Thanks to our generous alumni, nanotechnology engineering students are using some exciting new 3D printing technology to fabricate a wide range of parts, prototypes and models. In the process, they are learning valuable lessons about iterative design and improvement.
With several new 3D printers in our labs, students have access to industry-standard equipment on which to learn skills they will need on the job as well as in the classroom. From first-year students, who will learn 3D printing as one of their first hands-on experiences during NE 100: Introduction to Nanotechnology, to fourth-year students who will use it to design and manufacture their Capstone Design prototypes, many students will use the 3D printers to bring their exciting ideas into reality.
A three-dimensional lattice system is being printed with one of the new pieces of equipment that was purchased with funds donated by alumni of the Nanotechnology Engineering program.
Many thanks to the generous alumni who donated and to our member departments, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering, for matching those alumni donations. Together, through the purchase of these 3D printers, they have enhanced the experience of all students in the program by giving them more opportunities to put their developing skills to work.