Success Stories
Real-World Experience and Revenue at OCTC
Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) was looking to extend its CAD and Machine Tool program and curriculum by incorporating technology that would allow students to create functional 3D models. OCTC recently acquired the Dimension 3D Printer, a tool that is helping students gain a new, critical area of expertise and powerful, real-world experience.
Using Dimension in conjunction with 3D solid CAD, students are able to generate 3D functional models that they can use to evaluate designs, test functionality and most importantly, add to their design portfolios. In the future, the CAD Department at OCTC may offer 3D printing as part of its certificate programs, which would be a credential students can add to their resumes.
Recently, OCTC was called upon to create a machine part for an international aluminum casting and forging company that produces structural automobile parts. The part was a protection cap for a portable coordinate measuring machine that was no longer available from the manufacturer. Without the protective cap keeping dust, moisture and moving objects from damaging wires, the machine was functioning at high risk. OCTC CAD students designed the cap by measuring and evaluating an existing working cap. Forty minutes later, using the Dimension 3D Printer, OCTC students generated a sturdy cap model made with ABS plastic.
Today, OCTC is developing a fee schedule for solid model services, which will generate revenue and ultimately help in the college’s long-term goal of building a full-time 3D printing center.
Steve Bailes, Owensboro College's manufacturing division chair and associate professor of computer-aided drafting notes,
"We plan to use the Dimension 3D Printer as a recruitment tool at technical college marketing events by showing a video of the product design and development, then letting people touch and feel the parts made."
Creating an advantage for students and schools.
Dimension 3D Printers provide an affordable, easy to use, easy to maintain, one-step process for students and instructors to explore concepts in durable ABS plastic. Dimension 3D Printers are helping high schools, technical colleges and universities extend their science, CAD and machine tool curriculums by enabling students to build functional models and see their ideas firsthand.
Innovative designers, engineers, architects and manufacturers consider prototyping a critical step of the design process. As the use of CAD and 3D printing increases throughout the design process, understanding this technology is critical for design students. With a Dimension 3D Printer, students and educators can now easily bring design ideas to life in ABS plastic — right from a CAD file.