Developing Resources for Enhancing Additive Manufacturing Education

增材制造是一种使用多层材料制造3D物体的技术，在中国制造业中越来越重要。对具有使用增材制造技术设计和制造产品技能的工人的需求也在增加。为了满足这一需求，Chippewa Valley技术学院将与行业合作伙伴和中学合作，开发与增材制造（也称为3D打印）相关的新课程。将建立一个制造实验室（Fab Lab）设施，为学生提供动手学习的机会。学生将有机会了解增材制造中使用的工艺、材料和设计方法，并培养使用这些方法创建物品所需的技能。他们发展的知识和技能，反过来，将为学生在制造业高需求的技术职业生涯做好准备。Fab Lab还将为当地企业家和制造商提供探索现代设备和技术使用的空间。预计该项目将有助于增加区域和国家制造业劳动力熟练技术人员的数量。该项目的目标是：1)培养具有增材制造工艺和概念技能的制造技术人员；2)提高中学教师讲授增材制造主题的能力。将开发增材制造五个模块的课程内容，以增强学院的制造工程技术专家和机械设计副学士学位课程。这些模块将涵盖材料特性、金属增材制造、设计原则和数字制造的质量保证等主题。新的Fab Lab高品质创客空间将配备多种类型的3D打印机（包括热塑性、立体光刻、复合材料和金属3D打印机）和3D激光扫描仪。学生将参加一个顶点的经验，结合基于项目的学习现实世界的项目，让学生与行业合作伙伴协同工作。还将开发适合初高中学生的课程模块。所有学生在完成课程模块后都有机会获得行业认可的证书。中学教师将有机会获得教师导师和专业发展研讨会，帮助他们使用Fab Lab设备，并将模块和课程活动整合到他们的课程中。该项目包括由外部专家进行评估。这项评估的结果可以为其他机构提供关于招聘和培训增材制造技术人员的有效方法的信息。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Additive manufacturing, which uses multiple layers of materials to create 3D objects, is increasingly important in the nation's manufacturing industry. The need for workers with the skills to design and create products using additive manufacturing technologies is also increasing. To help meet this need, Chippewa Valley Technical College will work with industry partners and secondary schools to develop new courses related to additive manufacturing, which is also called 3D printing. A Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) facility will be created to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the processes, materials, and design approaches used in additive manufacturing and to develop the skills needed to create items using those approaches. The knowledge and skills they develop, in turn, will prepare students for high-demand technician careers in manufacturing industries. The Fab Lab will also be available as a space for local entrepreneurs and makers to explore the use of modern equipment and technology. It is expected that the project will contribute to increasing the number of skilled technicians for the regional and national manufacturing workforce.The goals of the project are to: 1) prepare manufacturing technicians with skills in additive manufacturing processes and concepts; and 2) increase the capability of secondary school teachers to teach additive manufacturing topics. Course content for five modules on additive manufacturing will be developed to augment the Manufacturing Engineering Technologist and Mechanical Design associate degree programs at the college. These modules will cover topics such as material properties, metal additive manufacturing, design principles, and quality assurance for digital manufacturing. The new Fab Lab high-quality makerspace will be equipped with multiple types of 3D printers (including thermoplastic, stereolithography, composite material, and metal 3D printers) and a 3D laser scanner. Students will participate in a capstone experience that incorporates project-based learning on real-world projects that allow students to work collaboratively with industry partners. Course modules with appropriate content for middle and high school students will also be developed. All students will have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials after completing the modules. Secondary school teachers will have access to faculty mentors and professional development workshops, to help them work with the Fab Lab equipment and integrate the modules and course activities into their curriculum. The project includes evaluation by an external expert. Results of this evaluation could inform other institutions about effective approaches to recruiting and educating technicians for additive manufacturing jobs. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.