3D printing transforms digital ideas into physical objects students can examine, test, and improve. From introductory STEM activities to advanced university research, additive manufacturing creates meaningful hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom concepts with real-world applications.
By incorporating 3D printing into the curriculum, educational institutions can help students strengthen essential skills such as:
Whether educators want to introduce younger students to STEM, prepare learners for technical careers, or support groundbreaking research, 3D printing provides a flexible platform for exploration and innovation.
Introducing 3D printing in K–12 classrooms helps turn abstract concepts into engaging, hands-on experiences. Students can design and create physical models while exploring engineering, science, mathematics, art, and technology.
These projects encourage curiosity, build confidence, and introduce students to the design process in an approachable way. Classroom-ready 3D printing solutions can support individual lessons, makerspaces, STEM labs, robotics programs, and cross-curricular learning.
Career and technical education programs use additive manufacturing to connect classroom instruction with the technologies and processes used in modern workplaces. Students can gain practical experience with rapid prototyping, part design, material selection, production workflows, and design for additive manufacturing.
These experiences can help prepare learners for careers in engineering, advanced manufacturing, automation, healthcare, aerospace, and other technology-driven industries.
Technical and community colleges can incorporate professional 3D printing into certificate, degree, and workforce training programs. Students learn how additive manufacturing supports product development, tooling, manufacturing operations, and continuous improvement.
With access to industry-relevant equipment and applications, learners can develop job-ready skills while employers gain a stronger pipeline of technicians, designers, and manufacturing professionals.
Colleges and universities use 3D printing across engineering, architecture, healthcare, life sciences, product design, and the arts. Stratasys additive manufacturing systems offer a broad selection of technologies and materials for creating everything from detailed concept models to durable, functional prototypes.
These capabilities support experiential learning, senior design projects, multidisciplinary collaboration, faculty research, and partnerships with regional employers.
Advanced additive manufacturing gives researchers the ability to evaluate new designs, test materials, manufacture complex geometries, and develop high-performance prototypes. It can also help universities collaborate with industry partners on practical engineering and production challenges.
These partnerships expand research capabilities while giving students opportunities to contribute to projects with meaningful academic, commercial, and community impact.
Selecting a 3D printing solution involves more than choosing a printer. Tech-Labs can help your institution evaluate:
Our team will work with you to develop a solution aligned with your students, programs, facilities, and long-term objectives.
Ready to see what additive manufacturing could bring to your classroom, technical lab, or research center?
Schedule a visit to the Tech-Labs Solutions Center to explore Stratasys technologies in action, or request a sample part to experience the quality firsthand.
Contact Tech-Labs to discuss your applications, learning objectives, and additive manufacturing requirements.
A 3D scanner is a device that analyzes a real-world object or environment to collect data on its shape and possibly its appearance (i.e. color and texture). The collected data can then be used to construct digital three-dimensional models.
Many different technologies can be used to build these 3D-scanning portable devices; each technology comes with its own limitations, advantages, and costs. Many limitations in the kind of objects that can be digitized are still present, for example, optical technologies encounter many difficulties with shiny, mirroring, or transparent objects. For example, industrial computed tomography scanning can be used to construct digital 3D models, applying non-destructive testing.
Collected 3D data is useful for a wide variety of applications. These devices are used extensively by the entertainment industry in the production of movies and video games. Other common applications of this technology include industrial design, orthotics and prosthetics, reverse engineering and prototyping, quality control/inspection and documentation of cultural artifacts.
Tech-Labs offers technical training equipment and curriculum from Amatrol’s Advanced Manufacturing program. Amatrol’s industry-leading equipment and curriculum are developed in partnership with industry to deliver job-ready, industry-relevant skills. Working closely with companies like Caterpillar, Tropicana, and many others Amatrol has designed equipment for workplace success.
As FANUC America's exclusive Education Authorized Reseller in Texas and Oklahoma, we provide our customers with high-quality CNC and Robotics learning systems. As the leading CNC and Robot manufacturer with the most extensive installed base, students will most likely use FANUC CNCs or Robots when entering the workforce.
There is a growing need for skilled workers competent in the setup, programming, and operation of CNCs. Since more manufacturers trust their operations to FANUC CNCs than any other control platform, students and workers must become FANUC CNC certified.
FANUC’s Certified Education Robot Training system sets the industrial robot certification training standard. As the number one supplier of intelligent robots, more FANUC robots are working in manufacturing and industrial facilities than any other brand. The FANUC Robots Certified Education Robot Training Cell is extremely valuable to trade schools, high schools, community colleges, and engineering schools.
The cybersecurity skills gap is estimated at 1.8 million unfilled positions globally. Tech-Labs is proud to offer IT and cybersecurity training programs from Marcraft ETG.
Tech-Labs is proud to offer equipment and curriculum from Amatrol’s Advanced Manufacturing program. Amatrol’s industry-leading equipment and curriculum is developed in partnership with industry to deliver job-ready, industry-relevant skills. Working closely with companies like Caterpillar, Tropicana, and many others Amatrol has designed equipment for workplace success.
Tech-Labs offers a wide range of training products designed to keep pace with the world of Advanced Manufacturing. From Hydraulics to Process Control to CNC there is a program for any application.
Process control is a versatile and vital part of major industries, including power generation; petrochemicals; food processing and bottling; chemical manufacturing; biotechnology; pharmaceuticals; and refineries.
Because of the wide application of this key component, Amatrol has developed the largest and most in-depth offering of industrial process control training options available. Amatrol offers four major process control trainers, each covering a different process control application: level and flow, temperature, analytical, and pressure. Amatrol also offers a variety of training options for related process control applications such as HART communication protocol, Foundation Fieldbus, and SCADA.
