UAlbany students learn the basics of 3D Printing
By Gavin Hayes | September 21, 2026
Students came together last Tuesday night for an introduction to 3D printing.
Students gathered recently at the CEHC Makerspace in the ETEC building to learn the basics of 3D printing during a hands-on workshop open to all experience levels.
The workshop, located in the CEHC Makerspace is in the basement of the ETEC building, room B037, introduced students to the fundamentals of 3D printing, from finding digital models to preparing designs for printing.
Senior Jo Bonfiglio, an informatics major from Staten Island, spoke bluntly about the Makerspace. “Here, we have a space where you can literally make anything you want,” they said. Bonfiglio is an intern at the CEHC Makerspace, helping students with their 3D printing ambitions. “I feel like not enough people know this place exists,” Bonfiglio said.
The most common questions Bonfiglio receives are, “How does it work? How do I print something? Where do I find the models or make the models to do it?” As an intern, Bonfiglio focuses on guiding students in the right direction and providing them with resources.
Bonfiglio said students often find the process less intimidating once they understand the basics. In addition to assisting students with 3D printing, Bonfiglio’s internship responsibilities include teaching visitors how to use other equipment, such as the embroidery machine and button-making tools.
“In the real world, places like this are just not around a lot. And if they are, you have to charge money for them,” Bonfiglio said.
Bonfiglio, who concentrates in game design and development, is no stranger to creativity.
“You don’t know what you can do until you get the opportunity to be in a space like this and be creative,” Bonfiglio said. Bonfiglio was initially interested in the CEHC Makerspace because of its creative capabilities.
“I thought the Makerspace was a really cool idea because there are a lot of different things here. There’s 3D printing, button-making, T-shirt printing and embroidery,” Bonfiglio said.
Before the interview, Bonfiglio was working on a 3D-printed character for a game design project. “By the end of the semester, we’ll hopefully have a collection of stuff that we can look at and say, ‘This is what I worked on all semester. I used this equipment in this room. I made something,’” Bonfiglio said.
The CEHC Makerspace has 3D printers, laser cutters, soldering irons, and other tools, according to the University at Albany. The College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC) is developing the program, whose mission is to “bring together people, technology and knowledge to address the challenges of the 21st century,” according to the University at Albany.
A holiday celebration is next on the calendar for the CEHC Makerspace. On Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m., students are invited to use the creative center tools to make a holiday gift. For more information about the event, visit https://events.albany.edu/event/gamers-and-makers-mashup-night.
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