3-D Printing Specialists

Begin learning about 3-D printing by checking out Web sites and publications. Suggestions include What is 3D Printing? (https://3dprinting.com/what-is-3d-printing); What is Additive Manufacturing? (https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-additive-manufacturing); and the Beginner’s Guide to 3D Printing (https://3dprintingindustry.com/3d-printing-basics-free-beginners-guide). Watch the movie Print the Legend, which spotlights the history and achievements of several 3-D printing companies, including MakerBot, 3D Systems, Formlabs, and Stratasys.

The manufacturing engineering association SME offers an annual Digital Manufacturing Challenge in which contestants use additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques to solve real-world problems. It's open to both high school and college students. Visit https://www.sme.org/aboutsme/awards/digital-manufacturing-challenge to learn more.

One of the best ways to learn more about 3-D printing is to try out a 3-D printer at your school, local library, or park district. As you gain hands-on experience, you’ll soon learn if you like this field and want to further explore it by taking a class or even asking your parents to purchase a 3-D printer (consumer models are still relatively pricey but can be purchased for less than $300).

Participate in information interviews with 3-D printing specialists. In such an interview—which can be conducted in-person, on the phone, or through video-conferencing technology—you will get the opportunity to ask 3-D printing specialists about their job duties, work environment, likes and dislikes about their careers, educational training, and other topics that will help you to learn more about the field. Ask your school counselor or a teacher to help you set up information interviews. Perhaps you could even job-shadow a 3-D printing specialist to learn even more about the field.