3D Printing Projects for the Classroom You can Print in a Weekend

If you are looking for a classroom project that is both fun and useful to prepare, weekend projects are a great way to inspire students while teaching them valuable skills in design, prototyping, and 3D printing. Each one can be downloaded, sliced, and printed with basic filament and a standard printer setup, taking just a few hours to prepare. Additionally, each has an interactive tutorial that guides you through the modeling steps in SelfCAD. These projects not only result in functional classroom items but also teach key STEM concepts.

Here are the five creative projects that you can prepare over a weekend.

1. Geometric Pencil/Pen Holder

The geometric pencil holder is a perfect, quick weekend activity that blends function and creativity. It allows students to design a practical item for their workspace while exploring customization options. The interactive tutorial guides you through the use of Octahedron and tools such as Add Thickness, and other techniques that can be applied to other projects.

This project is useful for teaching basic product design and customization while encouraging students to apply their imagination. A custom pen stand also offers a sense of ownership and accomplishment, making it a rewarding end result for a weekend project while inspiring confidence in design thinking and problem-solving.

Link to Interactive Tutorial: Geometric Pencil Holder.

2. Lungs 3D Model

The Lungs model is a powerful classroom project that bridges biology and 3D design. Students can learn the anatomy of the respiratory system while gaining hands-on experience in modeling organic shapes. The tutorial guides learners through creating a realistic representation of lungs, offering insights into medical applications of 3D printing, such as anatomical models for education or simulation.

This project is beneficial for biology and medical science classes, as it provides a tangible, interactive learning tool. It also helps students better understand respiratory functions, structure, and medical design applications, fostering deeper engagement with scientific concepts.

Link to interactive tutorial: Lungs.

3. Handouts/Magazine/Newspaper Stand

This Stand is a compact, tiered organizer for newspapers, magazines, or handouts, keeping classroom desks or reading corners clutter-free. Its angled slots and sturdy base ensure easy access and stability. The sleek design, with its curved edges, enhances both functionality and aesthetics. In the interactive tutorial, you will start by deforming a cube to form the base structure and then add details to create shelves.

Link to interactive tutorial: Newspaper Stand.

4. Pixel Glasses

The Pixel Glasses are protective eyewear with an interesting frame design, featuring faceted, pixelated surfaces that add a playful aesthetic to safety. The modular pixel pattern allows customization, like varying facet density for style or fit. 

In the interactive tutorial, you'll begin by drawing a profile of the frame and extruding it. Next, you'll make six boxes and use Boolean to cut out the pixelated shapes. Thereafter, you'll add cylinders to create hinges for both the frame and the temples, and use cubes to form the temples. The hinges will work by attaching zip ties on both sides.

3D printing is also easier, but you have to enable supports and thereafter do a few post-processing.

Link to interactive tutorial: Pixel Glasses.

5. UB Trophy Base

The UB Trophy Base is an exciting project that merges creativity with practical design. Students can learn how to create custom bases for trophies, awards, or recognition pieces. The interactive tutorial covers skills such as designing a stable structure, applying textures, and understanding proportions and essential skills for product design and manufacturing.

This project is particularly useful for student clubs, competitions, or awards programs. It teaches students about custom manufacturing and personalization, giving them the tools to create meaningful designs that celebrate achievement while developing design and engineering skills.