3D Printer Improves High School Design Class
As an engineer, I had experienced first-hand and appreciate the importance of seeing designs come to life in all its 3D glory. In my day, however, getting that 3D experience meant a whole lot of manual effort. Matchsticks and popsicle sticks? Name it, I’ve done it all. This is why I think that the students of today are extremely lucky, given the advent of 3D printing technology and its being available for practically everyone to enjoy.
The Times Republican recently featured Marshalltown High School and their new acquisition — a 3D printer. The brand of the printer is not named, though, although the story did mention that the $15,000 used to purchase the machine was taken from a technology grant.
3D printing is not a new technology for the design classes at Marshalltown High School. In the previous year, a company called Fisher assisted the school in printing out the 3D projects of its students. Being able to see one’s design in three dimensional forms is extremely important, especially for students who fully intend to proceed to higher studies – and eventually careers – in engineering, architecture and other design and infrastructure-related industries.
With the school’s acquisition of their very own 3D printer, however, students are given the opportunity not just to create designs or see the plastic 3D models of these designs; they will also be given the chance to actually see the process of 3D printing and operate the machine themselves. This provides them with additional skills that they will undoubtedly be able to use once they join the workforce or launch their own careers.
The students themselves seem to appreciate the new technology that has been provided to them. A sophomore working on a design project expressed how having the printer in school made his design school work much more efficient.
Tags: 3D design models, 3D engineering, 3D pinter, 3D printing, 3D tecnologyRelated posts
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Loading ...Posted by PrintFriendly on October 12th, 2009
