Mar 31, 2016 | By Kira
For the second time this year, Dremel has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding STEM education and 3D printing opportunities in the classroom. After launching Dremel Dreams in February, a digital ecosystem that provides educators with 3D printing lesson plans, software, and equipment, the tool manufacturing company has today released the Dremel Idea Builder 3D40, the second generation of its plug-and-play, classroom-friendly 3D printer.
Today’s evolving workforce is increasingly in need of STEM-educated professionals, that is, skilled thinkers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Several 3D printing industry leaders, including Stratasys, XYZPrinting, YSoft be3D, Ultimaker and more have responded by developing either easy and safe 3D printer models, or 3D printing software and lesson plans tailored to complement existing curriculums.
Thanks to its Idea Builder, a line of affordable, entry-level and reliable desktop 3D printers, Dremel has been at the forefront of this movement, effectively promoting 3D printing and STEM education.
The Idea Builder 3D40 2.0 has thus been configured with key improvements that will make it easier than ever to implement into classrooms, enabling educators to experiment with a technology that “encourages communal problem solving and activates imaginative thinking,” said the company.
First and foremost, the Idea Builder 3D40 features new software and USB and WiFi-enabled 3D printing. As of May, it will also be compatible with the new Dremel 3D iOS and Android apps, providing students and teachers the freedom to design and 3D print objects remotely. Additionally, the 3D printer can be used with Print Studio software, which optimizes object design based on functionality—a vrey useful feature for learning-based making.
The new Idea Builder also features active filament monitoring, a maintenance-free extruder, assistive levelling, and a larger building platform for greater flexibility in designing and scaling 3D models.
“As classrooms continue to approach education through hands-on learning, the advancements we’ve made to the Dremel Idea Builder 3D40 provide an unprecedented experience with 3D printing technology,” said George Velez, manager of Dremel 3D Education. “We wanted to give educators and students the ability to engage with 3D printing in a limitless capacity.”
“I rely on the Dremel 3D Idea Builder to give my students the ability to design, test, print and modify high-quality product models,” said Matt Schultz, a technology and engineering instructor at Lakeview Technology Academy in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. “The speed and durability of the Dremel 3D printing process helps build critical problem-solving skills, where students have the opportunity to reflect upon product function and produce multiple iterations of a prototype.”
Dremel has developed two versions of the Idea Builder 3D40: the retail version (3D40-01) comes with one Flash Drive with Print Studio software, build tape, and some environmentally friendly PLA filament. As for the EDU version (3D40-EDU), it will include a USB loaded with a 3D-specific curriculum, two build plates, extra build tape, and four full spools of filament in a variety of colors. Both models are safety-conscious, and designed for immediate, out-of-the-box use.
Currently, the retail version of the Dremel Idea Builder 3D40 2.0 is available for pre-order at the price of $1,299, with full availability scheduled for June.
Posted in 3D Printer
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