Abstract (300 words maximum)
Students and faculty belonging to the Kennesaw State Department of Information Systems and Security are creating Octoprint Server as open-source software for web-based 3D print farm and ecosystem management. Building upon the robust existing Octoprint open-source project, which provides a common interface to individual 3D printers, the project aims to help schools, libraries, and universities who wish to scale up and manage learning activities using 3D printing. Volunteers taking part in the project will do this by creating an accessible application that is easy to configure, provides key functionality they need, and works with typical conditions non-technical administrators must navigate in these organizational settings. Throughout its development, the project has encountered a number of roadblocks, notably the absence of technical confidence in student volunteers, the challenge of onboarding new individuals, as well as the intimidating scale and intricacy of the project. Participants aim to circumvent these obstacles by creating accessible documentation and fostering an attitude of willingness to try to solve complex problems without a clear solution and learning from the attempts. This mentality has allowed the Octoprint Server Project to grow significantly in the two years following its inception.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CCOB - Information Systems and Securty
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Dominic Thomas
Octoprint Server at Kennesaw State University
Students and faculty belonging to the Kennesaw State Department of Information Systems and Security are creating Octoprint Server as open-source software for web-based 3D print farm and ecosystem management. Building upon the robust existing Octoprint open-source project, which provides a common interface to individual 3D printers, the project aims to help schools, libraries, and universities who wish to scale up and manage learning activities using 3D printing. Volunteers taking part in the project will do this by creating an accessible application that is easy to configure, provides key functionality they need, and works with typical conditions non-technical administrators must navigate in these organizational settings. Throughout its development, the project has encountered a number of roadblocks, notably the absence of technical confidence in student volunteers, the challenge of onboarding new individuals, as well as the intimidating scale and intricacy of the project. Participants aim to circumvent these obstacles by creating accessible documentation and fostering an attitude of willingness to try to solve complex problems without a clear solution and learning from the attempts. This mentality has allowed the Octoprint Server Project to grow significantly in the two years following its inception.