Industrial - Bachelor

3MOD

3MOD is a mobile 3D printing workstation designed to make additive manufacturing more accessible in primary school classrooms. It is built solely on CNC cut birch plywood with custom 3D printed components. The design integrates printing, preparation and storage into a compact, vertical system that facilititates experimentation, problem-based learning and creative engagement without requiring dedicated makerspace facilities.

Rory Kenafake-Niven

Vote Now

The Opportunity

Research uncovered that 3D printing presents valuable opportunities for hands-on experimentation, problem based learning and the development of tangible design outcomes. However, Australian educators identified challenges surrounding access, teacher confidence, equipment setup and classroom integration.

While dedicated makerspaces provide valuable learning environments, they are not always practical or accessible within existing school infrastructure. 3MOD explores how additive manufacturing can be integrated more easily into everyday classroom activities, bringing essential making functions together within a compact, transportable workstation.

Massive chunks of time are taken away from the creation to just setting up and backing down.

Secondary-school Art Teacher, educator research interview

A Compact Making Station

3MOD brings printing, preparation and material storage together in a single vertical structure.

An integrated pull out worktop provides a temporary surface for laptop operation. Dedicated storage accommodates filament, tools and classroom resources. Locking castors allow the workstation to move between learning environments, and a rear service panel collects power distribution, cable routing and machine access.

Together, these features aim to reduce the practical demands of introducing 3D printing into existing classroom spaces for both teachers and students.

Designed to Adapt

Constructed from CNC-cut birch plywood and custom PETG components, 3MOD combines traditional materials with current digital fabrication methods.

The structural connectors, grab handles and modular fittings form an integrated construction system. The repeating cross shaped mounting pattern provides a platform for future custom designed accessories, allowing the workstation to adapt to different classroom requirements. The unit is highly adaptable to different machines and classroom workflows.

Creative Ownership

Beyond its functional purpose, 3MOD encourages students to contribute to their own learning environment. The exposed plywood side panels provide a canvas for classroom artwork and personalisation, while the modular mounting system creates opportunities for students to design and print their own functional additions. These possibilities extend the product’s intended role beyond operating a printer, encouraging creative participation and experimentation beyond adoption.

1:1 scale functional prototype

Rory Kenafake-Niven

Rory is an emerging industrial designer with a strong interest in material exploration, digital fabrication and prototyping. His work spans consumer products, furniture and functional systems, with a focus on combining traditional materials and contemporary manufacturing processes to create thoughtful, practical and engaging design objects.

Vote For This Project

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Project