3D printer makes student-designed products come to life

Having a classroom 3D printer is not only cool, it is technology which can truly transform student learning. An example of such a transformation is the Product Design and Development Project, conducted by STEM Academy Seniors in Mr. Jim Brown's Engineering IV class at Northwest High School. Given the Driving Question, "How can we design and develop a product that will satisfy a consumer need?", students worked in design teams to apply the product design and development process, along with the engineering design process, to design, create, and present a product prototype that will satisfy a consumer need. Using new product development stages, students evolved their ideas into physical prototypes using the 3D printer. In true STEM Academy fashion, at the conclusion of the project, students presented their prototypes to a panel of industry experts for authentic, real-world feedback.

Image source: http://store.makerbot.com/replicator2

The integration of technology in this project was not only to create their final products, but also in many steps throughout the project. For example, students used Nepris to video conference with TXS Industrial Design personnel, Excel Gantt charts for effective project management, electronic Pugh Charts for product concept selection, and SolidWorks 3D design software (a common software used in university Engineering programs) for digital product design. All these tools were used to allow students to collaborate, work as a team, meet deadlines, justify product design decisions, and create product designs that could be sent to the MakerBot 3D printer. Only then could the students' designs come to life.

Examples of student products

Bullet Buddy
A pencil for people who like to stand out in a crowd, the Bullet Buddy is the perfect ammunition  for the professional.  Convenience in a small container, it comes with a big eraser for the error-prone, a pocket clip for mobile storage convenience, and a built-in sharpener.

Link to complete Bullet Buddy student presentation materials is HERE. 

"We had to apply our knowledge of SolidWorks, a program that allows us to make components for the 3D printers. Similar to AutoCAD chamfering and filleting, you can mold the object however you want to." -Tucker Chaka, Bullet Buddy Design Team Member 

"What engineers do is make products better. Having this technology with 3D printers and the SolidWorks platform lets us to break down components to see how they work and improve upon them. Without technology, we would not have been able to do the project." -Christian Thomas, Bullet Buddy Design Team Member

Swirly Fork
The Swirly Fork was created to make the eating of noodles easier on the consumer.  The fork works by spinning when you run your fingers down the side of the fork.

Link to complete Swirly Fork student presentation materials is HERE. 

Z Case
Too many things to hold? Losing all your stuff? We have just the thing for you! The Z case can hold your stuff, reduce the amount, and protect your phone.

Link to complete Z Case student presentation materials is HERE.

"For engineering, you want to come up with stuff on your own to improve things, that's what engineers do. I was wanting to improve a phone case. There are already phone cases like I had, but I wanted to improve it to where it would become a mini wallet at the same time that won't be bulky." -Zi Lin Higbie, Z Case Design Team Leader

As each student design team presented their products at the end of the project, industry experts who served as presentation judges provided insightful feedback to students. In some cases, the prototypes were so well designed that they could be manufactured for sale to the public with only minor modifications.

Would you buy these products? If they needed further modification to meet your needs as a consumer, would you hire these students to create a product designed for you?

If you had access to a 3D printer, what would you create? Would it be something just for fun? Would your product satisfy a consumer need?

Additional Project Resources 

Project Overview & Requirements
Product Concept Proposal Grading Rubric
Engineering Research Grading Rubric