This is a compilation of the articles about 3D printing that have appeared in Futureminds over the past three years.

They span designing for 3D printing, types of printers, teaching schemes and safe use of these machines in a school.

This guide gives an overview of the types of things that should be considered when planning an activity that uses plastics based materials. 

This edition of Futureminds has contributions about the future of D&T, novel project ideas, plastic recycling, 3D printing, extraction, food and textiles.

There are also the usual updates from our work, including about our move to the new makerspace.

Additive manufacturing is a popular activity in schools, with the advent of relatively cheap 3D printers.

This project covers the use of a desktop 3D printer, using PLA filament, extruded through a heated nozzle.

The same safety considerations should be borne in mind when using other 3D printers, or rapid prototyping machines.