Last Wednesday, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) teamed up with the Pioneer Maker Club (PMC) in the Engineering Hall to give an introduction into 3D printing.
According to junior software engineering major Zach Van Camp, “3D printing is a group of fabrication processes; most commonly fusion deposition modeling.”
3D printing involves printing thin layers of material on top of one another until the full model has been printed. The models can be made from things like thermoplastics and metals, depending on what they will be used for.
“3D printing can be used to create designs and shapes that cannot be created via other fabrication methods,” said junior mechanical engineer Tyler Lentz.
This form of manufacturing allows for faster production of prototypes. Students of SWE make computer-based models in many of their engineering classes, so learning how to 3D print would allow them to get a physical model of their work.
One of the main goals of SWE is to promote networking with people in various fields.
This event is a prime example of that goal. Senior industrial engineering major Kelly Check said, “Our club is a great way for engineers, especially females, to network with professionals and other students and learn important life skills and have fun.”
SWE president and senior mechanical engineering major Rkia Talbi goes on to say, “This [networking] can help them become more marketable to employers or get them better connections to companies they are interested in working for.”
Both SWE and PMC hold regular meetings and everyone is welcome to attend, even if you are not an engineering major.