ANYCUBIC 3D Printer

ANYCUBIC 3D Printer
$$$

There are a lot of 3D printers on the market now. This one strikes a good balance between features and cost. It’s easy to set-up out of the box for beginners, but also has high print quality for more advanced users. Key features include: a sturdy frame; a filament sensor; a reliable print surface; and a super easy set-up. The only downside is it can be a little noisier than more expensive models (similar to a microwave for context).


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KiwiCo Tinker Crate

KiwiCo Tinker Crate
$$

This subscription box has high-quality engineering projects, that are both fun and educational. Kids are able to enjoy building the project, and then play with their creation, but every box has an underlying engineering or scientific principle it demonstrates. The boxes come with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, as well as supporting educational material.


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MakerBot Thingiverse Education

MakerBot Thingiverse Education
FREE

Thingiverse has free, mostly crowdsourced, designs for 3D printers. There is also an education section, with lessons you can filter by grade and subject. The link above takes you to K-6 Engineering lessons. We’ve found that once students realize they can create right away, they will be motivated to start tweaking and customizing designs.


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TinkerCad

TinkerCad
FREE

Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use app for 3D design and electronics. It’s designed for beginners. There are free lesson plans to design 3D builds and electronic circuits. Everything students design digitally can be simulated within the platform. Creations using this software can be exported to be 3D printed or cut on a laser as well.


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