3D Jail Project - IO1 - Competence framework for 3D printing in jail

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PRUSA i3 MK3S: https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/
BCN3D Printers: https://www.bcn3dtechnologies.com/es/
LEON3D Printers: https://www.leon-3d.es/
ULTIMAKER 3D Printers: https://ultimaker.com/
All of these companies started as makers, building 3D printers under the RepRap
movement. Taking all of this in consideration, once the inmates have learned how to design,
they could also learn how to build machines. Moreover, they could improve their designs, as
they would have been able to practise their designing skills. With this knowledge, the
inmates can even start and develop a business focused on 3D designing and printing when
they finish their detention period, which would help them to reinstate into society and make
a living. Regarding the implementation and development of a 3D-Printed items shop for the
inmates to work in, there are different ways to make it possible and valuable. It could be
planned as a 3D print-on-demand shop, managed by the inmates, with the purpose of
obtaining economic benefits. This way they could also learn how to manage a small business.
There are some print-on-demand websites that could be used in this case, like for example
https://www.freelabster.com/es/start-printing/ . The only problem with this is that it would
require access to internet, which is not provided by all of the detention facilities. It could
also be possible to plan it as a 3D-Printing crafting shop, where they could learn how to
design and create new items to sell on the market e.g. small pieces of jewellery. There are
new materials like PLA with copper or metals which might be useful to make 3D-printed
jewellery.
3D printing in solid metal requires very costly equipment, typically between $200,000 and
$850,000 just for the machine. Additionally, you would require special printing materials and
a very expensive furnace to “finalize” the prints. One alternative to this, is to use 3D printer
metal filaments, which are basically normal filaments with a certain amount of metal. This
means they can be used with a regular desktop FDM printer. Metal filaments come in a
variety of materials ranging from copper and bronze to iron and stainless steel. Resulting
prints feel more solid, with the heft you would expect from a solid metal object. And the
look is very similar to cast metal when printed. It can also be polished or even caused to
“rust”, in the case of iron-filled filament. Post-processing is possible to give a variety of
effects.
Other products to be crafted could be decoration pieces, toys and games for children and
similar objects which could be also sold on websites focused on the craft making market,
such as https://www.etsy.com/, thus obtaining economic benefits which could help the
inmates gain some resources while detained, besides the knowledge acquired to get a job
or start a small business afterwards.
Another focus could be the 3D-printing of non-technical, or technical parts that are used in
the industrial production, according to its standards. These are very used in the industrial
field, as the 3D-printing process makes the creation of products cheaper and more
accessible. Also, it can help remove the risk or errors, wasted materials and money, and it
makes possible to develop ideas at a faster pace, and this can help companies to reduce
manufacturing time from months to days, while ensuring that they remain ahead of their
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