About - Tinyboy Education Project

About TinyBoy 3D Printer Education Project

Our Mission: To give every child a chance to become makers.

The TinyBoy Education Project is dedicated to bringing accessible 3D printing technology to schools and students worldwide. We believe that hands-on learning through making is essential for developing the next generation of innovators, engineers, and creative problem solvers.

What is TinyBoy?

TinyBoy is an ultra-compact, affordable 3D printer specifically designed for educational environments. At just 15 x 15 x 22cm, it's smaller than most paper printers, making it the perfect classroom companion. TinyBoy enables schools to achieve a one-to-one student-to-printer ratio, maximizing hands-on learning opportunities.

Why TinyBoy for Education?

🎯 Classroom Friendly

Traditional 3D printers are expensive and bulky, making it impractical for schools to provide individual access to students. TinyBoy solves this problem by being affordable and compact enough to deploy multiple units in a single classroom. A typical small object prints in 20-30 minutes, allowing students to iterate and learn quickly.

📦 Tiny is More

By being ultra-portable, TinyBoy brings 3D printing beyond the classroom. Students can carry their printer for demonstrations, maker fairs, or home projects. Despite its small size, it maintains a practical printing area suitable for educational models and creative projects.

🔧 Learn by Building

TinyBoy can be assembled by students using simple tools, providing valuable hands-on experience. Students learn to operate and maintain their own machines, gaining deep understanding of the technology they use. This approach embodies the true maker culture - not just consuming technology, but understanding and creating it.

Educational Applications

TinyBoy enhances learning across multiple subjects:

Design & Technology: Learn 3D modeling, CAD software, and digital fabrication
STEM Education: Understand mechanics, electronics, robotics, and Arduino programming
History & Arts: Reproduce artifacts, create sculptures, and visualize concepts
Problem Solving: Prototype solutions to real-world challenges
Entrepreneurship: Develop and test product ideas

Our Story

TinyBoy was born from the vision of Mr. Parker Leung, a passionate high school teacher determined to make 3D printing accessible to all students. Frustrated by the high costs and space requirements of conventional 3D printers, he designed TinyBoy as an affordable, compact solution that schools could actually deploy at scale.

The project has grown into a global education initiative, supported by the Hong Kong Creative Open Technology Association (HKCOTA) and backed by the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited through the CCMF program.

Our Versions

TinyBoy (Version 1): Our original open-hardware design that launched the education revolution. Fully open-source and community-driven.

TinyBoy 2: The enhanced version featuring improved build quality, two size options (L10 and L16), built-in extruder design, and refined printing capabilities. Available with specially modified hotends for reliable, high-quality prints.

Community & Support

We're more than just a product - we're building a community of makers and educators. Join us through:

Regular workshops and training sessions
Youth maker courses and competitions
Community events and maker fairs
Online documentation and support forums
Open-source hardware and software development

Open Hardware Commitment

TinyBoy Version 1 is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

TinyBoy 2 is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

We believe in open knowledge sharing to advance education globally.

Get Involved

Whether you're an educator looking to bring 3D printing to your classroom, a student interested in making, or a supporter of education technology, we'd love to hear from you!