Toying With Design: Experiencing Design for Rapid Prototyping Using Mini-Fabrication Exercises

Abstract

This study explores the use of mini-fabrication exercises for helping students learn design for rapid prototyping in computer-aided design and prototyping courses in engineering curricula. To this end, we conducted mini-fabrication exercises in ME444 — an undergraduate course at Purdue University. The exercises provide hands-on exposure to design for rapid prototyping principles using simplified design problems. We developed two mini-fabrication exercises in ME444; (i) gear pair design & box design using laser cutting, and (ii) toy catapult design using stereolithography printing. These exercises were tested in a classroom-setting with 51 undergraduate students. Results show the mini-fabrication exercises facilitated students’ learning of geometric dimensioning & tolerancing, part sizing, and material properties in laser cutting and stereolithography printing.

Integration of 3D printing in computer-aided design and engineering course

“…They must be aware and able to tackle problems related to the current global issues as mentioned in 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) stated by United Nations (UN) and ready to apply their engineering knowledge to handle those SDG challenges [8]. Besides, university courses should expose students to the latest technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) printing, which is one of the main pillars in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) [9][10][11][12][13][14]. Several works integrate this 3D printing technology, especially in science and technology, medical and special education [7,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”