Academy at Palumbo wins 3D carving machine to outfit new makerspace

The Academy at Palumbo, a public high school in Graduate Hospital, won a 3D carving machine to outfit its new makerspace.

The school was one of 50 winners out of more than 150 applicants to a contest run by Chicago-based hardware store Inventables, according to company spokesman Michael Una. With the contest, Inventables hoped to put 3D carving machines into the hands of all types of makers, Una said.

The school, which is known for its award-winning STEM programs, just hit its $2,600 crowdfunding goal to build a workshop this spring. The Academy at Palumbo is one of several Philly schools now building makerspaces — workshops focused on hands-on, digital fabrication, to teach students STEM skills.

The Academy at Palumbo won a 3D carving machine, also known as CNC milling, which creates parts and designs from wood and metal. It can make things like wood furniture, aluminum machine parts and electronic circuit boards. It differs from a 3D printer, which only creates items from plastic.

Out of the 50 winners of the contest, The Academy was one of seven that are focused on youth hardware programs. It was the only winner in Philadelphia. Inventables chose the Academy because of its mission, Una said:

Their instructor Klint Kanopka came across as a very passionate, resourceful guy who would put this technology to good use, and he already has a curriculum in place where students are designing in 3D so it seemed like a natural fit.