1 Understanding the Polar 3D Environment
Chapter 1
Understanding the Polar 3D Environment
Welcome to Polar 3D 2.0! If you have used Polar 3D 1.0, you willfind use of Polar 3D 2.0 enhanced but familar! Older documentationon Polar 3D 1.0 can be found at:
The Polar 3D environment is not just about high quality, reliable,cost effective 3D printers, but also provides a collaborative andflexible inventor space that supports management of printing fromanywhere in the world. The Polar 3D environment includes manyfeatures supporting and enhancing classroom use, and Polar 3Doffers the innovative, NGSS-aligned STEAMtrax curriculum, aswell as integrated access to an extensive set of curriculummodules from Maker’s Empire, to aid in bringing the excitementand learning opportunities of 3D printing directly into theclassroom.
Polar Cloud – The Polar Cloud is the central hub of the Polar 3Denvironment. It is a free, web-based platform for collaboration,design, class assignments, and lab management. Polar Cloud groupsallow teachers to group students by subject, and allows members tofind groups with mutual interests. Within the Polar Cloud, memberscollect and share objects to print using in-site CAD software toalter and adjust their .stl files. The Polar Cloud also allowsfor remote printing: you can control your printer from the office next door, a lab in another country, or 30,000 feet in theair.
Polar3D Printer – The Polar3D printer is unique in ways whichmake it very desirable, not just novel. The narrow footprint,simplicity of the hardware, quality print results, and robust,web-based printing control software are all tops on its list ofpositives.
The Polar Cloud supports additional types of printers, includingthe FlashForge Inventor II, and the many printers compatible withOctoPrint.
STEAMtrax – Curriculum is another component of maximizingthe educational benefit from classroom 3D printers, or a 3Dprinter lab. The STEAMtrax curriculum provides modulesthat are easy to align to NGSS or state standards, so whetheryou’re a teacher new to 3D printing, or a long-time “maker”,STEAMtrax can aid you in incorporating 3D printing into yourclassroom for a rich and exciting learning experience for yourstudents.
Maker’s Empire – The Polar Cloud provides integrated access tothe extensive wealth of curriculum modules from Maker’sEmpire.
