By Leah Hromalik
Did you know that students in Syracuse can use 3D printers to turn computer designs into real objects? Syracuse University’s MakerSpace gives Syracuse University and SUNY ESF students, faculty, and staff a place to create, test, and learn. It is a workspace filled with technology tools, including several kinds of 3D printers.
By Leah Hromalik Did you know that students in Syracuse can use 3D printers to turn computer designs into real objects? Syracuse University’s MakerSpace gives Syracuse University and SUNY ESF students, faculty, and staff a place to create, test, and learn. It is a workspace filled with technology tools, including several kinds of 3D printers.
To make a 3D print, a person first needs a digital design. The design is usually saved as an STL file, which tells the printer the shape of the object. A MakerSpace team member can help users prepare the file and choose the right printer for their project.
Some printers use plastic filament, which is a long strand of plastic on a spool. The printer heats the plastic and places it in thin layers until the object is complete. Other printers use resin, a liquid material that hardens when exposed to light. Different printers and materials are useful for different kinds of projects.
The MakerSpace is designed for learning and experimenting. Students may create class projects, prototypes, art pieces, tools, or models. A person might print a model of a building for an architecture project, a part for a robot, or a helpful object designed to solve an everyday problem.
Using a shared space also teaches responsibility. People must follow safety rules, clean up after themselves, and respect time limits so that others can use the equipment. Not every print comes out perfectly, but mistakes can help people learn how to improve their designs.
