Our students recently enjoyed an exciting and hands-on visit from Robbie at STEM Superstars, who led a fantastic 3D printing workshop. The session was centered around a fun and engaging mission: building a “Benchy Boat,” a popular test model used in 3D printing.
The workshop began with an introduction to what a 3D printer is and how it works. Students learned that 3D printers create objects layer by layer using melted plastic, and they were able to see the printer in action. This helped bring the technology to life and sparked lots of curiosity and questions.
Next, Robbie guided the students through the different parts of the printer. They identified key components such as the nozzle, where the plastic is extruded, the print bed, and the filament spool. Students were particularly interested to learn that filament is essentially a thin strand of plastic used to build objects.
The session also explored the many real-world uses of 3D printing. From medicine and engineering to fashion and even space exploration, students discovered how widely this technology is used. A fun highlight was learning that 3D printing can even be used to create houses—and pizzas!
During the design stage, students were introduced to the Benchy Boat model and learned that “Benchy” comes from the word “benchmark,” meaning it’s used to test print quality. They saw the digital model on screen and learned about the “slicing” process that prepares a design for printing.
The most exciting part came when the printer got to work. Students watched closely as the first layer formed and the boat gradually took shape, layer by layer. It was fascinating to see the object grow in real time and understand how precise the process is.
Once the printing was complete, students examined the finished Benchy Boat, discussing its shape, layers, and details. They even compared different versions to see how print settings can affect the final result.
The workshop was a fantastic opportunity for students to explore cutting-edge technology in a fun, interactive way. A big thank you to Robbie and STEM Superstars for inspiring our learners and bringing STEM to life in such an engaging way!
