Thanks to the receipt of several grants, the Central Library in Cranston is now able to offer teens the opportunity to learn a cutting-edge technology that many adults have yet to encounter = 3D printing.

A $500 legislative grant from state Sen. Hanna Gallo has made the teen 3D Printing Workshop possible. It was offered on three consecutive Mondays this month as part of the Cranston Public Library’s focus on technology and community this winter.

The three-part series has given the teens a comprehensive look at the skills and processes involved in 3D printing. It has also highlighted real-life applications for the technology, from the creation of prosthetics for people and animals to uses for NASA and in the culinary arts.

The class took place in the C Lab, a newly renovated, multimedia learning space funded by a $130,000 grant from the Champlin Foudnation and a $20,000 grant for technology from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The C Lab is a classroom that can be used for digital literacy classes, teen tech programs, workforce development and as an open technology space. It features a 3D printer, analog-to-digital transfer equipment and digital media creation equipment.

An ALLAccess in the Libraries grant funded 15 new laptops for the lab and the Exploration Station. The students in the 3D Printing Workshop used the laptops in their class sessions as they accessed the websites and software needed.

Katherine Boden, the emerging technologies librarian, facilitated the teen 3D Printing Workshop. However, each week, Cranston Public Library coordinator of youth services Emily Brown and head of teen services Linda Archetto were on hand to work with the students as well, providing individualized attention for any questions or needs that came up during the workshops.

“The workshop was broken down into what we called the three Ds,” Boden said. “The first week was ‘Duplicate,’ and the teens used the website Thingiverse.com to explore open source designs uploaded by other people. They found the ones they wanted to duplicate, ran them through the Makerbot software, scaling them down so that they could be printed in 30 minutes or less. They learned about the printers during this class, and watched several videos about 3D printing and some of its current uses.”

During the days following the first session, the students’ pieces were printed at the library and were waiting for them when they arrived for the second class.

“The second week was ‘Design.’ The students used the Tinkercad website, one of the best design websites for kids, and ran through a series of tutorial lessons contained within the Tinkercad program to start creating their own 3D rings,” Boden said. “And the final week was ‘Dream.’ The students continued working on their ring and once finished, could begin dreaming of new designs.”

Each week, the students were given a certificate of completion as they moved through the series of workshops.

“Once they have done all three, they are certified and they can now send us a file to be printed, they’ll know the process, the specifications and limitations for using the 3D printers,” Brown said. “They’re also able to volunteer and help others learning the process because they understand spatially how 3D printing works and how to transform something into a 3D design.”

The students involved in the class, all boys and one girl, ranged in age from grades six through 12, and each found the class to be challenging but helpful.

“I found the class to be informative and it helped me to learn a lot about 3D printers and how to make things,” said Vahe Ovspeian, a 10th-grader at Cranston High School East. “I definitely think this is something I will use in the future.”

Nic Sincyr, a seventh-grader at Western Hills Middle School, agreed.

“I think it was a challenge at first, but once you got to know what you were doing, it was really fun. I’d definitely take another class here in the future. I love these classes.”

Another series of 3D printing class for teens has already been planned, with dates set for three upcoming Wednesday nights: April 29, May 6 and May 13, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information on the upcoming class, contact the library’s teen department at 401-943-9080, ext. 112.