Dec 4, 2014

Stratasys has introduced today a new 3D printing curriculum for educators. The free full-semester, 14-week course is aimed to help prepare secondary and post-secondary students worldwide for careers being transformed by 3D printing.

The open curriculum is being created in collaboration with educators around the world to ensure its quality and relevance. Learning materials are free to educators and include a curriculum guide, supporting presentations, 3D models (STL files) and grading tools.

The beginner course, Introduction to 3D Printing: From Design to Fabrication, explores 3D printing in terms of its history, established applications, forward-looking trends, and potential social and economic impacts.

"We notice a strong demand coming from the industry for a curriculum focusing on 3D printing," says Shelly Linor, director of global education for Stratasys. "Educators around the world now have an opportunity to make a big impact by using and contributing to our curriculum. They will also be able to better prepare their students for future careers as 3D printing is becoming an intrinsic part of the design and manufacturing processes in leading companies," Linor says.

Through project-based learning, students will experience 3D printing's impact on the design process first-hand. A variety of projects, centered on the course's theme Make Something That Moves Something, will guide students through the process of designing and 3D printing a fully functional moving part in a single build.

Students will become familiar with the advantages of various 3D printing technologies in terms of precision, resolution and material capabilities. While Stratasys recommends FDM and PolyJet 3D printing technologies for this course, any technology platform and any CAD software with STL support may be used.

The course is built in a modular fashion so educators can focus on topics that cater to their students' interests and fit within their yearly curriculum plan. The course is structured as a 14-week course with 4-6 lecture or lab hours weekly.

Units 1-8:

  • Unit 1: Course Introduction
  • Unit 2: Introduction To 3D Printing
  • Unit 3: What is a Mesh?
  • Unit 4: Ctrl + P
  • Unit 5: Closed Gear Systems Part I
  • Unit 6: Closed Gear Systems Part II
  • Unit 7: Dynamic Surfaces and Chains
  • Unit 8: The Future of Fabrication

Units 9-14:

  • Unit 9: Midterm Exam
  • Unit 10: 4D Printing
  • Unit 11: Parametric Design
  • Unit 12: Prototype Printing
  • Unit 13: 3D Printing and Testing
  • Unit 14: Final Presentations and Demonstrations

Extra units include:

  • Unit A: Sound Printing
  • Unit B: Fluid Dynamics
  • Unit C: Post Processing
  • Unit D: Factory of Tomorrow
  • Unit E: Field Trip
  • Unit F: 3D Manufacturing Regulations and Carbon Footprint

Stratasys plans to add two sequential advanced courses under the theme "Something That Moves Something." These courses will cover material memory, multi-material use and 3D printing for robotics applications.

Schools in Singapore and the U.S. have led the process of implementing Stratasys' 3D printing curriculum. "The introductory material on 3D printing that Stratasys offers, from the slide presentations to the videos, were impressive," says Ms. Chee Feng Ping, a lecturer with the Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore. "The students enjoy the hands-on activities especially the design process with 3D printing."

Students at Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore learn about the basics of 3D printing using Stratasys' education curriculum. Photo: Temasek Polytechnic

Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston also uses Stratasys' 3D printing curriculum. "There are going to be many instructors out there who would love to teach a course in 3D printing but who simply do not have enough time to do the detailed research and to prepare professional level presentations," says Assistant Professor Steve Chomyszak. "Stratasys has now made it much easier for any instructor to offer a college level course on the subject."

You can download free materials here on the Stratasys Educational Curriculum page.


 

Posted in 3D Printing Company

 

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