Exploring Full-Color Multi-Material 3D Printing in Education
Professor Denis Cormier and Stratasys are getting students from Rochester Institute of Technology involved with 3D printing.
As you know, drupa is all about progress in the printing industry. And when it comes to progress, there is no place like a college campus. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a great example that 3D printing has truly changed campuses, as faculties across the board seek to engage in this growing technology.
Precisely full-color multi-material 3D printing has taken over the campus like a storm, connecting students from almost every faculty – from science and arts to engineering and even business – with state-of-the-art 3D printing technology.
Somewhere over the Rainbow
RIT professor Denis Cormier is probably the star on campus when it comes to 3D printing. His incredible work, connecting students with 3D printing technology from Stratasys has enabled the school to become a leading college in 3D printing science. One of the most notable accomplishments his course made, was creating a 3D-printed multicolor ukulele. It is not only fully functional, they also managed to incorporate the school mascot, the Rochester tiger, 3-dimensionally into it. “Our assignment was to design, build and play a musical instrument,” said Joe Noble, a mechanical engineering undergraduate student.
The Three-Dimensional Face of the Tiger
When asked how they managed to print the Rochester tiger on the ukulele, Noble replied: “We designed the tiger face to have an even number of layers for each color. In the Catalyst setup program, we oriented the ukulele with the tiger facing down. Then all we had to do is insert pauses between the layers where there was a color change.”
When he played a short rendition of the Christmas classic “Jingle Bells” Joe Noble got a few good chuckles out of the auditorium and also an A on the project.
College Students Benefit from Company Partnerships
In his white paper, Professor Cormier writes about the partnership the school has with Stratasys and how students, as well as teachers, benefit from having 3D printing technology so closely intertwined with the school’s curriculum.