It’s not a surprise when many major, long-established companies get into 3D printing. For software companies or 2D printer manufacturers, a 3D printer is a natural progression. A company known for its rotary power tools isn’t one that you’d immediately think of as an obvious entrant into the space, but Dremel was actually one of the first large, well-known corporations to get into the 3D printing industry when they introduced their 3D Idea Builder back in 2014. Recently they shifted their focus towards education with the release of the 3D40, a second generation of the Idea Builder optimized for the classroom.
Today Dremel announced that they are launching a mobile app to go with the 3D40. The app, available for iOS and Android, allows students and teachers to remotely monitor printing, queue multiple print jobs and access a large library of 3D models, giving them more freedom to integrate 3D printing into classes while also allowing them to explore it outside of the classroom.
“By adding a new level of connectivity for students and makers, this first-of-its-kind app broadens the horizons of 3D printing in the classroom,” said George Velez, manager of Dremel 3D Education. “We want educators and students to have multiple access points to 3D printing as classroom technology continues to evolve.”
Remote printing and monitoring capabilities are becoming more common in newly released 3D printers, but those features are especially helpful in an educational setting. With the app, users can select a model from the gallery, choose the printer they want to use, and send the information to cloud-based processing servers, which will optimize the model for the selected printer and start the print job, no matter where the user is. The app will then send notifications and updates about the print process. It also fits nicely into the Dremel Dreams curriculum program, allowing teachers to prepare lesson plans and models in and out of the classroom.
Dremel will also be launching an ambassador program this month, in which selected ambassadors will receive a free Dremel 3D Idea Builder and ten spools of filament for the classroom. To learn more detail and apply to become an ambassador, keep an eye on Dremel Education’s Facebook page for upcoming information. The company has already shown themselves to be committed to getting 3D printers and educational materials into the classroom through design competitions and partnerships with STEM-oriented companies. They’re obviously serious about education, and about the importance of making 3D printing easily accessible to students and teachers.
The 3D40 is now out of the pre-order stage and available for direct purchase, a bit earlier than expected – it was initially slated to be fully available in June. You can contact Dremel through their website for more information. Will you be using the app? Discuss further in the Dremel 3D Printer App forum over at 3DPB.com.
