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My 13 year old nephew has been wanting a 3D printer for over a year now. His father (my brother) thinks he is too young to own and operate one. I however feel that he could easily learn how to use it (with help from his Uncle - me). I'm willing to purchase him a Cube 3D Printer but his father still is unsure. What are you opinions? Is 13 too young to own and operate a 3D printer, or would it be beneficial to his education and well being?
I'd love to hear your opinions.
Thanks!
Too young at 13? If he can handle an iPhone, XBox and Facebook, then he can handle a 3D printer.
It will get him out of the house and into the workshop, and he might learn some useful skills.
I would make sure that he researched the development of 3D printers so he has a good background knowledge. He will need help learning to use a CAD program, but that knowledge is no burden to carry.
Old Man Emu
My guess is that 3D printing should be learned at a younger age. So 13 is not too young.
If he has been wanting one for a year now, then he's most probably really interested.
Using e.g. openSCAD as modelling 3D modelling language
teaches geometry math and programming in a playful manner.
I'd avoid a rather closed system like the cube printer. See here:
http://betabeat.com/2012/05/maker-mo...ng-cartridges/
Being able to improve the printer is part of the fun.
Makerbot & Ultimaker have the gratest US & EU community respectively since they're the ones longest around.
There are plenty of upgrades and accessoires for those printers on the Thingiverse website already.
Don't worry the DIY printer sets are really easy to assemble.
A 3D printer would contribute to his abilities a considerable amount, MUCH much more so than video games, or any other thing available. He would learn valuable skills, that can be used later in life. Skills that would give him a huge head start in programming, engineering, and many other areas, that can help with job opportunities. It is never too young to learn things that advance your job opportunities, especially something that is of interest to a young person.
Too young ? What dangers does his father see ? Is his father afraid he will be asked questions he does not know how to answer ? Is he afraid he will be shown up ? I think his father's excuses are weak at best. Buy him a decent 3D printer, ask around on various forums as to what is best for a young person. This technology is changing RAPIDLY, it is too every advantage for a person to understand as much as they can as young as possible !
Get the nephew to show you he is ready. Have him produce some models on the PC. They had courses in CAD when I was in HS nearly 2 decades ago. Have him write you a report on what he would do it with it.
I was thinking about buying my nephew a 3D printer for Christmas. I don't know how old he is but I think he is around 10. The kid already has everything else, iPhone 4s, kindle fire, kindle paperwhite and iPad mini. He is not a computer wiz by any means. He looks competent on the mobile devices though.
I just see him playing web games and mindcraft on the PC. I want to see him get into STEM projects but I think this 3D printing stuff is way over his head.
I did order him an Arduino kit with ethernet on indiegogo. I also bought myself a few kits since its dirt cheap and comes with tons of stuff. It has video lessons and even a book. BE MAKER! KIT http://tinyurl.com/lxlrsv4
Let me give you a personal opinion based on myself.
I started working with a Makerbot Replicator 2 when I had just turned 15. Looking back, now about to turn 17, I regret not looking into this sooner. It has opened up so many opportunities for me, including jobs at my school working with the printers I started with.
I think that you should get it for him. I am starting to save up my money to buy one of my own, and I greatly wish that I had gotten one a few years back because I'm thinking of all the things I could have done.
13 the kids almost in high school. At 13 I was using a table saw, lathe, roto-mold, vacuum former and drill press in shop class. I would say 4-5 might be to young to operate the printer but even at that age they could design something and have their parent use the printer.
My 19 month son can take the iPad, open it, choose his game, play it. My guess is you could begin to play with that at 10 even before with some help!
I would say let him also learn Solidworks of another modeling Software,
Since imo if you have a printer, you should also be able to make something with it, Make something you made and not always STLs from the web.
If he actualy wants to learn it, and shows he realy wants one and is intrested in the technology sure he will love it ^^
I just wouldnt give a Printer right away at every user that doesnt even know how to create a cube.
Also i wouldnt ofc let him play with it alone the first months but thats kinda normal i guess ^^ you can't do alot wrong but still.
Let him get a printer if he really wants it, the worst that can happen is that he burns his fingers on the hot end.
Generally parents are way to overprotective nowadays..
Yes, burning is just about the only risk apart from the fumes. If he uses PLA, I think it would be a great idea.
