Workforce goal: The initiative aims to strengthen the future manufacturing workforce and ignite student interest in AM careers.
- Program scope: America Makes is launching "3D Printing for Drones" experiences for high school students in five states — Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alabama, and California — on October 2, 2026.
- Event format: Half-day Design + Build + Fly sessions covering design thinking, additive manufacturing, and drone technology integration.
- Hands-on activities: Mentor-led activities, safety instruction, design challenges, prototyping, and build sprints focused on weight, battery management, and reliability.
- Organizational backing: America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, is managed by NCDMM, a subsidiary of MTDG.
A Nationwide Push for Manufacturing Day
America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, is launching a nationwide series of hands-on "3D Printing for Drones" experiences for high school students in support of National Manufacturing Day on October 2, 2026.
The half-day events will run in five states — Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alabama, and California — immersing students in Design + Build + Fly activities at the intersection of additive manufacturing (AM) and drone technology.
Where and When
The event sites and schedules are:
What Students Will Do
Participants step into the role of an AM engineer, working through challenges related to drone design and deployment. They will weigh factors such as weight, battery management, and reliability while building functional components. The program includes mentor-led activities, safety instruction, design challenges, prototyping, and build sprints.
The curriculum spans three areas: design thinking, additive manufacturing, and drone technology integration — giving students firsthand insight into how advanced manufacturing technologies can solve complex engineering problems.
"Manufacturing Day provides an important opportunity to introduce the next generation to the technologies, skills, and career opportunities shaping the future of American manufacturing," said Dr. Ed Herderick, EWD Director at America Makes.
Workforce Development as the Mission
The initiative reflects America Makes' commitment to advancing AM technologies while strengthening the future manufacturing workforce through education and workforce development. Organizers expect the program to ignite student interest in AM and related careers.
America Makes is managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), a subsidiary of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group Inc. (MTDG). The initiative builds on a summer camp hosted at Missouri University of Science and Technology in collaboration with Innovate Learning.
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