Hello everyone,

It was a fast week at the Wayne College 3D Lab, yet we haven’t even started the model rocket projects yet.  It’s amazing how many projects we start and are asked to do.  And even more amazing (and gratifying) that students offer to help, though it is not related to their course studies nor homework!  The self-driven motivation that the 3D Lab instill into our students is wonderful.

Morgan and Word processing are busy creating promotional posters to help students become aware of the 3D Lab.  This was an original idea from Maureen Lerch in the library.  Thanks Maureen!  The posters are nearing completion.  Also, Betty Rogge nearly has the promotional video finished.  We are excited to reveal it in the coming months.  Here is fun poster that Morgan put-together to honor our student assistants helping in the lab this semester.

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A few weeks ago, we discovered an article on the Internet that talks about friction welding.  This technique is normally used for binding metal pieces by spinning a metal rod at high speed which melts into a seam when pushed at the pieces’ joint.  It turns out that 3D printer filament inserted in a Dremel tool can friction-weld two pieces of plastic.  The resultant bond is incredibly strong, much better than glue.  Come down to the lab sometime to see how we do it.

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The model R/C airplane club is rocking this week and have a fun field trip planned for this Sunday.  Nathan created some 3D printed skis for their model airplane and will see how it lands in the snow.  A group from the club is visiting an airplane museum near the Canton-Akron airport, armed with a 3D scanner and a tripod.  They intend to 3D scan the nose cone of an F-86A Sabre Jet.  The goal is to create a replacement nose cone for another plane that is being repaired.  This plane will be a museum piece.  The group will hopefully have a story to tell and pictures to show when they return!

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The highlight of this week was a field trip to an in-development local makerspace.  Morgan, Dusty, Nathan, Anthony, and I learned how to use laser engravers to make beautiful wood plaques and engrave onto crystal-like glass with the Wayne College logo. 

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We had a wonderful lunch of homemade pizza which involved a lively discussion and demonstration of Sterling engines.  These engines operate by the opposing forces of hot and cold.  Thankfully, we did not catch the kitchen on-fire in the process!

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See how a man saves his wife’s sight by 3D printing her tumor:

http://build.slashdot.org/story/15/01/14/1514247/man-saves-wifes-sight-by-3d-printing-her-tumor

 

In the automotive world, see how the Local Motors Company looks to disrupt the auto industry with 3D-printed car bodies:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/15/01/23/1747234/local-motors-looks-to-disrupt-the-auto-industry-with-3d-printed-car-bodies

 

More exciting news coming from the 3D Lab soon!

Tom