Across Disciplines in Higher Education
3D printing allows for inexpensive modelling and rapid prototyping of complex shapes and objects. Although this trend is 4 to 5 years away from widespread adoption, it is being used in the following disciplines:
Archaeology
Harvard University’s Semitic Museum is using 3D printing technology to restore a damaged ancient
artifact from their collection. By 3D scanning existing fragments of the Egyptian lion’s legs, researchers are able to create computer models that will be used to print a scale foam replica of the complete sculpture, though it initially was missing its body and head:
go.nmc.org/semit. (Horizon Report, 2013, p. 30)
Art and Design
The Emily Carr University of Art and Design is exploring ways to speed up design and production in textiles, foundry, and ceramic construction with a built-from-scratch 3D printer that only cost them $500: go.nmc.org/mat. (Horizon Report 2013, p. 30)
Mechanical Engineering
Two mechanical engineering students from the University of Virginia fabricated and assembled one of the first 3D printed planes ever flown. As part of their internship with the MITRE Corporation, they learned how to rapidly prototype and test scale models of aerial vehicles in a fraction of the time and cost it would have taken before the availability of 3D printing: go.nmc.org/fly. (Horizon Report, 2013, p. 30)
As 3D printing gains traction in higher education, universities are designing dedicated laboratories and initiatives to explore creative uses of the technology. The Fab Lab program (go.nmc.org/fablab), for example, was started in the Media Lab at MIT as a learning and maker space for digitally-enabled fabrication, equipped with laser cutters, 3D printers, circuit boards, and more, and the project has now scaled to create similar laboratories all over the world. (Horizon Report, 2013, p. 29)
References
Johnson, L., Adams, S., Cummins, M., Estrada, V., Freeman, A., & Ludgate, H. (2013). The NMC Horizon Report: 2013 Higher Education Edition.
Archaeology
Harvard University’s Semitic Museum is using 3D printing technology to restore a damaged ancient
artifact from their collection. By 3D scanning existing fragments of the Egyptian lion’s legs, researchers are able to create computer models that will be used to print a scale foam replica of the complete sculpture, though it initially was missing its body and head:
go.nmc.org/semit. (Horizon Report, 2013, p. 30)
Art and Design
The Emily Carr University of Art and Design is exploring ways to speed up design and production in textiles, foundry, and ceramic construction with a built-from-scratch 3D printer that only cost them $500: go.nmc.org/mat. (Horizon Report 2013, p. 30)
Mechanical Engineering
Two mechanical engineering students from the University of Virginia fabricated and assembled one of the first 3D printed planes ever flown. As part of their internship with the MITRE Corporation, they learned how to rapidly prototype and test scale models of aerial vehicles in a fraction of the time and cost it would have taken before the availability of 3D printing: go.nmc.org/fly. (Horizon Report, 2013, p. 30)
As 3D printing gains traction in higher education, universities are designing dedicated laboratories and initiatives to explore creative uses of the technology. The Fab Lab program (go.nmc.org/fablab), for example, was started in the Media Lab at MIT as a learning and maker space for digitally-enabled fabrication, equipped with laser cutters, 3D printers, circuit boards, and more, and the project has now scaled to create similar laboratories all over the world. (Horizon Report, 2013, p. 29)
References
Johnson, L., Adams, S., Cummins, M., Estrada, V., Freeman, A., & Ludgate, H. (2013). The NMC Horizon Report: 2013 Higher Education Edition.