America Makes, the US national institute for additive manufacturing, has launched a "3D Printing for Drones" programme for high school students. The first sessions ran on 2 October 2026, National Manufacturing Day, in five states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alabama and California. The programme mixes 3D printing, design and drone flying in short, hands-on events. It also comes with a free curriculum that schools and other groups can use on their own.
The idea is not new. It grows out of a summer camp first tested at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). The camp was run with the education company Innovate Learning. The week-long camp taught students how to work with polymer 3D printing and ended with a contest for 3D printed drones. America Makes has now cut the format down to half a day so many more schools can take part. The institute announced the programme on 29 September 2026.
How the 3D printing for drones sessions work
Each session follows a simple "Design + Build + Fly" format. Students first look at a real problem. Then they design and print drone parts. Finally, they test whether their drone can fly and do the job.
The problems come from logistics. Students think about how a drone could deliver goods over the last mile. They also look at how one could carry spare parts for a repair in the field. They have to work within limits on weight and cost, just as engineers do. This teaches a core idea of additive manufacturing: you can quickly print a part, test it, and print a better one.
The half-day events include:
- Design thinking exercises built around drone delivery problems
- An introduction to 3D printing and how it is used to make drone parts
- Build sprints with help from mentors
- Safety lessons and hands-on prototyping
- Drone flight lessons and tests of how well the drones hold up
"Manufacturing Day provides an important opportunity to introduce the next generation to the technologies, skills, and career opportunities shaping the future of American manufacturing. This programming brings together state-of-the-art 3D printing with drone competition in an exciting, kinetic way that engages learners and will keep growing momentum in the advanced manufacturing industry." — Dr Ed Herderick, Education and Workforce Development Director, America Makes
Where the first events took place
America Makes has not published a full list of host schools. Local news shows how the events played out on the ground. In Pennsylvania, students at Conemaugh Township High School in Somerset County took part on Manufacturing Day. They learned about 3D printing and drones and worked on real engineering problems.
National Manufacturing Day falls on the first Friday of October each year. On that day, US factories, colleges and schools show young people what modern manufacturing looks like. America Makes chose the day to reach as many students as possible at once.
A free curriculum for schools and educators
The programme does not end with the five events. America Makes has also released the full curriculum free of charge. Teachers, colleges and other groups can use it to run their own sessions.
The material comes in several lengths. A school can run it in a single class period, as a half-day event, or as a longer programme. It covers three areas: design thinking, how to apply 3D printing, and drone technology. It is shared through the America Makes AM Nation platform, in the Community Engagement Tools section. Users need to ask America Makes for an access code first.
This makes the programme useful well beyond the first five states. It also gives schools a ready-made way to teach students how to turn an idea into a working prototype. Educators outside the US will need to check with America Makes whether the access code is open to them.
What comes next for America Makes' student programmes
The programme sits under the institute's Education and Workforce Development work. Its aim is to get young people interested in manufacturing careers early. Drones help here. Students enjoy building and flying them. They also show the real applications of 3D printing in a form students can hold.
America Makes has not yet shared how many students took part this year or where the next events will be held. The free curriculum and short formats are meant to let more schools run their own sessions.
About America Makes
America Makes was founded in 2012 as the US Department of Defense's National Manufacturing Innovation Institute for additive manufacturing. It was the first institute in the Manufacturing USA network. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, it is managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).
