ResourcesBlogXometry-Supported Fab Lab Makes 3D Printing Educational and Fun

Xometry-Supported Fab Lab Makes 3D Printing Educational and Fun

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2 min read

Published October 11, 2022

In celebration of Manufacturing Day, Xometry’s own Joel Schadegg helped facilitate a learning session at a local Maryland nonprofit called KID Museum, showcasing the power of 3D printing to build creative ideas.

A plaque saying "Fab Lab - Generously Supported by Xometry

Creativity fuels every side of Xometry’s AI-powered marketplace, from the creative engineers, designers, and hobbyists that use our platform to bring their big ideas to life to the ingenious operators and machinists who help build them. We know that the future of manufacturing will be built on the expertise and knowledge of our young people, and we want to do our part to invest in the next generation of engineers. We were excited to give back to our community this last Manufacturing Day by partnering with a local nonprofit in Bethesda, Maryland called the KID Museum.

an infographic illustration from the KID museum describing the engineer design process of

“At KID Museum, we see the world with the ‘mind of a maker’— a worldview that is guided by our values, curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and compassion. We foster this mindset in the kids and youth we serve, working with them to become empathetic and persistent problem-solvers, teammates, and changemakers.”

Kid Museum,

Approach Statement

In celebration of Manufacturing Day, Xometry’s own Joel Schadeg gave a presentation on the power of 3D printing. 3D printing is an incredibly flexible and versatile manufacturing method, helping everyone from hobbyists to professional engineers bring their big ideas to life layer-by-layer. This presentation, was hosted in the Xometry-sponsored “Fab Lab”, and showcased the basics of 3D printing and taught students how to set up a CAD file to build their designs.

kids crowding together looking at their screens

“Every student had a different idea of what they wanted to build. For example, one student was working on a Spurs logo, while another worked on fun designs of a robot being abducted by a UFO. I offered my expertise and helped coach them on how to design for 3D printing. For example, when that one student was working on their Spurs logo, I encouraged them on their creativity and shared how they could improve their design. In this case, the text wasn’t connected very well and would have fallen apart when it came time to print. I guided her through the process and showed her how to connect the text in a creative way to make sure it all printed as one piece. I was surprised to see just how creative their different ideas were, and it was great to see how well they did even though they had no prior experience with the software.”

Joel Schadegg,

Technical Content Writer, Xometry

After wrapping up their designs, Joel continued the presentation by showing students the industrial applications of 3d printing. The students learned about the power of industrial-sized 3D printers like the ones used at Xometry, and their ability to create thousands of parts quickly. In addition, he also touched on the different ways students can obtain a 3D model for printing, and how Xometry uses slicing software to turn a digital design into a printed part. Finally, he wrapped up by showcasing real-world examples of Xometry 3D printed parts in action, from assistive devices used by our non-profit partner Blue Heart Hero to the 3D printed battery housing used in Xomerty-sponsored BattleBot HyperShock.

“The main thought I tried to leave them with was to not limit their creativity. Some of the students wanted to learn how to download pre-rendered models because it’s much simpler than designing their own creations. I tried to remind them that by using CAD tools, such asTinkercad, you can basically make whatever you can think of. I also emphasized that if you learn how to do 3D modeling, you can turn that passion into a career someday, whether that’s as an engineer or a modeling artist. These skills can easily translate into something real that you can do in your life. I loved to see the KID Museum’s focus on inspiring creativity and ingenuity.”

Joel Schadegg,

Technical Content Writer at Xometry

Xometry is where big ideas and built and creativity is nurtured. We want to give a big “thank you” to the KID’s Museum for partnering with us and giving us a platform to showcase additive design and encourage the next generation of engineers. If you want to learn more about 3D printing, we encourage you to sign up for our free E- Course Principles of 3D Printing: Design for Industrial Engineers.

Nathan Miller

Hi, I'm Nathan, a Marketing Content Writer at Xometry; I help tell the stories of our customers and how Xometry helps them build their big ideas.