[3D Printing News] Preparing for the Future of 3D Printing at the Illinois Maker Lab

[3D Printing News] Preparing for the Future of 3D Printing at the Illinois Maker Lab

In 2013, Dr. Aric Rindfleisch and Dr. Vishal Sachdev opened the world’s first 3D printing lab in the business school; the Illinois Maker Lab on the University of Illinois campus.
Founded without university funding, this lab, with its Ultimaker printer lineup, has become a premier educational resource for students and community members interested in rapid prototyping and small-batch manufacturing and 3D printing.

Although their first desktop printer was discouraging and unreliable, it didn't stand out until the Maker Lab switched the entire lab to using Ultimaker printers at the end of 2015.
The opportunity to work with Cura and their experience visiting the Ultimaker pioneer community also influenced their decision.

Aric said, "We do all the maintenance work in the lab and repair our own printers. We are in a situation where we need reliable machines to provide better customer service and to become more familiar with Ultimaker through the 3D printing community."

"Ultimaker's development resources align perfectly with our mission of 'making and sharing.' We established a relationship with Ultimaker a year and a half ago, and we are very satisfied with the machines."

The maker lab has a total of 20 printers, including Ultimaker 3 , Ultimaker 2+ , Ultimaker 2 Go, and Ultimaker Original, which are available for several hours at the business school.
These machines are not limited to students from one department; students from all over the university can use this advanced technology for various projects, and the laboratory receives hundreds of visits each semester.


Students at the Illinois Maker Lab are testing a 3D scanner.

Aric and Vishal have two main focuses for the Illinois Maker Lab: education and digital manufacturing. They not only want to provide opportunities for students interested in 3D printing,
Another goal is to connect with community members online, allowing them to enjoy additional manufacturing technologies with just their fingers.

"3D printing enables more small businesses to emerge, whether they are startups or part-time workers, and that's our focus. In addition to our educational mission, we are also a small digital printing shop."

3D printing not only provides learning opportunities for students, but also offers important connections to the industry and generates revenue for maker labs.

Beginner? No problem

The maker labs in Illinois offer ample opportunities to learn and experience design. In 2016, they hosted over 100 workshops for students and community members, imparting essential knowledge for success in 3D printing.
The workshops cover everything from the basics of 3D printing to creating 3D models using Tinkercad and Fusion 360. Curious makers can also learn 3D scanning or register for workshops on Minecraft and 3D printing.

After completing the four foundational workshops, participants will receive a digital maker certificate that proves they have basic skills in designing and printing objects, as well as the ability to use CAD software such as Autodesk and Tinkercad.
These workshops are an important part of rapid prototyping and 3D design, helping students prepare for industries that increasingly rely on digital manufacturing.


Learning about the Ultimaker printer at the Illinois Maker Lab

While the maker lab derives most of its revenue from workshops and events, staff also rely on donations and print orders to make up the difference. Anyone in the community can order prints online.
Because the Maker Lab is part of the 3D Hubs network.

Vishal said, "We just launched on 3D Hubs this January, and we're making about 50-60 orders every month. Apart from Aric and me providing ideas, all the day-to-day operations are handled by the students."
Student volunteers are allowed to control the printing process from start to finish, and the experience is also made tangible after graduation.

Provide creative learning for young people

When they're not processing 3D printing orders, students and volunteers at the Illinois Maker Lab attract young people through summer camps and parties. The camps are specifically designed for children aged 9 and up.
Integrating interest in and learning about 3D printing, the camp curriculum covers a wide range of knowledge related to design thinking and 3D printing technology, such as a NASA team solving a Mars problem in a day with the help of advanced manufacturing technology.

Vishal said, “At summer camp, we incorporated other digital manufacturing techniques, such as using microcontrollers. We combined some code or welded it together to assemble, for example, a drone with a 3D-printed frame.”
Alternatively, we can create a robot using code, which can respond to conversations using cognitive AI functions in the backend. Modeling and printing create the shell of the final product, but there are different environments for children to explore.


3D printing experts train maker girls

Children visiting the school's labs will never be bored. Parents can host birthday parties in the maker lab, and a popular option is to give kids the opportunity to design and print out their own party ideas.
MakerGirl aims to inspire the foundations of girls aged 7-10 through hands-on education. The event is also a maker lab located in Illinois.
It extends from 3D printing to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to broaden the learning experience and spark curiosity.

Make things happen in education.

In addition to providing workshops and events for the community, Aric and Vishal aspire for the University of Illinois Maker Lab to become the world’s premier educator of desktop printers. To achieve this goal, they also offer online learning opportunities for individuals within the Maker Lab and on Coursera .

"Making Objects" is a course offered by Dr. Rindfleisch, providing hands-on experience in the maker process. Students can plan, design, and print their ideas, and bring their creations to market to measure the success of their work.
Dr. Sachdev explained that "Digital Manufacturing" aims to equip students with the tools and techniques needed for digital production. Dr. Sachdev invited students to investigate the Internet of Things (IoT) and explore electronic textiles.
For example, smart clothing used in innovative designs.


The Ultimaker printer is ready for students in the maker lab.

Students are encouraged to register for online courses through Coursera, which provides easier access to 3D printing and modeling courses. Their 3D Printing major (3D Printing Revolution), one of Coursera's most successful courses globally, is...
It is listed as one of the top 50 online courses in the world.

Several software courses are currently available for students to use around the clock, including an upcoming 3D printing software course created by Matt Griffin of Ultimaker and a 3D printing software course created by Jeffrey Smith of Autodesk.
As for the future, Aric and Vishal hope that the 20 Ultimaker printers they have collected will continue to prepare students for the next industrial revolution.
Aric and Vishal like to say that business schools can not only help startups use 3D printing, but also “awaken” them.

This technology can be used to inspire students, eliminating the need for them to purchase items based on other people's ideas. Furthermore, through 3D printing, they can turn their own ideas into objects.
The Illinois Maker Lab is a business teaching facility located on the University of Illinois campus. It is open to the public most of the week, or its opening hours may vary seasonally.
They welcome anyone with a curious mind to visit and inquire about the workshop content online.



Source: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/49820-preparing-for-a-3d-printed-future-at-the-illinois-makerlab