Technology students at Pilgrim High School will now have the opportunity to see designs they make on the computer as physical objects thanks to a new 3D printer purchased by the department.

“It really enhances the program, raises interest in our classes and it’s pretty cool,” said Pilgrim Technology Education Department Chair Alvaro Goes.

The Makerbot 3D printer system with software and nearly a dozen spools of plastic cost roughly $4,000. Goes explained that the department was able to afford the new technology by selling old technology that wasn’t being used.

“We had old metal working equipment we were not using because those classes are not offered anymore,” said Goes. “I basically sold old equipment, gathered scrap metal to gather funds.”

A lot of the equipment was cleared out of an old classroom for Pilgrim’s new video production studio.

“Opening up that classroom led to all of these opportunities,” said Goes.

Currently, the printer is being used in Pilgrim’s two Computer Assisted Design (CAD) classes, but Goes sees room for expanded use into other classes.

“The thing about a 3D printer is we can make something out of the blue,” said CAD teacher Joe Giorno. Both of his CAD classes, which are electives for students in all grades, have been working with the 3D printer, making physical versions of many of the 3D designs they make in computer programs.

The class has also been problem solving by designing and creating items of their own design to solve everyday problems in the classroom. Items they have made include pencil holders, cell phone cases, cell phone stands, candy boxes and more.

“We can convert a class like this into pre-engineering,” said Giorno. “We’re incorporating it right into the curriculum. They can actually see and touch something they’ve created, which is a good feeling.”

The printer has been in the classroom for about three weeks, but last week was the first time the students had the opportunity to create their own designs in the problem solving exercises.

“They get to experiment with the tool,” said Giorno. “It’s amazing how they think outside the box with this.”

In the class, the students learn to draw simple 2D shapes on the computer, then move onto 3D shapes. Now, those 3D items can then be sent electronically to the 3D printer, which creates the object out of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic. A spool of plastic is fed into the printer, which heats up the plastic to make it pliable. A nozzle in the printer then builds the object by drawing out the shape and layering the plastic until the object is completed.

“This is the way of the future,” said Giorno. He shared a video with his class that showed the 3D printer technology being used on a larger scale to create houses out of cement in China.

Goes also purchased a 3D pen, which works similar to a hot glue gun. Students would be able to correct errors or add small details to the items they create using the plastic and the pen.

With how quickly technology is moving, Goes said the opportunity to get this equipment for the department is part of his long-term plan to provide students with hands-on experience with the technology they learn about.

“Tech Ed, because of budget issues, is always behind the eight ball,” he said. “We’re teaching the students about new technology but using old technology.”

Down the line, Goes hopes other classes and departments will be able to make use of the printer, such as graphics classes that use different design techniques, robotics and engineering, which could use the printer to make plastic gears for projects, and more. Materials classes could now build prototypes out of plastic, not just wood or metal.

“Sometimes we need a part and it takes two weeks to get it,” said Goes. “Now we can pretty much build a new part.”

Giorno also sees a connection with the math department based on how much math is used when creating an item.

“I see it cross-curriculum,” he said.

The printer could also become self-sustainable if it is used to make items to sell to students; those funds could then be used to purchase plastic, technology upgrades or more. The software came with a number of designs, which could be downloaded and customized with the Pilgrim name and mascot, such as rulers, phone cases and more.

“Possibilities are endless, and we’re just scratching the surface,” said Goes.