Abstract:

The technology of 3D printing is nowadays creating a new chapter in production technologies. This technology is also widely used in universities to take the students beyond concept and design to support real-world applications. It also helps to prepare them for careers in science, manufacturing, engineering, architecture etc. This term also called rapid prototyping (RP) is used to describe a process for rapidly creating a system or part representation before its final release. The main emphasis is on creating something quickly and the output is a prototype from which further models and eventually the final product will be derived.

The basic principle of this technology is that a model initially designed on the base of using a three-dimensional Computer-Aided Design (3D CAD) software can be manufactured directly without the need for process planning. However, it is not as simple as it may sound. The technology of RP certainly simplifies the process of producing 3D objects directly from CAD data. Other manufacturing processes require a careful and detailed analysis of part geometry to determine the order of different features, what tools and processes have to be used, and what fixtures may be required to finish the part. In contrast with that, the RP needs only basic dimensional details and a small amount of understanding how the 3D printer works and what materials are used for printing. The way how 3D printer works is that the parts are made by adding the material in layers. Each layer is a thin cross-section of the designed part from original CAD data. Obviously, each layer must have a finite thickness to it and then the printed part will be an approximation of the designed part.

The aim of building an unconventional 3D printer is to simplify the construction of 3D printers and make it more available for the student community. After comparing contemporary types of 3D printers (Prusa, RepRap, Replicator, Rebel etc.), we found out that we would be able to build a simple construction that can be easily upgraded to a laser engraving or a mini CNC milling machine in the future. The reasons why we want to follow this way were firstly in their high purchase costs, the usage of printed plastic machine elements and chassis. The main advantage of our new design is that we used only metal materials and all the construction elements can be easily produced in non-industrial environment which helps to keep the production costs as low as possible. So the students can easily build it at home and they can also learn even more about this technology independently. Therefore is this prototype even better than competing machines, because they can´t solve the problem of universality, low purchasing costs and usability in education.

Finally, this project was designed especially for educational purposes, because via this technology the students can learn how to design mechanical components. This allows them to design their own mechanisms and improve their career readiness by building persistence, creativity and critical thinking skills.

Keywords:

3D printer, Rapid Prototyping, CAD, technology, student support in education.