Grants & Funding

Contest Giving Away 3D Printers to Schools

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 03/31/15

Lulzbot TAZ 5

Schools have until April 5 to vie for one of 20 3D printers being given away by open source proponent Aleph Objects. The company's Lulzbot TAZ 5 sells for $2,200 and can print an object that's 11.7 inches by 10.8 inches by 9.8 inches.

Unlike many sub-$3,000 3D printers, this unit can print in more than ABS plastic; it accommodates wood filled filaments, polyester, bronze and copper filled filaments, polycarbonate, nylon and other materials. Also, the company encourages its customers to copy, modify and convert any of its hardware and software.

It continues that theme of openness in its product give-away. Any accredited grade school, community college, college, university or library can enter as long as they meet four requirements:

• They own an educator-operated physical space with access to a computer;
• They have some idea about how they'd integrate a LulzBot into the class projects;
• They believe "in sharing resources and knowledge to build and make things"; and
• They encourage the use of free software and open source hardware.

The entry form asks for particulars.

Further details are available on the contest site.

LulzBbot 3D printers are in use at Colorado State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Carnegie Mellon University, among others.