Tech Talk Issue 2

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Originally considered a device used only
for industrial applications, three dimensional
(3D) printing initially served a limited
audience. By 2012, according to the 3D
Printing Industry, awareness and use of 3D
printers by average consumers began to
greatly impact this industry. With its ease of
use, personal-sized printers, personal
assistance, and an abundance of free ready-
made designs, printing three dimensional
objects has quickly caught the interest of
many on our campus!
From art to gadgets, from toys to model
buildings, everyone will be able to find
something to print.
At one time, unless you understood and
could use CAD (computer-aided design)
software, 3D printing was limited by more
than the lack of a 3D printer. Now, the most
difficult thing associated with this printing
choice is choosing the design or item you
want to print.
One of the most popular spots to find free
designs is Thingiverse. This repository of
designs continues to grow as submissions
are made by people familiar with CAD
(computer-aided design) software.
The Thingiverse site is easy to use and
fairly well organized. For classroom uses or
ideas, faculty can visit
to see
how other educators are bringing 3D printing
into their classrooms. For the average user,
the section might be a good place
to start. Other great resources to use for
retrieving or making designs, some free,
some fee-based, are as follows: These are examples of products you can make with a 3D Printer!