CRI: 3D Printer and Laser Cutter

该奖项支持购买两项设备：3D打印机和激光切割机。3D打印机是一种操作方式与传统打印机非常相似的设备，但是发送到打印机的文件描述了3D对象，并且打印机实际上生成3D对象的物理模型作为输出。激光切割机有点像高科技带锯。两者将用于四个方面：（1）支持研究人员在计算几何学的研究，通过制作复杂多面体，蛋白质模型和折纸状折叠物体的物理模型;（2）支持科学领域其他教师的研究;（2）支持史密斯学院工程计划中的教师研究和学生项目;（3）促进教师和学生在艺术，建筑和艺术技术&项目。该设备将使整个学院的教师进行新的研究，通过高级项目使许多本科生接触到这项技术，并通过PI使用折叠和展开来教授各种主题的工作影响K-12学生6-通过12年级的水平。

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.