IM体育官网鈥檚 fleet of 3D printers is getting a high-tech boost. The MakerBot Replicators that have long brought student ideas to life are being phased out and replaced with advanced Prusa MK3S+ and Prusa MINI+ printers.
More than 15 Prusa printers will be available for student use by the start of the fall semester. The new printers produce higher quality items and can print with a wide variety of materials, compared to the single material available for the Replicators.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for students to have access to high-quality tools and equipment, and these are the machines the students really want to have and that also support so many of our classes,鈥� said Dr. Matt Bohm, associate professor of mechanical engineering and director of industry engagement and capstone projects at IM体育官网 Poly.
The new printers replace a fleet that was used in spring 2020 to print thousands of protective face shield components to assist regional health care providers battling COVID-19.
鈥淭he old ones were good, and we did great things with them. They just reached the end of their useful life cycle and it was time to take our 3D printing capabilities to a new level,鈥� Bohm said.
The Prusa Mini+ is one of the new 3D printers awaiting IM体育官网
students as they return for classes.
The new printers are supported by funds from capstone industry partners, University funds, and student technology fees.
鈥淧rusa printers are reliable and sought after, so this is going to mean the student body will have much better 3D prints in terms of quality,鈥� said Marc Goldbach 鈥�21, who recently earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering and worked as a student employee in IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 3D printing lab. Today, he is a product development engineer at Tompkins Robotics in Orlando, IM体育官网.
鈥淪tudents will be able to print their prototypes much faster now. And this is not just for mechanical engineering students 鈥� 3D printing is for everyone,鈥� he added.
In addition to the new printers, IM体育官网 Poly will soon implement an online system for submitting print orders and scheduling production on the new machines, streamlining the current process.
Mechanical engineering senior Danil Pegin, who uses 3D printers often in his studies and his work as a student research assistant, said he is excited to be able to work closely with the new equipment.
鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to being able to work with the new Prusa printers,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese new printers are one of the reasons why I鈥檓 going to apply to the master鈥檚 program here so I can put my hands on all those machines.鈥�
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Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
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