Bambu Lab A1 Mini
Best for: a first printer on a small desk · ages 8+
$249 · sale, reg. $389
Quick to set up and hard to mess up. The easiest first printer on this list.
Heads up: Small build plate (18 cm). Great for toys, not for helmets.
3D printing help and classes Okotoks
Just got a 3D printer? I’ll help you set it up, show you what to download, and get your first print going. Then your kids learn to use it like a pro, from printing things they find to designing their own.
- ✓ A real person in Okotoks
- ✓ For kids 7 to 14 and their grown-ups
- ✓ Teaching 3D design since 2013
Printer quiz · about a minute
Buying a 3D printer for your kid?
Answer 7 quick questions and I’ll match your family with the right printer.
The lineup · prices checked Oct 2026
Six printers I’d put in a family home.
No sponsored picks. Just the ones I’d buy for my own family.
ToyBox
Best for: younger kids, zero fuss · ages 5+
See Price on Site
Fully enclosed and run from an app full of ready-made toys. The gentlest start.
Heads up: PLA only, and it needs home Wi-Fi.
Bambu Lab A1
Best for: bigger prints, colour later · ages 10+
$399 · sale, reg. $519
Bigger prints now, and a 4-colour add-on when you want multicolour.
Heads up: Open frame: keep it where little hands can’t reach the hot parts.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon
Best for: shared rooms and teens · ages 11+
See Price on Site
Enclosed, fast and no assembly, at a friendly price.
Heads up: One colour at a time.
Creality SparkX i7 Combo
Best for: Costco shoppers · ages 8+
See Price on Site · Costco.ca, online only
Ready in minutes and comes with 12 rolls of filament, so you can start right away.
Heads up: Costco only shows the price once you sign in.
Snapmaker U1
Best for: engineering families · ages 12+
$1,069 · Canada Computers
Four tool heads swap colours in seconds with almost no waste.
Heads up: A big spend, and a lot of machine for a first printer.
Ideas · all printed at my house
Your first 10 prints
Free designs I’ve printed and loved. Tap one to download it from MakerWorld.
Happy little flexi octopusEasyGet it on MakerWorld Flex Box storage organizerEasyGet it on MakerWorld 
Twist fidgetEasyGet it on MakerWorld 
Print-in-place marble runMediumGet it on MakerWorld Skeleton chameleonMediumGet it on MakerWorld Articulated Duskscale snakeMediumGet it on MakerWorld Easter bunny helix fidgetMediumGet it on MakerWorld 
Knitted CapybaraMediumGet it on MakerWorld 
Cute monster pen holderHard printGet it on MakerWorld 
Nuclear launch code vaultHard printGet it on MakerWorld 3D Printing Club
Think it. Print it.
Learn how to turn an idea into a real, physical object. Explore 3D design, experiment with printing, solve problems and make things you can take home. I’m building it now for 2027.
- 1Learn the basics: setting up a printer and your first print
- 2Design and customize objects
- 3Understand how printers and materials work
- 4Experiment, troubleshoot and improve
- 5Share what you’ve made with the group
Ages 7 to 14 + a grown-upPlace and times: coming soon
Show interest
What I believe
Four things I stand on.
The reason this exists, and how every class runs.
We can make it!
Anyone can learn this: kids, parents, total beginners. I’ll help you figure it out.
Curiosity first
Making things is how you learn how things work. It’s not about churning out trinkets.
Learn side by side
Kids and grown-ups learn together, so the printer keeps getting used at home.
For every kid
Girls, boys, anyone who likes to make things. Everyone gets a turn at the printer.
Tools & technologies
3D printing first. A whole makerspace next.
Today I teach 3D printing and design. One day, a place in Okotoks where anyone can come make anything.
We can make it!
3D PrintingDigital DesignElectronicsArt & CraftBuilding
Hi, I’m Jon
I’ve been teaching people to make things since 2013.
Years ago I ran Magic Maker, a little studio where people learned 3D design. Now I print with my own kids in Okotoks. If you just got a printer and you’re not sure where to start, send me your question. That’s exactly what I’m here for.
Ask me a questionQuestions parents ask me
I just got a printer. What do I download first?
Start with your printer’s own app. Most come with a phone app and a slicer for your computer: the program that turns a 3D model into steps for the printer. Tell me which printer you have and I’ll point you to the right one.
What kind of computer do I need?
Most slicer programs run on Windows and Mac. Many printers also print straight from a phone app. Tinkercad, the free design tool, runs in a web browser, so a Chromebook works for designing.
Where do I find things to print?
MakerWorld, Printables and Thingiverse have thousands of free designs. The 10 above are a great place to start.
Is 3D printing safe for kids?
Yes, with a grown-up nearby. The nozzle gets very hot, so little hands stay out while it prints. Most family printers use PLA, a plant-based plastic. Keep the printer somewhere with fresh air.
My first print failed. What now?
Totally normal. It’s usually the first layer not sticking. Clean the build plate, check it’s level, and try again. Still stuck? Send me a photo.
When does the 3D Printing Club start?
I’m building it now for 2027. Place and times are coming soon. Sign up for club updates and you’ll hear first.