Engineering Students Unleash Creativity with 3D Printer

Loyola’s Engineering Department recently purchased a new Stratasys Objet 30 3D printer. 

This amazing rapid prototyping machine can quickly fabricate detailed assemblies out of durable plastic, even ones that include moving parts such as gears and cams.  Our students can now design mechanical components using SolidWorks 3D modeling software, ship the computer files to the 3D printer, and have a working model to test within hours. 

The printer uses PolyJet technology, building up a part layer by layer from a liquid polymer that is immediately cured under UV light.  It produces very smooth surfaces and tolerances as tight as 0.1 mm.

Students in our Senior Design course already used the printer on their projects last spring, and we are preparing to incorporate the printer into other courses including EG101 (Introduction to Engineering) and EG426 (Computer-Aided Simulation and Design).  3D printing is having a revolutionary impact on manufacturing worldwide, and this machine ensures that our students stay on the cutting edge of fabrication technology.