Nagpur: School books have been talking of 3D printing technology, but it has still not become so common that most students or even adults could see it for real. Raman Science Centre and Planetarium (RSC) has recently introduced the technology at its innovation centre, the new science laboratory, so that school students could learn and practically demonstrate 3D printing.A first two-day course on 3D printing began with 15 school students on Saturday at RSC. The centre plans to conduct similar workshops mostly on weekends.A 3D printer can create a physical object from a 3D digital model designed on a computer. It does so by typically laying down thin layers of a material in succession.The session began at 12pm with a presentation on the technology. Later on, the students were given training on designing the structure using the software AutoCAD. Later, they were taught to use the printer in creating the object designed on the computer. The first object the students learnt to create was a palm-sized model of RSC's main building, made in plastic.The 3D printer at RSC is a one-and-a-half foot machine, costing Rs5 lakh. Just like a 2D printer, it works as per the command given on a computer system. The base of the machine has a sensor that reads the programmes created on the computer and builds the object accordingly.One of the students attending the session, Padmini Badjate (13), said, "Here, we are creating the objects made in plastic, but we got to know that there are printers that could use materials including ceramic, gold, silver and even chocolate."Another student, Keneisha Saraf (13), said, "I have an interest in exploring technology. I had heard about 3D printing but hadn't seen it in real life. I have heard that car companies and architects use it for creating models for conceptualization."The workshop at RSC will be available mostly on weekends for students between Std 8 and 10. For students wishing to register for the workshop can contact RSC on 2770187.

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