A maker workbench with tools and a project in progress.
Guide wanted

3D Printing: From First Print to Functional Parts

Help people get past small prints to parts that actually work.

4 weeksOne 2-hour session a week, in person or remoteHybrid — in person or remote6–10 Members
Apply to teach this Course

The Course

For the person who set up a printer and can print what other people designed, but stalls on bigger or functional parts. Members learn to tune their machine, design simple parts in free software, choose the right material, and print parts that fit and hold up.

What Members walk away able to do

  • Calibrate and tune their own printer
  • Design simple functional parts in free CAD software
  • Choose a material and settings for strength, heat and fit
  • Diagnose failed prints instead of reprinting and hoping
  • Print a working part for a real project at home

Draft outline

A starting point. You shape the final version with us.

  1. Week 1 — Calibration, slicing settings and why prints fail
  2. Week 2 — CAD basics: measuring and designing a real part
  3. Week 3 — Materials, strength, tolerances and multi-part fits
  4. Week 4 — Members print and present a functional part

Who we're looking for

  • Someone who designs and prints functional parts regularly
  • Comfortable with at least one free CAD tool
  • Able to teach remotely with a camera on the printer

What AlongSide brings

We build the Course with you

You bring the know-how. We help shape the outline, write the checklists and handouts, and set the pacing.

A place to teach

Where it fits, the Course runs at an AlongSide Space — the Philadelphia garage, or the Linwood kitchen or gym.

Enrollment and payment handled

Members enroll and pay through AlongSide. Reminders and attendance are handled for you.

Members already asking

We promote the Course to people on AlongSide who have asked for this skill.

Already teach it? Bring it here

If you already run a Course on this subject, list it on AlongSide after a short review. It carries the AlongSide name and reaches our Members.

Pay agreed up front

Tuition, schedule and your share are agreed together before the Course launches.

How it works

  1. 1
    Apply

    Tell us about your experience. It takes about five minutes.

  2. 2
    Talk with us

    A short call about the Course, your schedule and how you teach.

  3. 3
    Audition

    Teach a 20-minute sample, either as a short video or live at an AlongSide Space.

  4. 4
    Build and launch

    We finish the Course with you, set the dates, and open enrollment.