Additive manufacturing or 3D printing technologies have been transforming many sectors including engineering. Organizations have been reskilling and upskilling engineers by making them learn various 3D printing technologies. Likewise, professional engineers have been honing their 3D printing skills to enhance their career prospects in the age of Industry 4.0.
A surge is being noted in the number of engineering colleges investing in 3D printers to make students familiar with this transformative manufacturing technology. Likewise, 3D printing service providers create opportunities for engineering students to convert ideas and concepts into tangible models without buying or renting 3D printers.
Engineering students like you can unleash your creativity by 3D-printing a wide range of products, parts, and models. While planning 3D printing projects for engineering students, you can choose from a wide range of machines and materials. Some 3D printing technologies are more complex than others. Similarly, some 3D printing materials are easier to print than others.
Hence, you should focus on combining the right 3D printing machine and material. Also, you can produce the desired product accurately and safely by adopting a slew of 3D printing best practices. We are listing some of the 3D printing projects for engineering students that you should consider to understand and use one of the prominent Industry 4.0 technologies.
10 Simple 3D Printing Projects for Engineering Students
Nuts and Bolts
Nuts and bolts are used commonly by mechanical engineering students. Students require nuts, bolts, and washers of varying sizes and dimensions in various projects. 3D printing creates opportunities for them to showcase their talent by designing and producing custom nuts and bolts. They can use 3D modeling software to design nuts and bolts that can be used for fresh projects or component replacements.
Tropical Maps
The high-resolution satellite data released by NASA creates opportunities for scientists to create maps that highlight the quality of tropical forests. Engineering students can use 3D printers to convert these two-dimensional maps into three-dimensional maps. They can use 3D modeling software to create models by gathering NASA satellite data. Finally, they can use 3D printers to convert the STL file into a three-dimensional tropical map.
Shoes
3D-printed shoes will not look and feel like the footwear launched by leading brands. But engineering students can surprise friends by wearing footwear produced fully using 3D printing materials. They can produce shoes and sneakers using a variety of materials. Also, they can use 3D printers to produce soles and other components of the footwear. A local shoemaker will help them produce appealing footwear using the soles produced using 3D printers.
Cable Holders
Cable management is one of the important skills of engineers. Engineers often make their desks messy by keeping cables organized. Engineering students can keep their desks organized by 3D-printing cable holders. They can produce cable holders easily using an FDM 3D printer. Also, they can keep the cable holder safe and durable using a variety of thermoplastic filaments. In addition to showcasing their skills, this 3D printing project will help engineering students work in an uncluttered environment.
Mechanical Planetarium
Students visit planetariums to observe the night sky through the appearance and movement of planets. Engineering students can impress their friends by producing mechanical planetariums using 3D printers. There are many websites that make it easier for students to produce mechanical planetariums by providing STL files. Engineering students can customize the STL file using 3D modeling software. Also, they can use 3D printers to convert the STL file into a planetarium in a short amount of time.
Remote-Controlled Vehicles
Engineering students have to put in extra time and effort to 3D print remote-controlled (RC) vehicles require. Also, they have to assemble all its components accurately to make the RC vehicle functional. But engineering students can produce major components of an RC car or RC plane using an FDM 3D printer. This is one of the 3D printing projects that engineering students should consider to challenge their skills.
Miniature Wind Turbines
The surge in demand for green and clean energy creates many career opportunities for wind turbine designers and developers. Engineering students cannot use a desktop 3D printer to produce turbines that convert wind energy into electricity. But they can showcase their talent by 3D-printing wind turbines. They can use 3D printers to produce various parts of a decorative wind turbine. Finally, they can form the turbine by assembling these 3D-printed parts.
Robotic Arms
As programmable machines, robotic arms help engineers save time and effort by performing specific activities efficiently. Engineering students can automate routine activities by producing custom robotic arms using 3D printers. They can use 3D printers to produce basic versions of the robotic arm initially. The initial versions can be finetuned and enhanced subsequently using add-ons. However, this 3D printing project requires them to use parts and components produced without using 3D printing technologies.
Prosthetics
In several countries, communities encourage engineering students to support good causes and humanitarian projects using 3D printing technologies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many engineering students used 3D printers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers. After the pandemic, engineering students in developed countries use 3D printers to produce prosthetics. Communities help engineering students produce 3D-printed prosthetics by providing STL files and relevant instructions.
Physical Signs
Engineering slogans and taglines are hugely popular with students and working professionals. They display their favorite engineering slogans and taglines by hanging signs. 3D printing technologies create opportunities for them to showcase their talent by producing physical signs that look different and appealing. Engineering students can produce physical signs in minutes using a desktop 3D printer. Also, they have the option to optimize the physical signs by experimenting with filaments of different colors and textures.
Conclusion
The consistent growth of 3D printing in the education sector indicates the huge significance of 3D printing for engineering students. In addition to making them becoming proficient in an Industry 4.0 technology, 3D printing technologies help them improve their career prospects. An engineering student can produce a wide range of models and items using a 3D printer. But she must focus on optimizing the quality of the 3D-printed item by adopting several best practices.
About Aurum3D
We are amongst the major 3D printing service providers in Bangalore, India. We have been providing FDM, SLA and SLS custom 3D Printing services to many major industries including multiple disciplines of engineering. Please feel free to get in touch with us for your custom needs, our 3D printing solutions experts will get back to you within one business day.