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The 3D Printing Capstone Challenge

Welcome to the Capstone Challenge! Over the five days of camp, you will choose, design, print, and present a 3D object that shows off everything you learn. The goal is a creative, well-made print that you are proud of - and that you designed or customized yourself whenever possible.
You choose your project today (Day 1) and present it on Day 5. Picking early gives you the most time to design, print, fix problems, and improve.

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Project timeline

Timeline of the capstone project across the five days of camp

Your capstone journey from choosing an idea on Day 1 to presenting on Day 5

Day 1: Choose your project

Decide what you want to make, get it approved by your instructor, and share your idea with the class.

Days 2-3: Build and prepare

Build your printer, level the bed, and learn Tinkercad and Cura so you are ready to create.

Days 3-4: Design and print

Model your project in Tinkercad (or download and customize one), slice it, and print it.

Day 5: Present and celebrate

Present your finished project (or what you learned if it failed) and receive your certificate.

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Rules and requirements

  • Choose your idea on Day 1 and explain it to the class.
  • You may design your own model in Tinkercad or download one from a site like Thingiverse, Printables, or MakerWorld - but customizing or designing your own earns bonus points.
  • Your project must be approved by your instructor for feasibility - it has to fit the printer, finish in time, and use PLA.
  • 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 by the deadline.
  • You may sand, glue, paint, or assemble your print.
  • Always do post-processing safely and under adult supervision.

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Your Day 5 presentation

On Day 5, each person 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 the finished print.

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.
Capstone judging rubric showing point categories and bonus points

How your capstone is scored - creativity, effort, and problem-solving all count

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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Ideas to get you started

Not sure what to make? Here are some directions at different difficulty levels. You will learn the design skills to make these across Days 3 and 4.

Approachable

Name-tag keychain, phone stand, desk organizer, cookie cutter, or a low-poly animal.

Intermediate

A custom box with a lid, a nameplate with raised letters, a code-built basket, or a simple toy.

Ambitious

A fully custom Tinkercad design, an articulated model, or an assembly of several printed parts.
Before the end of Day 1, you should have: a project idea, instructor approval, and a short plan ready to present to the class.