3D printer competition open to students, others

Pinal County Board of Supervisors is sponsoring a countywide 3D printer competition to be hosted by the Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship for students, clubs or other associations interested in S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and 3D printing.

The competition will be held in the first quarter of this year and include a “maker” segment and a “designer” segment. The winner in each segment will receive a 3D printer.

In the “maker” segment, three teams will compete in building and operating a Printrbot Jr 3D printer. Each team will assemble a Printrbot Jr kit and run through a series of performance tests.

Finalists in the “designer” segment will help select the winning “maker” team, and the winning team will keep the printer they built.

The “design” segment is divided into three age groups. The middle school participants will compete in the creation of an original design toy; high school participants will compete in an original design (or redesign) of a consumer product, and college/adult participants will compete in the original design of teaching aids.

Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship will provide access to a 3D printer, scanner and software for applicants. Each age group winner will receive an award and the grand prize winner of the “design” segment will win a Printrbot Simple 3D printer Kit.

For more information is available by calling 520-510-5535.