Consumers increasingly use 3D printers at home for a wide range of applications. Hobbyists use their printers to make parts to fix old arcade machines or even create custom fixtures around the house. Companies are making prototypes with ease, allowing their engineering teams to see how everything fits together before they are sent to manufacturing.

3D printers are useful creative tools for K–12 classrooms too. I’m fortunate to teach in a classroom that has 10 MakerBots, six of which are the MakerBot Replicator+. My middle school students love dreaming up designs to print.

The MakerBot Replicator+ makes it easy for students to take a concept from their mind’s eye to physical form. They’re developing valuable science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts and having fun doing it.

To control all the features of the printer, an easy-to-use, 3-inch LCD display resides on top of the Replicator+, along with a combination dial and button. Next to this is a USB port, which enables students to use USB flash drives to transfer their print projects from their computers to the printer.