WINCHESTER schoolchildren explored the world of 3D printing and saw their own designs become reality at a creative demonstration.

Oliver’s Battery Primary School pupils watched a musical coffee machine, a glow-in-the-dark skull and a sparkling cathedral created through the technology.

The event was hosted at the school by Southampton Makerspace, a not-for-profit allowing anyone to design computer programmes and 3D models.

Children were taught about the mechanisms used to create models and created their own keyring using Pixel Printer and the 123D Design website.

“It was fascinating to watch the machine create the layers which actually turned into the objects,” said Year 6 pupil Lily.

Dr Tracy Gardner, the school’s computing instructor, said: "The visit tied in closely with the computing and design & technology subjects from the curriculum. For computing, the children developed their multimedia skills with some 3D modelling and found out about a practical application of physical control systems, they learnt that the code to control a 3D printer is quite similar to the Scratch code that they write to move a sprite around the screen.

“For design and technology, the children got to experience the product design lifecycle for a simple object, a keyring, from initial ideas through to manufacturing and using the object. The children will also be blogging about the event to develop their digital literacy skills."