CRI: 3D Printer and Laser Cutter

该奖项支持购买两项设备：一台3D打印机和一台激光切割机。3D打印机的工作原理与传统打印机非常相似，但是发送给打印机的文件描述的是一个3D物体，而打印机实际上输出的是一个3D物体的物理模型。激光切割机是一种类似于高科技带锯的东西。两者将在以下四个方面发挥作用：(1)通过制作复杂多面体的物理模型、蛋白质模型和类似折纸的折叠物体来支持研究者在计算几何方面的研究；(2)支持理学院其他教员的研究；(2)支持史密斯学院工程项目的教师研究和学生项目；(3)促进教师和学生在艺术、建筑和艺术与技术方面的项目。该设备将使整个学院的教师能够进行新的研究，通过高级项目使许多本科生接触到这项技术，并通过PI使用折叠和展开的工作影响K-12学生，教授6至12年级的各种主题。

This award supports purchase of two items of equipment: a 3D printer, and a laser cutter. A 3D printer is a device that operates much like a conventional printer, but the file sent to the printer describes a 3D object, and the printer actually produces as output a physical model of the 3D object. A laser cutter is a something like a high-tech band saw. Both will be used in four ways: (1) To support the investigators research in computational geometry, by making physical models of complex polyhedra, protein models, and origami-like folded objects; (2) To support the research of other faculty in the Sciences; (2) To support faculty research and student projects in the Smith College Engineering program; (3) To facilitate faculty and student projects in Art, Architecture, and Arts & Technology. The equipment will enable new research by faculty across the College, expose many undergraduate students to this technology via senior projects, and affect K-12 students through the PI's work on using folding and unfolding to teach a variety of topics at the 6th- through 12th-grade levels.