MakerBot Sketch Classroom: The 3D Printer for Schools
Last Updated: April 26, 2026
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The MakerBot Sketch Classroom is a two-printer bundle built for schools ready to bring 3D printing into everyday lessons. It is the most popular 3D printer for schools in the MakerBot range, used in over 10,000 classrooms worldwide. Whether you are a STEM coordinator, school principal, or IT manager, this guide covers what is included, how classroom 3D printing works with this bundle, and why Australian schools are adopting it.
What Is the MakerBot Sketch Classroom?
The MakerBot Sketch Classroom is a complete 3D printing package designed for K-12 education. The bundle includes two MakerBot Sketch printers, four large spools of PLA filament (1 kg each), two additional spools inside the printers, spatulas and wire cutters for post-processing, and full access to MakerBot Cloud for print management.
Each printer offers a 150 x 150 x 150 mm (6 x 6 x 6 inch) build volume. An enclosed chamber with a particulate filter keeps air quality safe. A flexible build plate makes removing prints easy, and an intuitive touchscreen guides users through each step. Students watch prints from almost every angle, including the top.
This bundle is purpose-built for education. Unlike standalone desktop printers, the Sketch Classroom pairs hardware with software, training, and curriculum resources. Teachers are not left to figure things out alone.
Why Schools Choose This 3D Printer for Schools
Student engagement is the driving force. Andrea from the MakerBot Education team puts it plainly: "We can try all day to make our students care about what we're trying to teach them but they won't care unless they're directly engaged unless they have a direct connection with what they're learning and that's what 3d printing does in the classroom."
This direct connection separates 3D printing from textbook-based STEM activities. Students design a solution, send it to the printer, and hold the result in their hands. The feedback loop is immediate. Schools like the Si Se Puede Foundation have built entire STEM centres around MakerBot printers for this reason.
Two printers in the classroom double throughput. A typical student project prints at roughly 50 x 50 x 50 mm (2 x 2 x 2 inches). You fit four to five projects on a single build plate. For a class of 30 students, two printers running at once means every project finishes within two to three days, even with limited printing time.
Safety matters when choosing a 3D printer for schools. The fully enclosed chamber keeps moving parts and heated components away from students. The build plate heats to 100 degrees Celsius inside the enclosure, but external surfaces stay cool. Noise levels stay low enough for printing during lessons.
Classroom 3D Printing Management with MakerBot Cloud
File management is one of the biggest pain points for teachers running 3D printers in schools. Andrea describes it: "A lot of teachers when they first get their 3d printer or their sets of 3d printers they finally run into a common issue and that's how do I manage all my students files when I have such a limited amount of time."
MakerBot Cloud solves this. It is a browser-based platform with no software installation. Teachers queue student prints, select which printer to send them to, check print status, and view recent history from any device. Students do not need individual accounts.
The workflow from design to print is simple. Students design in Tinkercad (or another 3D modelling tool), export the file, and send it to the printer through MakerBot Cloud in three to four clicks. Teachers monitor and control prints remotely, including pausing or restarting jobs from home or during meetings.
Built-in cameras on each printer let teachers check progress without walking over. A practical feature for anyone managing multiple classrooms or running prints overnight.
Curriculum Alignment and 3D Printing Course Resources
MakerBot provides over 600 lesson plans spanning K-12 education. These cover mathematics, science, engineering, technology, art, geography, history, and language arts. Access is free with no separate subscription.
The curriculum follows a design thinking framework MakerBot calls "ask, sketch, make." Students identify a problem (ask), brainstorm solutions (sketch), and prototype their design on the 3D printer (make). This maps directly to design and technologies learning areas in the Australian Curriculum.
MakerBot also offers a certification programme for teachers and students. Teacher certification has two levels: Operator and Curriculum Creator. Student certification has four levels: Operator, Design Thinking, Applied Design Thinking, and Design for 3D Printing. All certifications are self-paced and completed online.
The Operator level covers printer setup and basic operation. Curriculum Creator helps teachers build their own 3D printing lesson plans. Student certifications progress from basic printer use through to designing parts optimised for 3D printing. This takes students from primary school curiosity through to workforce-ready skills.
The MakerBot Educator's Guidebook, described by MakerBot as "the ultimate 3D printing textbook for students and educators," provides structured project guides and teaching frameworks. The Thingiverse Education Community adds hundreds of project ideas teachers adapt for their own classrooms. For a deeper look at what 3D printing delivers in a school setting, see our guide on the top 5 benefits of 3D printing in education.
Setting Up for Success in Your School
Daily setup takes 30 to 45 seconds. Flip the rear power switch, and the printer is ready. Teachers who pack printers away each day do so quickly. MakerBot recommends keeping the original packaging for transport between rooms.
Filament supply lasts longer than expected. The four large spools in the bundle are enough for a full semester of continuous printing. A lighter schedule stretches them to a full academic year. For any 3D printer for schools, ongoing material costs matter, and PLA is one of the most affordable filaments available.
The return on investment shifts by grade level:
K-5: Inspire curiosity in STEAM subjects. Students create learning models and develop spatial reasoning with simple design tools.
Years 6-8: Build design thinking through real-world problem solving. Students spot everyday problems (a wobbly desk, an ergonomic phone stand) and design physical solutions.
Years 9-12: Develop professional 3D design skills. Students move from Tinkercad to Fusion 360 or Inventor, simulating real engineering workflows and building portfolios for higher education.
Andrea from MakerBot Education explains: "The sooner that we get students comfortable with 3d printing with designing for 3d printing with creating solutions and being proactive about the technology that they have the more ready that they'll be for the future when they enter higher education and the real world."
For schools needing funding support, the MakerBot Grant Guide identifies over 50 grant sources and includes 10 tips for writing successful applications, written by an educator.
Frequently Asked Questions About 3D Printers in Schools
How many students use the MakerBot Sketch Classroom at once?
The MakerBot Sketch Classroom is designed for a full classroom of roughly 30 students. Not every student prints at the same time. Projects are queued through MakerBot Cloud and printed in batches. With two printers running and typical project sizes of 50 x 50 x 50 mm, a full class of 30 finishes within two to three days. Schools with five classes of 30 or more students should consider additional Sketch Classroom bundles for faster turnaround.
What materials does the MakerBot Sketch Classroom use?
The MakerBot Sketch Classroom uses PLA filament, a plant-based material safe for classroom environments. PLA does not produce harmful fumes. MakerBot also offers Tough PLA, a blend with properties closer to ABS providing greater flexibility and higher tensile strength for demanding student projects. Both are available through Australian 3D Printers.
How long does a typical classroom print take?
Print time depends on size and complexity. A typical student project at 50 x 50 x 50 mm takes one to three hours. Larger or more detailed prints reach up to eight hours. Teachers batch four to five smaller projects on a single build plate to maximise each print cycle.
Does MakerBot offer teacher training for 3D printing?
Yes. MakerBot offers a free, self-paced certification programme with two teacher levels (Operator and Curriculum Creator) and four student levels. The programme was created in direct response to feedback from teachers who received printers with no training. For any school evaluating a 3D printer for schools, this built-in training removes a major adoption barrier. MakerBot also provides the Educator's Guidebook, over 600 lesson plans, and access to the Thingiverse Education Community for ongoing project ideas and peer support.
Want to see the full MakerBot Sketch Classroom bundle and request a quote? Get in touch, or browse the complete MakerBot range.
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