Lehigh University has established a new 3D printing center on the Mountaintop campus to meet the growing demand for 3D printing resources.
The 3D printing center complements the Design Labs’ existing five main labs, which are spread across two locations. Wilbur is home to the MakerSpace, the Additive Manufacturing Lab (3D printing lab) and the Electronics Design Studio. In Building C, Design Labs operates a wood shop, metal shop and various digital fabrication technologies, including CNC plasma cutters, CNC routers and laser cutting tools.
“As the Design Labs continue to grow and collaborate with more departments, student clubs, and campus organizations, enhancing hands-on experiential learning across all of Lehigh’s colleges, we need to ensure these resources are as available and accessible as possible,” Brian Slocum, director of the Design Labs, says. “Adding this 3D print hub at Mountaintop will complement our existing facilities and make the work flow more efficient to students and faculty who spend most of their time at the Mountaintop campus.”
The new center on the Mountaintop campus expands the existing facilities in Wilbur, which have 30 network-connected filament printers, high-resolution SLA printers, a powder bed nylon printer and direct metal printing capabilities. Filament printers, also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF) printers, use thermoplastic filaments to create objects layer by layer, while high-resolution stereolithography (SLA) printers use a laser to turn liquid resin into hardened plastic, allowing for finer details and smoother surfaces.
“Staffed throughout the day by knowledgeable Design LabsTech Fellows willing and able to help everyone make use of this amazing technology, the 3D print hub is accessible to even the most novice user”, Mike Moore, the manager of Design Labs at Mountaintop says. “Additionally, all the printers are networked, allowing students to send their designs to the printer from their dorms and then come to pick up the final product”
Nicholas Sawicki, associate professor and chair of the Department of Art, Architecture and Design (AAD), values the new 3D printers as essential tools for rapid prototyping in research and teaching. He emphasized that these devices allow students and faculty to quickly realize designed objects physically.
“AAD is heavily integrated with 3D printing in our curriculum. Our students frequently utilize these technologies in the classroom for various assignments and projects,” Sawicki. “The new lab will not only benefit our department but will also support a diverse range of disciplines and extracurricular clubs that utilize the existing studios, labs, and shops at the Mountaintop Campus.”
Chris Cook, interim vice president for finance and administration, emphasized the transformative impact the new center will have on the Mountaintop campus.
“At Lehigh University, students are the future makers,” Cook says. “Our new 3D printing hub exemplifies our commitment to fostering an environment of innovation and creativity. This expansion not only enhances our facilities but also significantly bolsters our capacity to support students’ development through hands-on, experiential learning. The Mountaintop campus is becoming a central hub for innovation, drawing students from diverse disciplines to collaborate and bring their ambitious projects to life.”
The Mountaintop center offers ten additional filament printers and an advanced, large-format SLA printer. This strategic expansion aims to reduce high crowding and wait times in Wilbur and encourage greater student participation in Building C.
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