Things to prepare:

• Use a personal device, or confirm with your IT department that your corporate device can access tinkercad.com
• Create a free TinkerCAD account at tinkercad.com (5 minutes — recommended to do before the day)

This one‑day, hands‑on workshop introduces 3D printing to professionals across all industries and departments. No engineering background is required — the program is designed to be accessible and engaging for everyone.

Participants will experience a live 3D printer demonstration, work with free browser‑based CAD software (TinkerCAD), and operate a 3D printer. The combination of design and printing activities ensures that learners gain practical confidence to understand, discuss, and recognise when 3D printing is useful within their organisations.

By the end of the day, each participant will take home a personalised object they designed and printed. They will also leave with a clear grasp of both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with adopting this transformative technology in the workplace.

Objective

At the end of this highly interactive workshop, successful participants will be able to:

• Explain how 3D printing works (typical design-to-print workflow)
• Recognize the scale range and different methods of 3D printing
• Identify common materials used in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
• Design and export a simple 3D model using free browser-based CAD software (TinkerCAD)
• Operate a desktop FDM printer and troubleshoot basic issues (guided lab)
• Evaluate opportunities for 3D printing adoption within their own organisation
• Apply intellectual property principles to the use and sharing of STL files and printed products
• Assess safety considerations including material fumes and structural integrity of parts
• Create a personalised printed object and commit to “One Idea, One Action” plan for responsible adoption

Outline

1. Understand the fundamentals of 3D printing

• Typical workflow: design → slicing → printing → post-processing
• Difference between additive and traditional manufacturing
• Recognize the scale range (nano to construction) and major methods (e.g., FDM, SLA, SLS)

2. Explore materials and applications

• Common FDM materials
• Properties, safety considerations, and appropriate use cases
• Industrial vs. consumer applications

3. Design Your First 3D Object — Hands-On Lab!

• Create and export a simple 3D model using free browser-based CAD software (TinkerCAD)
• Guided lab: basic operations of a desktop FDM printer
• Troubleshooting common print issues

4. Evaluate Opportunities, Risks, IP & Responsible Use

• Adoption opportunities within organisations (prototyping, tooling, customization)
• Legal & ethical risks
• Intellectual property principles for STL files and printed products
• Health & Safety

5. Develop an Action Plan

• Each participant leaves with a personalised printed object
• “One Idea, One Action” plan for responsible adoption in their workplace

Who should attend

This course is suitable for professionals across all departments — including HR, marketing, operations, finance, procurement, product development, and innovation teams — who want to understand 3D printing's business relevance without needing a technical or engineering background. It is ideal for decision-makers, project leads, and curious professionals who may be evaluating, funding, or simply trying to keep pace with additive manufacturing trends. No prior experience with 3D printing, design software, or engineering is required.

Methodology

Highly experiential, combining short facilitated inputs, live demonstrations, hands-on labs, and group discussions

Ong Shi Ke's Profile

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (Research: Physics-Based Neural Networks) | ACLP Certified | Adjunct Faculty/Lecturer | Adjunct Corporate Trainer | IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner | MOE Accredited


Shi Ke is a technology trainer and STEM educator who bridges research and real-world application and is passionate about fostering engaging, supportive learning environments. With hands-on experience spanning micro-nano fabrication, 3D printing, and computational simulations, she brings strong technical grounding to every workshop she delivers.

She designs learning experiences that make complex technology accessible — whether that is demystifying 3D printing or helping professionals automate their workflows with Python. Her teaching style is rooted in interactive activities, creative analogies, and real-world scenarios. She has trained over 100 adult learners in technology applications and data science—including mini-masterclasses for retail professionals (NTUC LearningHub) and WSQ Data Science Bootcamp participants at a major Accredited Training Organization— and draws directly on her own experience building standalone executable Python applications, having reduced manual processing time by over 50%, when teaching professionals to do the same.

Core Competencies
• 3D Printing (FDM & SLA) — Practical Application & Workflow
• Python Programming for Workplace Automation
• Curriculum Design & Instructional Delivery
• Data Science & Simulation (MATLAB, ANSYS FLUENT)
• CAD & Rapid Prototyping (Arduino, 3D printing)

Certifications & Professional Qualifications
• Advanced Certificate in Learning and Performance (ACLP)
• IBM Certified Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner
• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science