Proven concept: The initiative builds on a summer camp at Missouri University of Science and Technology held with Innovate Learning.
- Nationwide rollout: America Makes is launching "3D Printing for Drones" experiences for high school students in 5 states — Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alabama, and California — on October 2, 2026.
- Hands-on engineering: Students will tackle drone design and deployment challenges, including weight, battery management, and reliability, through design thinking, additive manufacturing, and drone technology activities.
- Workforce focus: The program falls under the Institute's Education and Workforce Development (EWD) pillar and aims to ignite student interest in additive manufacturing careers.
- Organizational structure: America Makes is managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and is a subsidiary of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group Inc. (MTDG).
America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, is launching a nationwide series of hands-on "3D Printing for Drones" experiences aimed at high school students.
Where the Events Are Happening
The half-day experiences will run across 5 states — Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Alabama, and California — all on October 2, 2026. Confirmed venues and times include:
- Ohio:: Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Rd., Canfield, OH 44406 — 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Pennsylvania:: Conemaugh Township High School, 300 West Campus Ave., Davidsville, PA 15928 — 12-3 p.m.
- Texas:: La Nube STEAM Discovery Center, 201 W. Main Dr., El Paso, TX 79901 — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Alabama:: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, One Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- California:: Inland Empire Technical Trade Center at Perris, 19 South D St., Perris, CA 92570 — 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
What Students Will Actually Do
This isn't a lecture series. Students will step into the role of an additive manufacturing engineer, working through challenges tied to drone design and deployment — including weight, battery management, and reliability. Activities span design thinking, additive manufacturing, and drone technology integration, giving participants firsthand insight into how advanced manufacturing technologies can solve complex engineering problems.
Workforce Development as the Driver
The program reflects America Makes' commitment to strengthening the future manufacturing workforce and sits squarely within the Institute's Education and Workforce Development (EWD) pillar. The broader goal: ignite student interest in additive manufacturing and related careers.
"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.
The initiative builds on a summer camp hosted at Missouri University of Science and Technology in collaboration with Innovate Learning. America Makes is managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and is a subsidiary of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group Inc. (MTDG).
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