Hello everyone,
The Spring semester is wrapping up here at Wayne College. Just two more weeks of instruction, then Finals Week! We are especially looking forward to this year’s model rocket launch by engineering students enrolling in the Dynamics class. Students are permitted to build rockets with fabrication methods of their choice, some use 3D printing for some very interesting designs! Feel free to watch the launches starting at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, April 29th in the soccer field adjacent to Smucker Road.
Families are welcome to visit the lab to learn 3D printing, make stickers, buttons, and laser engraved gifts. We show you how to use the equipment; you make the stuff! To plan a visit, please let us know the day & time of your arrival via tjh1@uakron.edu or 330-684-8722 so that we have staff available. People under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Our hours of operation are listed here.
Angela, one of our instructors, wanted to create awards for mentor teachers in her program. 3D Lab staff Cait to the rescue! Cait learned laser engraving and cutting to create the awards using “mirror acrylic” material. The back of this material has a thin layer of reflective material that be etched away for an image. The laser was then used to cut the award in the shape of an apple. Cait also designed her own award bases using 3D printing. The result is stunning!
The 3D Lab was honored to be recently visited by young citizens from Trail Life Troop OH-2456 in Big Prairie Ohio! Trail Life USA is a national outdoor adventure program focused on raising Godly men that a is not part of the BSA or other scouting organizations. Its vision is to be the premier national character development organization for young men which produces Godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens.
The troop was shown the various digital fabrication equipment in the lab and given a demonstration on how 3D printing works (of which all were fascinated, even the chaperones!). We also taught them how to make personalized wooden badges on the laser engraver. It was a fun evening had by all!
Most 3D printed objects are of a single color. If you are clever, printing can be paused to change the filament to another color, resulting in a multi-color “sedimentary rock” effect, not that much better. Step-in a Hue Forge, an inexpensive program that allows most 3D printers to print full-color (albeit flat) without any special hardware. It works by printing very thin layers of plastic, allowing colors to blend between layers.
One still needs to pause the print while printing to change filament spools, but the change is only once per color, so it’s quite easy! By the nature of translucency that happens when plastic is stretched thin, an object requiring four filament spool colors results in dozens of shades when layered together. The results are breathtaking!
Stay tuned next month as we reveal more interesting things happening the 3D Lab!
Until then,
Tom
Scientists Have 3D Bioprinted Functioning Human Brain Tissue
3D Printed Puzzles- 35 Mind-Boggling STL Files
https://all3dp.com/2/3d-printed-puzzle-stl
Maker Faire Wayne County 2024 is happening on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds! Space is limited, so sign-up soon! Click here for more information.
The Maker Monday meeting is usually the third Monday of each month from 7:00-9:00 p.m. held at the Romich Foundation Makerspace in Creston. Click here for more information.
Be sure to attend Make-it Monday, a monthly open meeting every second Monday at 6:00-8:00 p.m. Visit applecreekhistoricalsociety.com to learn more and for a list of upcoming classes.
We offer a free “listserv” that allows to you ask questions to members in the makerspace. It’s great for sharing ideas, forming friendships, and helping & advising each other. To join, send an email to listserv@lists.uakron.edu with “SUBSCRIBE MAKERSPACE-GROUP” in the subject line.