For the past few years, 13-year-old Robert Dieter Jr. has been designing and printing his own three-dimensional creations, including golf tees, a combination lock and components to make his own three-dimensional printer.
So far it’s all been in fun. But now the Wheaton Christian Academy seventh-grader and Glen Ellyn resident is setting his sights on winning a three-dimensional printing contest sponsored by the Glen Ellyn Public Library. The contest is partly a promotion of the library’s 3D printing capabilities as well as a way to encourage the melding of art and technology.
Christina Keasler, the library’s middle-school librarian, said the contest supports STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum taught in area schools, but adds in art to form STEAM. Keasler said art should be part of the curriculum since it’s so important to education.
“There are numerous opportunities for art to blend with other subjects to create new perspectives,” Keasler said.
The contest is one way to showcase the art of design. This is the library’s first 3D printing contest, but the printer itself has become a popular tool for patrons to use, Keasler said. Several patrons regularly bring in 3D design files to be printed in the plastic filament used by the machine. Common items include keychains, animals and buildings. Printing time ranges from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the size of the item.
During the process, the plastic filament is layered as it prints the form of the design.
Before making his own 3D printer, Dieter was a regular user of the library’s printer. Keasler said she helped him print a number of components he needed for his own 3D printer.
Dieter said he’s designed numerous items, including the aforementioned lock and tees, plus parts for a small water pump and a working ink pen for his father, Robert Sr.
Dieter said he does not know what type of design he will submit, but plans to win the contest. Dieter spends several hours a week coming up with his own designs, he said.
“He’s very talented,” the elder Dieter said. “He also designed an iPhone stand for my car so I can use it hands free.”
Dieter quipped he’s banking on the success of his son’s designs to plan for early retirement.
Dieter said he displays one of the tees printed by his son on his desk at work.
The library is accepting design specs until Nov. 1. To be accepted for the contest, the 3D designs must be original and submitted in .stl format. Keasler said the winning selections will be printed in a special gold filament.
So far there have only been two entries submitted, but Keasler said she believes more will come the closer we get to the Nov. 1 deadline. Dieter said he has not submitted his contest entrant yet, but will within the next week or so.
Keasler said the 3D printing contest has the potential to become an annual event, provided there is enough community interest.
The library will get a second 3D printer after a planned remodeling. Keasler said the printers will be in the center of the remodeled youth area of the library where it and some of the items printed by it, can be viewed from multiple angles.
Alex Keown is a freelance reporter.
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