does all of those things and at a relatively low cost.
3DN: Which 3D printer is the SPE Foundation granting and why?
We have chosen the Flashforge 5M series of printers for our 3D Printer Grant Program. The Flashforge 5M printers are fast, reliable and well-built, all at a reasonable cost. Our track record with them in the field has been excellent. Fully enclosed models of the printer allow for a wide range of materials to be printed, which allows students to explore a greater range of plastic materials for their projects.
The 5M Adventurer 3D printer (photo credits: Flashforge)
3DN: Can you give some examples of how students (and teachers) are using these printers in their education?
Granted printers have been implemented in classrooms and STEM clubs all over the United States. Students use them in class work and for printing fun objects. One teacher was using their 3D printer to have students design and print basic 3D shapes in an effort to help students better understand principles in geometry. A teacher at a Montessori Farm School was using the printer to help students solve issues on a real working farm.
At a school in the Detroit area, students are using the printer in the SPE Junior Researcher program. SPE Junior Researchers work with industry companies and mentors to complete projects and solve problems. Students are printing and testing robot grippers using various filament types, while comparing the properties and processing parameters of prime and recycled filaments.
3D printers offer a lot of flexibility to support a range of learning opportunities. In the end, we want students to work with plastics and come away feeling good about this unique and wondrous material.
3DN: Any last words for our readers?
This campaign is critical for helping the SPE Foundation to equip students with valuable experience, thus empowering the future plastics workforce. So, join us on this Giving Tuesday to give 3D printing access to students all over the country. You can find out more or contribute to the campaign HERE.
What do you think of this 3D printer grant program? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
*Cover Photo Credits: SPE Foundation
