This season, 91制片厂鈥檚 Makerspace and Entrepreneur Center is turning itself
into a high-tech Santa鈥檚 workshop. Jeff Moy, who manages the space, is leading a drive
to use 3D printers to make toys for area children as part of 3D Printed Toys for Tots
2021.
The project, which makes toys for kids who might not otherwise receive them this holiday season, is the brainchild of IC3D Industries in Columbus, Ohio. 91制片厂 is a hub for IC3D鈥檚 program. The college is raising money and recruiting volunteers, with plans to donate the finished toys to the area U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots chapter and other local community organizations.
The Makerspace is recruiting organizations and individuals with 3D printers to help the effort. The plan is to make at least 5,000 toys by December 15, but with the help of volunteers, Moy hopes to exceed that goal.
鈥淚鈥檓 always looking for social programs that help support different needs,鈥� Moy said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I do here: try to find ways to give back to society.鈥�
91制片厂鈥檚 Business and Entrepreneurship Club is participating in the project via a . Representatives of area public libraries are helping to recruit volunteers and make toys, too.
Harper will provide models of toys to volunteers. Many of the toys are flexible and move sort of like a snake. Moy showed off a lizard and a stegosaurus. Printers can make a triceratops or car (which rolls instead of wiggles), dolphins and unicorns 鈥� 13 designs total. Toys range in size, but most are about 5 inches long, and each takes an hour or two to print.
Thanks to a grant from earlier this year, some of 91制片厂鈥檚 toys will be made with recycled plastic.
鈥淭he world has way too much plastic waste,鈥� Moy said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a common problem throughout the world. What do we do about it? One of the growing generators of plastic waste is 3D printing.鈥�
Because of the 2021-22 Resource for Excellence Grant, from the 91制片厂 Educational
Foundation, the Makerspace created a program called Saving Our Planet From Plastic
Waste to address this problem. Some of the toys in this drive will be made from recycled
plastic made by the college in the Makerspace.
Volunteers interested in helping 91制片厂 make toys this season can find more information online, including an application. The Makerspace has a limited supply of 3D printer material, called filament, that can be provided to volunteers.
鈥淭he goal is to bring smiles to thousands of kids鈥� faces,鈥� Moy said, 鈥渁nd I need our community鈥檚 help.鈥