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The 3D Printing Capstone Contest

Welcome to the Capstone Challenge! Over the five days of camp, you will choose, plan, print, and present a 3D object that showcases everything you learn. The goal is a meaningful, creative, well-executed print that you are proud of.
You choose your project today (Day 1) and present it on Day 5. Picking early gives you the most time to print, fix problems, and iterate.

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Project timeline

Day 1: Choose your project

Decide what you want to make, get it approved by your instructor, and present your plan to the class.

Days 2-4: Design, slice, and print

Build your printer, then design or download your model, slice it, and print it. Optionally post-process it.

Day 5: Final presentations and judging

Present your finished project (or what you learned if it failed) and see how you scored.

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Rules and requirements

  • Choose your print on Day 1 and explain your idea to the class.
  • You may create your own model in CAD software or download one from a site like Thingiverse, Printables, or MakerWorld.
  • Your project must be approved by your instructor for feasibility - it has to fit the printer, finish in time, and use available materials.
  • Complete your print by Day 5. If it fails, that is okay - present what you learned.
  • You may use multiple printed parts, but they must all be finished and assembled by the deadline.
  • You may sand, glue, paint, or assemble your print.
  • Always do post-processing safely and under supervision.

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Your Day 5 presentation

On Day 5, each contestant presents their project and explains:

1. What it is

Describe your print and what it does.

2. Why you chose it

Tell us what made this project interesting to you.

3. The steps you followed

Walk through your process from design or download through slicing to completion.

4. Problems and solutions

Share what went wrong and how you fixed it. This is worth real points.
You are encouraged to iterate and “fail forward.” Mistakes are part of the process - the best presentations honestly explain problems and how they were solved. You are judged on effort, not just perfection.

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Judging criteria

Projects are scored out of 100 base points, with optional bonuses that can push you above 100.
Notice that problem solving is worth 15 points on its own. A print that failed but taught you a lot can still score very well if you explain what happened and how you responded.

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The prizes

First, second, and third place winners each choose one of three premium tri-color co-extrusion silk PLA spools - the kind that produce stunning multi-color prints like the dragons and dinosaurs below.
Tri-color silk PLA filament spool with a printed dragon

Tri-color silk PLA (red / yellow / blue)

Rainbow tri-color silk PLA filament spool with a printed dragon

Rainbow silk PLA

Matte tri-color PLA filament spool with printed models

Matte tri-color PLA

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Ideas to get you started

Not sure what to print? Here are some project directions at different difficulty levels.

Approachable

Nameplate, keychain, phone stand, desk organizer, or a low-poly animal.

Intermediate

Articulated dragon, a multi-part box with a lid, a functional gear toy, or a cosplay prop.

Ambitious

A custom-designed CAD model, a working mechanism, or an assembly of several printed parts.
Think about what you want to make and what is realistic to finish this week. A well-executed simple print beats an ambitious print that never finishes. When in doubt, ask your instructor to help scope your idea.
Before the end of Day 1, you should have: a project idea, instructor approval, and a short plan ready to present to the class.