Using the Robo Cloud network, large or multi-part print jobs can be routed across multiple printers at the Impact Career Innovation Center, with added capacity at Durango High School (DHS), Durango Big Picture High School (DBPHS), Escalante Middle School, and Miller Middle School.
DSD staff will soon see expanded opportunities for collaborative, student-driven design work thanks to a developing vision for makerspace learning across all grade levels. A new video created by Durango Big Picture High School freshman and Makerspace Ambassador Fisher Boulden highlights the streamlined approach the district is taking to help teachers and departments request 3D printing support.
Makerspace Ambassadors
In addition to providing a valuable service to district staff, this workflow is also a powerful driver of student learning. DSD's Makerspace Ambassadors — trained student interns from DHS and DBPHS — manage the entire network from file intake to final production. In doing so, they actively develop key Portrait of a Graduate competencies, serving as Courageous Leaders, Confident Communicators, and Creative Problem-Solvers as they coordinate printers, troubleshoot issues, and support projects across all campuses.
Looking forward
Every DSD school has makerspace equipment, and the eventual goal is a tiered, collaborative model that lets students at each grade level contribute meaningfully, with elementary school students creating designs, middle schoolers converting those ideas into print-ready CAD models, and high school students overseeing final printing and production.
Looking ahead, the district anticipates expanding this work to include:
- VR-assisted CAD design
- High-speed multi-color 3D printers to increase capacity across school sites
- Elementary school makerspace visits, where ambassadors lead STEAM-focused learning experiences
How staff submit project ideas
Staff requesting 3D prints are invited to submit project ideas of any size. Because every request is unique, their first step is to email the makerspace team directly to receive tailored guidance on file formats, size limits, turnaround estimates, and next steps before they design and submit a file.