Developing Resources for Enhancing Additive Manufacturing Education

使用多层材料来创建3D对象的加法制造在中国制造业中变得越来越重要。对拥有使用添加剂制造技术设计和创造产品的技能的工人的需求也在增加。为了帮助满足这一需求，奇佩瓦山谷技术学院将与行业合作伙伴和中学合作，开发与加法制造相关的新课程，也就是3D打印。将建立一个制造实验室(FAB Lab)设施，为学生提供实践学习机会。学生将有机会了解添加剂制造中使用的工艺、材料和设计方法，并发展使用这些方法制造产品所需的技能。反过来，他们发展的知识和技能将为学生在制造业从事高要求的技术职业做好准备。Fab Lab还将作为一个空间，供当地企业家和制造商探索使用现代设备和技术。预计该项目将有助于增加区域和国家制造业劳动力的熟练技术人员的数量。该项目的目标是：1)培养具有添加剂制造工艺和概念技能的制造技术人员；以及2)提高中学教师教授添加剂制造主题的能力。将开发关于添加制造的五个模块的课程内容，以加强学院的制造工程技术员和机械设计副学士学位课程。这些模块将涵盖材料特性、金属添加剂制造、设计原则和数字制造的质量保证等主题。新的Fab Lab高品质MakerSpace将配备多种类型的3D打印机(包括热塑性、立体平版、复合材料和金属3D打印机)和3D激光扫描仪。学生将参与顶峰体验，将基于项目的学习融入真实世界的项目中，使学生能够与行业合作伙伴合作。还将开发适合初中生的课程模块。所有学生都将有机会在完成模块后获得行业认可的证书。中学教师将有机会接触教师导师和专业发展研讨会，帮助他们使用FAB实验室设备，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。这一评价的结果可使其他机构了解招聘和培训技术人员从事添加剂制造工作的有效方法。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注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NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.