BTW, I'm 13 and I have 1 + 1/2!
I burn myself regularly on our Replicator 2X but it's nothing that leaves a scar or mark. It just stings for a bit then goes away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jo1212
As for the fumes, it's not really that dangerous unless you're in a small enclosed space with absolutely no ventilation. Our printers are located in the back of our computer lab, and we haven't had any problems. All we have for ventilation is a window AC unit, and the door to the room is usually open.
Going back to burning, it's really only a problem on some units. I can really only speak about this from experience with Makerbot units, though. I have almost never burned myself on the Replicator 2, but on the 2X it's a thing with almost every print.
(NOTE: I burn myself because I'm usually in a rush to get things off the printer and get new things printing. We usually have around 1-4 models in the que to be printed at any given time.)
New era child always something in new with technology friendly behave with new technologies.
If he can use computer of smart phone , a 3D printer is not hard to operate for him.
2 year old thread - so did the kid ever get a printer ?
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/attach...1&d=1282248052
A 13yr old is a variable in an equation. You have to analyze it based on that specific 13yr old. What are his/her capabilities. What are his/her interests. And what is his/her maturity state. And how responsible are they? Honestly, I have met some of my granddaughter's classmates (she's now 14). And frankly I wouldn't trust them with a rubber chicken let alone a 3d printer.
Case in point...
http://cdn.ipernity.com/116/55/59/35...bb02c1.800.jpg
Thats my 13yr (now 14) old granddaughter behind my $6000 Barrett MRAD. Would I let just any 13yr old do that? No. She showed the ability to reason out the safety aspects. The ability to control the weapon in a safe way was paramount in deciding whether to let her do so. She had proven herself with smaller weapons and progressed up to something this large. FYI, she has completed hunter safety training. She's shooting at 400yd and putting groups on paper the size of a 50c piece.
So, would I let a 13yr old handle a 3d printer? Depends on the 13yr old. Vanna? Yea, I probably would if she had such an interest. Age notwithstanding, the ability of the person should be the determining factor. Would I just drop one in their lap with no guidance or instruction? Nope. Guidance is always needed. FYI, thats me on the spotting scope with her in the photo above.
I'm speaking for myself here, at 13, I was probably able to handle a 3D printer. Can every 13 year old do it? Nope. Can a determined 13 year old do it? Yup.
Like others said, xbox, facebook, Iphones, clouds, apps and games all have learning curves just like printers do.
... Age and maturity are disconnected. In France you can do solo glider flights from 15. Not everyone can but the provision exists.
If the lad is ready to listen and be careful, it's a good skill to learn.
Unlike xbox, facebook and iPhones, the 3D printer is a mechanical device capable of severely burning human skin. At 230c for ABS, the exposed hot end is the temperature of a 440f oven. I am also not sure how much downward force the z screws can supply but its focused on a tiny 1/8" diameter metal tip so any reasonable force is focused and concentrated in a small area. I am not willing to test it, but I suspect tiny fingers caught between the bed and the moving carriage would likely be injured, potentially held in place and then cooked to well done. Especially if the control computer was any significant distance from the printer where the trapped child couldn't reverse the carriage with the other arm/hand.Quote:
Originally Posted by DBFIU
So, dangers DO exist. Thats why I said monitoring and training are always en vogue.
When I was 12 I was handed an axe and told to go chop down a tree. At 16 I built a chapel. But neither all on my own, I had adult supervision.
No I'm not amish, that's Boy scouts.
It's all about proper guidance and supervision. After 20 some years in that program, I've seen all types of young adults perform various acts that I've seen grown ups fail at.
You can't give a kid a tool like this, and expect them to treat it with the respect and care it deserves without some guidance.
<-- Eagle Scout, 35 yr BSA vet and 5x Philmont trips as a youth and 3x as an adult.
Stuff we did as kids would land us in prison now. My lunch box was a 50mil ammo can. My pocket always had a swiss army knife in it. Most of the time it still does. In HS, my trunk always had a hatchet, axe, bowie knife and a couple shotguns with a sack of ammo (dad ran the Skeet range where I worked reloading after school). Now, if kids even mention things like that in passing, police are called. Sigh, how times have changed. Not always for the better I am afraid.