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The Kids 3D Lab Blog

Short, easy lessons about 3D design and 3D printing. Read one, then go and build it!

What Is 3D Printing? A 3D printer makes real things you can hold, one thin layer at a time. Here is how it works, in simple words. 5 min read Make Your First 3D Model in 10 Minutes A step-by-step guide to your very first 3D model — a name tag with your own name on it. 5 min read Millimetres Made Easy: How Big Is Your Model? Every number in Kids 3D Lab is in millimetres. Learn how big a millimetre is, and how to make your model just the right size. 5 min read How Holes Work (and How to Make a Key Tag) In Kids 3D Lab any shape can become a hole. Learn how holes cut into other shapes, and make a key tag with a hole for the ring. 5 min read Build a Snowman by Stacking Shapes Stack three balls, add a carrot nose and a hat. A fun first project that teaches you how to put shapes on top of each other. 5 min read Draw Your Own Shape and Make It 3D Use the Kids 3D Lab drawing board to draw any shape you like — with a pencil, lines, boxes and circles — and turn it into a 3D model. 5 min read Turn, Flip and Stretch: Change Any Shape Learn three ways to change a shape in Kids 3D Lab — turn it with the coloured turn arrows, flip it over, and stretch it to make new shapes. 5 min read Getting Your Model Ready to Print Six simple checks before you 3D print — flat bottoms, no floating parts, the right size — plus how to save the file for your printer. 6 min read 20 Fun Things to Make in Kids 3D Lab Need an idea? Here are 20 fun, easy things kids can design in Kids 3D Lab, from name tags to crowns, rockets and robots. 5 min read Kids 3D Lab for Parents and Teachers How Kids 3D Lab helps children aged 5 to 11 learn 3D design, measuring and problem solving — with lesson ideas for home and the classroom. 5 min read