[3D Printing News] Using 3D Printing to Enhance Thailand's Educational Potential

[3D Printing News] Using 3D Printing to Enhance Thailand's Educational Potential

As one of the oldest universities in Thailand, Kasetsart University's architecture department has a good reputation and offers professional degrees from bachelor's to doctoral levels.
In architectural research, the ability to demonstrate ideas using high-quality physical concept models is an important part of the design process, and 3D printing is an effective method to deliver high-quality results with minimal labor.

Siradech Surit, a senior lecturer in the architecture department, explained that the students had previously worked on basic equipment and traditional architectural model making, but with 600 students in the department, it proved to be a time-consuming and labor-intensive job.
Furthermore, handcrafted models often fail to fully realize a concept.

The architecture department needs a low-cost, scalable, rapid prototyping solution that can simultaneously meet the needs of users.
Ultimaker's local service partner in Thailand works closely with Septillion, and the department has been equipped with seventeen Ultimaker 2+ 3D printers .
The Ultimaker 2+ machines were selected because they fully meet the department's needs and have a good reputation for accuracy, reliability, and ease of use.
The department's group solution is not only creative and scalable, but also cost-effective, implemented using easy-to-use, low-cost hardware and components.
Excluding the printer, the total installation cost was 55,000 Thai Baht (US$1,654.11) and it was operational within three days.

Ultimaker's service partner, Septillion, assisted with every step of the installation process.

Using the Ultimaker machine and some standard hardware, the print group can be set up within three days.

Using the Ultimaker 3D printer allows us to fully understand and comprehend each student's ideas. They consume less time, and more importantly, they help us achieve our maximum learning potential. - Sirach Surit, Department of Architecture, Kasetsart University

From concept to reality

This group is part of the Digital Prototyping Lab at Kasetsart University. Each machine is mounted on a rack made of an aluminum T-frame. Each printer can be remotely managed and monitored using a single-board computer. A post-sales network camera mounted on the 3D printing arm is a front-end extension of each printer, enabling each user to remotely monitor the panel of a designated machine. Each user can upload model prints and control the printer without leaving their desk.
You can watch the installation process video here.

Environmental challenges

Materials like PLA absorb moisture from the surrounding environment and will deteriorate quickly if exposed to the humid environment of Thailand.
The department overcame this difficulty by implementing an environmental control system that not only removes ambient humidity and keeps the original printed materials in a usable state, but also eliminates smoke from the printer.
Moreover, this was built using standard, readily available hardware.

Improve workflow

In the current configuration, the group can handle 17 users simultaneously, and each printer can be specified using the reservation system.
If the department hopes to expand its group in the future, the simplest way is to use webcams and single-board computers installed on each printer, and then integrate the machines into the core software.
This group enables the department to hold community events outside of working hours, allowing enthusiasts to access the technology. The department holds training sessions for up to fifteen people every second Saturday of the month.


This group is primarily for educational purposes, not only for architectural research, but also for anyone who wants to use the group for educational purposes.
Research on building physics and parametric models.


Promote innovation

Septillion is part of Ultimaker’s extensive global network of service partners. Each service partner undergoes full certification and training by the Ultimaker headquarters team to ensure the best possible assistance to all customers, no matter where they are in the world.
For educational institutions like Kasetsart University that require innovative solutions, Septillion can assist at every step, from identifying products that suit their needs to providing support in delivery, installation, and after-sales maintenance.

Team members of Septillion, Ultimaker's service partner in Thailand.

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Source: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/50789-increasing-educational-potential-in-thailand-using-3d-printing