By John Michael Gonzalez The Cody Connection
3-D printing has been booming in the last few years. Since Cody DIT is a STEaM school, students are starting to use the technology.
Math teacher and robotics instructor Carrie Russell built a 3-D printer in July at a tech training sponsored by Square One, Michigan Tech and the United Way. She has been experimenting with using the printer for her classes.
Russell said the printer will be useful as a better alternative to ordering parts for the school robotics program, and better than making paper crafts with the students for geometry class.
“Once the students see how it works, they get hooked and learn fast,” Russell said.
Geometry classes used geometric nets that Russell produced on the 3-D printer to help students learn spatial relations.
Senior Isia Diggs used free Google software called Sketchup to create a model for a key chain. The printer reads the model and produces the key chain by heating milk-based plastic and applying it in layers.
Cody DIT junior Taj Jackson skipped advisory Oct. 7 to check out the 3-D printer. Diggs was printing key chains for a fundraiser. She’s taking orders for different colors and personalized wording.
“It was really interesting,” Jackson said. “I want to learn to use it because it might help me in robotics.”
