What is 3D printing? Explained for kids
3D printing is a way of making a real object by stacking very thin layers of material on top of each other until the shape is finished. It works a bit like building a tower out of pancakes, except each pancake is thinner than a strand of hair and shaped exactly how the computer tells it.
Step 1: a 3D model
Everything starts with a 3D model, which is a drawing on a computer that has width, height and depth. Kids can make simple models with free tools like Tinkercad by dragging shapes together.
Step 2: slicing
A program called a slicer cuts the model into hundreds of flat layers. It also writes instructions, called G-code, that tell the printer where to move and how much plastic to push out.
Step 3: printing
Most home printers use a spool of plastic string called filament. The printer heats it until it is soft, then a small nozzle draws the first layer on the print bed. The bed moves down a tiny bit, and the next layer is drawn on top. A fidget clicker might take 40 minutes. A sword can take many hours.
Why it is so cool
- You can invent something in the morning and hold it by dinner.
- If a design does not work, you change it and print again.
- Engineers use the same idea to test car parts, tools and even rocket pieces.
Safety tip: the nozzle gets very hot, so kids should always print with a grown-up nearby and never touch the moving parts.
3D printing facts for kids
- A 3D printer builds an object one thin layer at a time, and a layer is often about as thin as a sheet of paper.
- Most home printers melt a plastic string called filament and squeeze it out of a hot nozzle, a bit like a very precise hot glue gun.
- The first 3D printing method, called stereolithography, was invented by Chuck Hull in 1984.
- There is a 3D printer on the International Space Station, and astronauts have printed tools with it, including a wrench.
- Some objects can be printed with moving parts already connected, like our spiral cone fidget, so nothing needs to be put together afterwards.
- Designers use free programs like Tinkercad to draw models, and anyone can learn to start.
Questions kids ask about 3D printers
Is a 3D printer hot?
Yes. The nozzle is about 200 degrees Celsius (around 390 degrees Fahrenheit), so kids should always have a grown-up nearby and never touch the nozzle or the print bed while it is working.
How long does a print take?
From under an hour for something small to many hours for something big. Bigger things are often printed in parts.
What can a 3D printer make?
Toys, fidgets, phone stands, pen holders, spare parts, and even things like prosthetic hands and model buildings. If you can draw it on a computer, there is a good chance it can be printed.
Can a kid learn 3D printing?
Yes. Start by designing something simple in Tinkercad, then ask a grown-up to help you print it. Our fidget design guide shows how one of our own toys was made.