Students are guided through the engineering and design processes by Kat Wilson, Assistant Director of the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Centre and Aaron Nelson, Director of the MakerBot Innovation Centre. The lab has worked with almost 150 businesses in New York, from artists and entrepreneurs to companies like Mediprint, a medical supply company that creates anatomical models for clinical training and surgical planning. “Beyond our educational mission, this is really what we’re here for,” said Freedman. “Finding solutions is an iterative process that helps our students gain skills and has a real impact on the community around us. That’s something students can see and learn from.”
Engineering students use the lab to design toys for the children’s centre
on campus. The students spend time with the kids and their teachers to
understand what toys they like and why. From there, students aim to build
something the kids will love.
“3D printing makes it easy for students to design something, print it and put
it in front of the children for immediate feedback,” said Dr. Jared Nelson,
assistant professor of mechanical engineering. “Do the kids want to play with
the toy? Why or why not? Students use that knowledge to make changes and
that process would not be possible without 3D printing. It’s a cornerstone of
the class.”
The SMART Lab and MakerBot Innovation Centre help professors make crossdiscipline ties. Itty Neuhaus, associate professor of art, shows students the marriage between technology and art can have real-life applications. Neuhaus spends time between semesters mapping icebergs in the Arctic, then she 3D prints them upon her return. “I want my students to draw inspiration from unexpected places,” said Neuhaus. “Once they find the things they truly care about, I encourage them to explore them in their art.”
Dr. Edward Hanson, assistant professor of mathematics, uses 3D printing to
give a physical presence to theoretical objects that can be difficult to describe
or draw. Helping students visualise concepts is key, especially for those who
want to teach math in the future.
“I noticed that the interactions with the software inspire students to learn
aspects of mathematics and computer programming out of genuine interest
and enjoyment,” Hanson said. “Students exposed to 3D printing will have a
deeper relationship with technology that could increase their performance in
the job market.”
Many degree programs now require students to utilise 3D printing in at least
one course before graduation, giving SUNY New Paltz students an edge in
their career search. As students enter the job market, their background and
knowledge of 3D printing will give them a deeper relationship with technology,
increasing their aptitude and career performance.
