Printing possibilities: St. Paul Park refinery helps restore 3D tech in the classroom

Students from Woodbury High School's robotics class show off their robot (T-Wreck), built in part using components designed and produced with the 3D.

Key Points

• Marathon Petroleum's St. Paul Park refinery helped a local high school purchase a new industry-standard 3D printer for its STEM program.
• Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minnesota, reached out for support after its 20-year-old 3D printer stopped working, leaving students without this important technology in the classroom.
• Students are already using the new, state-of-the-art 3D printer, gaining real-world experience with advanced technology to prepare for future careers.

Imagine turning a digital design into a real object right before your eyes. That's the magic of 3D printing, a skill that's becoming more essential in today's engineering and manufacturing fields. But for students at Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minnesota, that experience had stalled. Their 3D printer, used for more than two decades, had become outdated and unusable.

Replacing high-tech equipment like this isn't easy. The cost is high, and some schools rely on community support to make it happen. When the school system reached out for help, Marathon Petroleum's St. Paul Park refinery stepped in to cover the remaining cost, helping to ensure the school could secure a new, industry-standard 3D printer.

The 3D printer enables rapid prototyping, modeling and manufacturing, using revolutionary technology to create precise designs quickly and efficiently.

"Supporting local education is essential for building the workforce of tomorrow," said Holly Jackson, VP of Refining at the St. Paul Park refinery. "We also know how important hands-on learning is, so we didn't want Woodbury High School to go without this technology and miss out on the experience and skills that will help students thrive in today's evolving industries."

"Thanks to the support of Marathon and their St. Paul Park refinery, we now have a state-of-the-art 3D printer back in the classroom."

Woodbury High School, part of South Washington County Schools, serves students in grades 9-12 and offers a wide range of college-preparatory courses, including STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) opportunities. With the new 3D printer, students can once again gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology to prepare for careers in manufacturing and engineering.

Custom-designed pulleys for the rope and rigging on the competition robot. When the team couldn't find the right size, they designed and 3D-printed pulleys tailored to fit their rope and elevator components.

These students have quite the imagination, creating a variety of designs, like this 3D-printed narwhal, also known as the "Unicorn of the Sea."

"A key part of preparing students for success is giving them access to the latest technology," said Amanda Davis, a trades teacher at Woodbury High School. "Thanks to the support of Marathon and their St. Paul Park refinery, we now have a state-of-the-art 3D printer back in the classroom, restoring an important piece of our STEM program and giving students hands-on experience to prepare them for their future careers."

Another student used the 3D printer to create handles for the computer and controller station they built to steer their robot, making it much easier on the driver's hands. (The blue parts on the handle are 3D printed.)

And they're putting it to work in creative ways. Students have designed and 3D-printed custom pulleys for their robot's rigging system, precise spacers for its arm and even a team marker to personalize their build. They've also made handles for their controller station, making it easier for the driver to carry and maneuver equipment during competitions.

But their creativity goes beyond robotics. If they can imagine it, they can print it. Students have created a 3D-printed narwhal, the "Unicorn of the Sea," proving that when it comes to 3D printing, the possibilities are almost as endless as the ocean.

Students designed and 3D-printed spacers and a team marker for their robot.