NVBots wants to streamline 3D printing in order to make classroom integration more successful and accommodating. Taking advantage of a cloud based system and software that has cleaned the process of image-to-print into a simple format excising multiple software languages and steps, this 3D printer and presentation appear to fulfill their ambition. According to the website, the steps involved in uploading an image (or using one from the NV catalogue) are simplified to adjusting basic parameters in a print preview, sending the design to a queue, and retrieving the print removed by a robotic process. The fascinating aspect of the cloud-based printing process is the ability to print from any place able to send a file.
Many of the steps streamlined and added to the NVBot 3D printer process have been added with the classroom in mind. Simple additions like an administrator for final approval and the ability to send designs for 3D printing from sources beyond a desktop, or the ability to monitor prints remotely with a built-in camera. Outside of research integration of 3D printers in university settings, the 3D printer largely remains a novelty in classroom settings. There have been special projects initiated and produced with standard desktop 3D printers for high schools, but the NVBot will increase availability — and accessibility — with its novice-friendly software. With concise malleability, 3DP simply becomes more accessible. People once intimidated by the language of coding and mastery of software that is generally needed to produce high-quality 3D prints dramatically reduces when using NVBot’s 3DP model.
With 24 hour/7 day ability to print thanks to remote access and robotic print removal, NVBot’s creation sets the tone for what a 3D printer in a classroom can accomplish. NVBot’s system actually liberates the classroom from maintenance and vigilance so that attention can be focused on innovation and further development with 3DP. As the industry expands, it is common to see aspects become esoteric and convoluted, yet luckily the NVBot 3DP model serves as an example of progress through simplification.
