At Southeastern Louisiana University, students have performed exceptionally well with the inclusion of 3D printers in curriculum-based programs. So well, in fact, the university now offers a total of 13 such printers for use within its Industrial and Engineering Technology Department. 

To learn more, we recently sat down with the Industrial and Engineering Technology (IET) department faculty. We discussed how their approach to learning changed when they acquired high-quality 3D printers, as well as how it impacted their program and the students. 

Need for Hands-on Learning

Because the IET Department uses a manufacturing-based curriculum, prior to owning 3D printers, the courses focused on non-additive manufacturing processes, such as CNC lathes and mills, welding practices, casting, and plastic injection molding. In the past, all of these processes were essential to the manufacturing world. 

Drafting is one of the key concentrations for the IET Department, so drafting-related technologies were the first to introduce 3D printing concepts. Courses would cover 3D modeling practices, the science behind the machines, and evolving uses of 3D printers in industry applications. 

It was all, however, theoretical. The department simply did not have a quality printer that was able to be used by students for hands-on learning. As a result, it was difficult for students to apply the theoretical knowledge they learned. 

3D Printing with the MakerBot Z18

In 2013, however, things began to change. SELU got its first 3D printer, a MakerBot Z18. 

After a semester of faculty research and testing, the department made the MakerBot Z18 available to graduate students interested in 3D printing technology. These students used this printer to complete several research projects that analyzed various printing parameters, such as strength per infill density, strength per infill angle, print time reduction based on part orientations, post-processing practices, filament properties in different environments, and more. They were able to use this printer for hands-on learning that would prepare them for a successful career! 

Acquisition of Additional Printers

Today, SELU has thirteen 3D printers available for student use, including fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), and metal binder jetting (MBJ) printers. Students have access to these printers beginning in their freshman year and can use them for academic studies throughout their entire college career. 

Project teams can now present working prototypes of their designs to their faculty advisors, as well as industrial partners supporting these education initiatives. And since the acquisition of these printers, the IET Department has seen a significant increase in the quality of senior design projects and presentations.

These printers have also proved to be valuable tools for classroom and lab instructions across many departments, especially the STEM-based programs. SELU faculty have printed models for many engineering practices, piping and refining classes, replications of fossils scanned with the school’s 3D scanner, and chemical structures for chemistry classes. All of these have helped promote interdisciplinary collaboration and supported all departments in improving their level of instruction. 

Helping Students Become “Real-World Ready”

SELU and its IET Department are dedicated to equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in many careers, most notably in STEM-based industries. Through facility improvements, industrial partnerships, valuable internships, and more, SELU has found notable success in helping its students become “real-world ready.”

Central to SELU’s IET curriculum are industrial certifications and industrial partners who review and suggest changes every year. Because of that, many of the department’s graduates have already met the minimum requirements for industry certifications and completed much of the required training. 

The same industrial partners who review the curriculum are also supportive in providing internship opportunities for students on a regular basis, allowing students to develop and sharpen their technical skills. Because of these industrial partnerships and internship opportunities, the IET Department has the highest job placement rates at the university!

Read more about how SELU is helping STEM students become “real-world ready!”

How Access to 3D Printers Has Impacted Students

With these successes has come a significant increase in student interest in 3D printing. With each passing semester, more students have sought out courses that use these 3D printing applications in the curriculum. Many STEM students have even requested a 3D printer as a graduation present! 

Students are recognizing this new wave of technology and how it will impact their future careers, and they are excited about it. Not only have these printers helped them learn, but it has sparked their imagination and spurred innovation both inside and outside of the classroom. 

As educators, the IET Department has seen firsthand how these printers have helped prepare students for their future careers. Still, they are even more encouraged by the ways 3D printing has made students engaged and excited about learning. 

As students’ excitement grows, they seek opportunities to work with 3D printers outside of regularly scheduled class time. To meet this demand, SELU is working hard to create a student workspace that will house a “Print Farm,” allowing students to work on designs and prototypes at any point of the day. Skilled Lab Coordinators, Graduate Assistants, or student workers will be on-site to help inexperienced students navigate and learn the machines.  

Developing New Industry Skills

As a result of 3D printing, students have had to learn a whole new form of manufacturing. What used to be centered around removing material accurately has now transformed to how they can add it accurately through additive manufacturing. Students have to consider material properties as it changes during production, from a solid to a liquid and back to a solid, from a resin to a solid, from a powder to a solid, and more. 

Students have also become more creative, as they can now print ideas to test what works and what doesn’t. With these printers, students can hone in on their designs to refine their techniques quicker and more accurately. These tools have opened up so many doors for innovation! 

Technical Training Tools for Education

Technical Training Aids and SELU have been working for many years and continue to do so to provide STEM students with career-relevant tools and equipment for hands-on learning.

We are thrilled to hear how SELU has seen increasing success in its STEM programs through the introduction of 3D printing! We look forward to even more terrific achievements from students as they grow in their careers.

If you’re interested in learning how your school can create successful programs of its own using 3D printers, contact us here!