Work in Progress: Designing a University 3D Printer Open Lab 3D Model

3D printing is progressively impacting many areas of our society. While the general public is becoming increasingly aware of the possible applications of 3D printing and companies are looking to incorporate the technology, higher education’s dissemination of this technology is not progressing at the same speed between various colleges within the same university. College students do have access to this new technology but at different rates, thus creating a barrier between students and their access to this new technology. Learning Environments is currently working on the design of a 3D printing open lab concept. This is the second year that this effort has been ongoing and several procedures have been developed based on the data collected from year one of the pilot. Currently, different systems of student 3D model submissions are continuously being tested and data collected to determine which to implement for year three of the pilot. Based on previous student feedback, this modified system should allow for supervision of the 3D printing model via a website using webcams. In addition, students should be able to print their own design using standard or alternative plastic materials with specific attributes such as flexibility, transparency, electrical conductivity or any other material that is compatible with the printer. Of utmost importance, this model has to be able to be escalated to a campus-wide system to allow access to the entire student body.