Young scientists from Russia develop engineering equipment for schoolchildren

Engineering education should start at from an early age. To organize scientific and technical creativity within the framework of additional education at schools Fablab Polytech created a set of available digital production equipment "DFKit" for engineering and technological classes.

The kit includes 3D scanner, 3D printer, laser and milling machines, as well as a set of additional information materials on how to use this equipment in the educational process. Particular features of the kit are simplicity, unified management and safety for children, so it is suitable for equipping classrooms, small amateur laboratories and centers of technical creativity.

"This idea came up as we started 3D modeling and prototyping intensive courses for schoolchildren, where participants get the task, a set of tools and materials for its implementation," says Polina Dyatlova, director of the Center for Scientific and Technical Creativity of Youth at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU). "Children would design models and adults cut future project parts on the industrial machines. Kids have always wanted to control the production process but it was too difficult and not safe. So, we decided to create educational equipment that will bring more children into engineering, allowing them to manage the whole production cycle from a draft to the final product by themselves."

The project is carried out in cooperation with LLC "Photomechanics" and supported by the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in Science and Technology in Russia. Fablab scientists plan to provide schools and centers of innovative and technical creativity with the equipment for technological classes. Within the framework of extracurricular activities movement of the National Technological Initiative it is planned to open digital production laboratories equipped with DFKit all over Russia.

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For reference:

Fab Lab Polytech at Peter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University is an open high-tech digital laboratory for young people, member of the worldwide Fab Lab network. The main goal of Fab Lab is to provide students and schoolchildren an opportunity to realize their technical ideas at the university. Fab Lab Polytech, part of the Center for Scientific and Technical Creativity of Youth at SPbPU, was founded in cooperation with LLC "Photomechanics" and officially opened May 21, 2013.

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