Hello everyone,
Now into the final month of the semester, our engineering students are currently building and performing physics calculations on their model rockets. Some student 3D print nosecones and rocket fins/bodies, others choose different fabrication methods. Because the three printers are in high demand, we now have reservation boards next to each printer to queue student use. Thankfully all three printers are working well during this “crunch time”.
Last Friday, eight young adults from the Orrville Boys and Girls Club visited Wayne College to learn more about 3D printing, CAD design, and other creative pursuits. Using donated square wooden plaques, I engraved a checkboard pattern using an offsite laser engraver. The kids applied wooden tiles in various colors. They then used Solidworks to design their own checker pieces in CAD. Needless to say, the kids had a blast and are excited to 3D print their checker pieces next week.
A couple of weeks ago, one of our teachers brought parts to a Christmas tree stand. Long bolts screw into the stand with a plastic cap on each bolt that holds the trunk in-place. These caps sometimes crack from the pressure. Nathan designed a replacement cap in Creo that secures to the bolt. So replacement caps are now as easy as hitting “Print” on the computer. Thanks, Nathan!
We made a connection with Dalton Middle School a few weeks ago (courtesy of Barry Romich) where eighth grade students brainstorm inventions for a “Shark Tank” type of competition. Students pitched their ideas and built dioramas to visually demonstrate its design. This past Tuesday, we visited the school to talk about 3D printing and careers in engineering. The students were clearly interested in the technology as most had not seen a 3D printer in action.
During the presentation, we printed a part for one of their Shark Tank designs, a simple clip that attaches a pipe to a cabinet door. The students and teacher were quite impressed!
Last but not least, Morgan printed these festive cookie cutters for Easter to finish the week:
On April 17th, we are considering a second trip to the “thinkbox” facility at Case Western Reserve. A number of this semester’s student and 3D Lab staff had not seen the facility, which contain high-end 3D printers, laser engravers, wood and metal shops, circuit board makers, electronics stations, and much more. If there is enough time, the group may stop at MAPS on the way back to Wayne, to tour the airplane museum and perform more 3D scanning for the jet nosecone project.
We plan to carpool from Wayne early Friday morning, then return before Wayne closes that evening. We need a headcount as soon as possible. If you are interested in joining us for the field trip, please let me know by replying to this e-mail or by e-mailing tjh1@uakron.edu!
Stay tuned next week as students work on their model rockets and whatever we are cooking up in the 3D Lab.
3D printing continues to make strides in prosthetics. See how Eythor Bender changes how prosthetics look with innovations in style:
Hungry for pancakes? Let this 3D printer make custom shapes of your favorite breakfast cuisine:
http://www.gizmag.com/pancakebot-print-pancakes/36457/
Until next week,
Tom