The Business of Building

photo by shane darby

Four Pleasant Grove Middle School students are using 3D printing to start their own business
By Phoebe Warren

What began as a Christmas gift has quickly grown into an entrepreneurial venture for four Pleasant Grove Middle School students. After receiving a 3D printer in December 2025, Zander Ames discovered a passion for designing and printing articulated toys and novelty gadgets. “I’ve always loved building things and figuring out how they work, so I thought it would be fun to print fidgets and other cool things for me and my friends,” Zander said. 

The first item Zander printed was a small boat. Since then, he has gone on to design and print numerous items, but his favorite creation is “The Rocktupus,” an articulated octopus with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s face on it. “It’s one of those things that makes people laugh every time they see it,” he said. 

Seeing an opportunity, friends Davis Meador, Davis Early, and Coleman Craig joined forces with Zander to launch Build Bros TXK, a small business specializing in 3D-printed toys, fidgets, keychains, and novelty items. Operating from Zander’s bedroom workshop, the friends design, print, and sell their creations. “I do most of the printing because the printers are at my house,” Zander said. “My friends help come up with ideas, sell products, and help set up and run our booths at events.”

The students have quickly learned what it takes to run a business, reinvesting profits into new equipment and materials to expand the business. “I’ve learned that, if you want your business to grow, you can’t spend all the money you make,” Zander said. “We used our first profits to buy two more printers, so now we can make more products and fill orders faster.”

Their products have found a following among fellow students and friends, but Zander says that anyone can order from Build Bros TXK. “We’ve sold at community events and hope to do even more this school year,” he said. “We’d also like to start selling online soon.”

Supported by parents who encourage both innovation and a strong work ethic, the four friends meet regularly to collaborate, develop new products, and explore ideas for growing their business. While Build Bros TXK began as a fun project, it has evolved into a hands-on exploration of teamwork, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship.