3D Scanners Enable Tech Club to Serve Lander Community Through Custom Printing

In Lander, middle and high school tech club students want to use their skills to help the community by creating hard-to-find replacement items with 3D printers, but they lack the high-quality scanners needed to turn physical objects into printable digital models. When the tech club sponsor envisioned students using the school’s existing printers to solve community problems, he hit a snag—without scanners, students can only print items that already have existing 3D models available. Having worked with LOR several times on projects connecting students to community organizations, he reached out with a plan to purchase three 3D scanners to help launch a Community Projects Program, which would allow students to address community needs. For example, school custodians are already requesting replacement parts that don’t have existing models, and the three user-friendly scanners will allow middle and high school students to scan objects, create 3D models, and print solutions for students, staff, and community members. The scanners are high enough quality for professional results yet simple enough for middle schoolers to operate, enabling both schools to share the equipment. LOR’s funding will help purchase three Revopoint Miraco Plus 3D scanners, allowing tech club students to contribute positively to their community by solving real problems through technology.