The 3D Lab is involved with exciting projects over the past several months. Engineering students can truly make their ideas and dreams possible with 3D printing, laser cutting, and other fabrication methods available in the lab. I frequently discover something new and interesting being made.
We were honored to be visited by the University of Akron Zips Baja Team. This student- led team is challenged to design and fabricate an off-roading vehicle powered by a 10hp Briggs and Stratton engine. Competition entails static events such as cost report and face-to-face design evaluation judged by professional mechanical engineers, along with dynamic events such as acceleration, maneuverability, suspension, and a four-hour endurance race where teams complete as many laps as possible. Click here to see UA’s “Green Car” and here to watch a race video (Zips 2015 Midnight Mayhem).
The 3D Lab assisted the UA Baja Team by fabricating a battery box designed by their team. We printed two boxes and lids on our large-format Taz 5 3D printers (donated by the Wayne County Community Foundation) using heat-resistant HIPS plastic. The printers created impressively strong boxes:
After printing, we discovered that the boxes exhibited horizontal cracks. Because the Taz 5 are “open face” printers, the lab air cooled the hot plastic layers too quickly, not allowing layers to fully fuse together. Commercial 3D printers are often enclosed to retain/maintain a consistent heated temperature during printing. We plan to build an inexpensive acrylic enclosure for one of these printers to allow printing of large objects without cracking.
Wayne College students in our engineering classes are churning out new inventions every couple of weeks. These are class assignments to accomplish particular tasks such as tossing a weighted cube, pulling a weight, climbing stairs, etc. Nathan has been hard at work designing a 3D printed knee brace. His design involves numerous interlocking parts (some spring loaded). Consumer based 3D printers sometimes do not produce dimensionally accurate parts, so physical shaving/sanding/cutting is needed to ensure things fit together:
When I arrived in my office a couple of mornings ago, I discovered the below finished brace on my desk. After several weeks of hard work, Nathan completed the initial build, a proof-of-concept leg brace that can be used for demonstration. It articulates quite well! Don’t mind the Scotch tape. 🙂
A couple of weeks ago, Barnes & Noble stores across the country offered its first Mini Maker Faire. This Friday-Sunday event featured different makers, inventors, and presenters on a two-hour revolving basis all weekend long. There were hands on tables for kids of all ages to be involved in making, too.
The Wayne College 3D Lab demonstrated 3D printing and explained the lab’s services. We brought the portable 3D printer and a many printed items to the event. The public was (as usual) very excited about the technology and to know there is an open-to-the-public Makerspace at Wayne College. Our table’s shift ran 3-1/2 hours and was constantly filled with people asking questions, adults and kid alike. Note that the next major Maker Faire is in Cleveland next June, so mark your calendars.
If you would like to visit the 3D Lab at Wayne College or would like to tell someone who might be interested, we have a colorful and easy-to-read brochure that explains what we are all about. Feel free to reproduce and pass-out the below brochure to your students, family, and friends! Thanks, Carolyn, for the wonderful design.
Stay tuned next week as we reveal more inventions made by community members and our engineering students.
Local Motors’ LM3D Swim set to be the world’s first 3D-printed electric production car:
http://www.gizmag.com/local-motors-lm3d-swim-3d-printed-car/40204
The world’s first 3D printed supercar is unveiled – 0-60 in 2.2 seconds!
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/15/06/24/2127217/3d-printed-supercar-chassis-unveiled
Until next week,
Tom