{"id":144,"date":"2012-05-08T15:46:34","date_gmt":"2012-05-08T15:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lamp1.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/?p=144"},"modified":"2019-06-12T10:21:21","modified_gmt":"2019-06-12T15:21:21","slug":"prototypes-in-three-dimensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/2012\/05\/08\/prototypes-in-three-dimensions\/","title":{"rendered":"Prototypes in three dimensions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0A state-of-the-art printer that creates three-dimensional pieces has brought together art and engineering technology, two seemingly disparate departments on campus. Neil Lawley, assistant professor of art in sculpture and 3-D design; and Aaron Stutterheim, instructor of engineering technology; collaborated to develop a course for both art and engineering technology students that revolves around a brand new 3-D printer, thanks to a grant from the MWSU Foundation.<\/p>\n

This semester, the two professors are guiding nine art students and five engineering technology students through a number of hands-on projects with the new printer in 3-D Modeling and Design Processes.<\/p>\n

Three-dimensional printers, also known as rapid prototyping machines, have been around for several years, and engineers, architects, product designers and artists are increasingly turning to them to streamline the creative design process, Neil said. To make a prototype, an item is scanned into a computer and made into a digital file, and the printer then transforms the digital model into a physical product as spools of plastic create the piece. The prototype can be reduced, enlarged, or made the same size as the original item. The printers have become more accessible and affordable in the last few years, Neil said, so the university was able to consider purchasing one.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201c3-D printing is exploding in all fields. The technology makes the students highly marketable, and their knowhow and experience will help them stand out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The two professors believe Missouri Western is just one of a handful of schools in the region that have a 3-D printer. Aaron said other schools may have one, but it is used more for demonstration purposes rather than offering a class that allows students to gain hands-on experience with it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The Foundation grant also funded a 3-D scanner, a computer, and kits for two more 3-D printers that students built as part of the class. \u201cWe wanted the students to put them together so they would understand how they work,\u201d Aaron said.<\/p>\n

It was about a year ago that Neil approached Aaron with his idea of finding a way to purchase a 3-D printer and collaborating with Aaron to create a new course. Neil had had experience with a 3-D printer in graduate school, and wanted to offer that opportunity to Missouri Western students.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Aaron Stutterheim and Neil Lawley<\/p><\/div>\n

Aaron has a master\u2019s degree in architecture and one of his research interests is rapid prototyping, so he was immediately on board with Neil\u2019s idea.<\/p>\n

Although it may not seem like it at first glance, the two disciplines of art and engineering have several similarities, Neil contends, because both involve the process of exploring ideas and problem solving. He should know, because, as an undergraduate, he was an engineering major before he decided to switch to art.<\/p>\n

The professors say they have enjoyed teaching together, and there has been a very creative atmosphere in the classroom. \u201cWatching art and engineering students working on the same processes is interesting,\u201d Aaron said. \u201cThese students have a chance to learn from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cWe were extremely pleased with the generosity of the Foundation,\u201d Neil said. \u201cWe appreciate how it rewards initiative.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Aaron agreed. \u201cIt\u2019s been amazing having the support of the university. We proposed something new, and there\u2019s been a lot of acceptance of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

-end-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0A state-of-the-art printer that creates three-dimensional pieces has brought together art and engineering technology, two seemingly disparate departments on campus. Neil Lawley, assistant professor of art in sculpture and 3-D design; and Aaron Stutterheim, instructor of engineering technology; collaborated to develop a course for both art and engineering technology students […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4100,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144\/revisions\/4100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}