A 3D Printer That's Child's Play

    April 8, 2016

    8th grader launches 3D printer company to inspire STEM students.

    He builds rockets and his name is Rocket. It’s true. His real name is Rocket Burns. And, aside from competing in rocketry and science fair challenges, teaching programming to elementary students, and giving a TEDx talk, he’s also started his own company called Rocket3D, which is on a mission to provide easy-to-use 3D printer kits for under $100 in an effort to inspire the next tech-savvy generation.

    Did I mention he’s still in middle school?

    He’s already engineered his printer from the ground up with a focus on quality and affordability, thus launching the low-cost 3D printer revolution. All he needs to get this business off the ground is a little funding.

    Rocket3D is currently raising money on HatchPad, a crowdfunding site for student entrepreneurs. The campaign donations will go toward building and testing prototypes and developing the website and go-to-market strategy.

    Seems like a real worthy cause to me. Contributors are supporting a future business leader and encouraging a generation to embrace science, technology, engineering and math—thereby cultivating our future workforce. Oh, and by the way, you’ll have access to a really cool 3D printer product. It’s a win-win-win.

    (Rocket for President!)

    About the Author

    Stephanie Neil | Editor-in-Chief, OEM Magazine

    Stephanie Neil has been reporting on business and technology for over 25 years and was named Editor-in-Chief of OEM magazine in 2018. She began her journalism career as a beat reporter for eWeek, a technology newspaper, later joining Managing Automation, a monthly B2B manufacturing magazine, as senior editor. During that time, Neil was also a correspondent for The Boston Globe, covering local news. She joined PMMI Media Group in 2015 as a senior editor for Automation World and continues to write for both AW and OEM, covering manufacturing news, technology trends, and workforce issues.
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