Bundled with three lessons packs and 21 fully-planned lessons, the Inventor 2S 3D Printer from FlashForge is designed for students in grade 5-10. The lessons will teach students the basics of 3D printing, how to design and prepare models for 3D printing, the types of 3D printing and uses of 3D printers, parametric modeling, manufacturing, sustainability issues, CAD modeling and more. Free includes software ranges from TinkerCAD and Autodesk Fusion 360. All lessons also meet a range of educational standards.
Equipped with one extruder that creates prints with a layer resolution of 50 to 400 microns, this 3D printer is compatible with various 1.75mm filaments, including PLA, PLA Color Change, Pearl, Elastic, TPU, Flexible, Metal-Filled, and Wood-Filled filaments. This 3D printer has a build volume of 5.9 x 5.9 x 5.5", a color touchscreen, and filament run-out detection. Users may print their compatible files via a wired USB connection, a USB flash drive, or Wi-Fi into a closed print chamber with a magnetic, flexible print bed. The closed print chamber also features an intelligent door that automatically senses when it is opened and closed in order to pause any active print jobs. Thanks to an integrated HD camera, users will be able to remotely monitor the printing process. The Inventor 2S is compatible with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, as well as macOS and Linux.
Resources include lesson plans, teaching PowerPoint presentations, lesson tasks, homework tasks, CAD video tutorials, assessments, and more. The curriculum takes the stress away from teachers who are new to 3D printers and allows them to start teaching 3D printing straight away.
Both are free to use for education and are cloud based. This means that students can continue their learning outside of the classroom once the lesson has finished.
For schools in the USA, the lessons meet standards from Next Generation Science standards, Common Core Math standards, and the International Standards for Technology Education. Lessons are suitable for Grades 5 to 10.
In the UK, the lessons meet the KS3 and KS4 Subject content for Design and Technology with links to Math and Science suitable for 6-11.
In Australia, the lessons reflect the standards of the Design and Technologies content for 7, 8, 9, and 10.