Design and Rapid Prototyping Lab

SOLIDWORKS® Premium (Dassault Systèmes®)

• Used for used for designing, engineering, and simulating mechanical and electrical products and systems across various industries
  • Mechanical/Electrical Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
  • Model-based definition (MBD)
  • Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA)/Simulation: Static, frequency, buckling, thermal, nonlinear, drop, fatigue, flow, and pressure
  • Routing: Electrical harness, pipes, tubes, and ducts
  • Hardware/Part libraries
  • Photo realistic renderings 
  • Analysis: Sustainability, motion, and cost 
  • 2D technical drawings and engineering product definition

AutoCAD® (Autodesk®)

• Used for drafting and designing 2D and 3D models in various engineering, architectural, and construction fields

MATLAB® (MathWorks®)

• Used for numerical computing, data analysis, and algorithm development (High-level programming language)

• Used for writing, compiling, and uploading code to Arduino micro-controllers

• Used for creating and rendering virtual LEGO models and building instructions

• Used for designing and controlling Mindstorm robotics (Icon-based programming language)

• Used for preparing 3D CAD models for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) additive manufacturing 

• Used for preparing 3D CAD models for Stereolithography (SLA) additive manufacturing

• Used for designing, simulating, and controlling Computer-Numerical Controlled (CNC) machines

Computing

Dell® Workstations:

• 30 stations
• Processor: Intel® Core i7-14700
• RAM: 32GB
• GPU: Radeon RX 6500
• Memory: 1TB SSD
• Dual monitors

3D Printing

Formlabs® Form 3:

• Low Force Stereolithography (SLA)
• Laser-powered (inverted) and intelligent sensors and control system
• Automatic resin handling and flexible film resin tank
• 20+ photopolymer/light-activated polymer resins
• Work Volume: 5.7 x 5.7 x 7.6 in
• XY Resolution: 25 µm (0.001 in)
• Layer Thickness: 25–300 µm (0.001–0.012 in)

Washing Station

Formlabs® Wash:

• Automatically agitates, cleans, and air dries printed SLA printed parts
• Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) solution

Curing Station

Formlabs® Cure:

• Automatically cures SLA printed parts
• Combines heat and 405 nm light
• Maximizes material properties
• Max Temperature: 80°C
• 13 multi-directional light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

3D Printing

Afinia3D® H800 and Tiertime® UP Box:

• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
• HEPA filtration
• Automatically senses platform level and height
• Fully enclosed and heated chamber/build plate
• Wi-Fi compatible and smart filament sensing
• ABS and PLA materials (1.75 mm)
• Work Volume: 10 x 8 x 8 in
• XY Resolution: 100 µm (0.001 in)
• Layer Thickness: 100–350 µm (0.003–0.014 in)

Milling

Inventables® Carvey:

• Computer-Numerical Controlled (CNC) 2D milling/carving
• Automatically senses home and height 
• Fully enclosed with attached vacuum
• Work Volume: 11.6 x 8 x 2.75 in
• Accuracy: 0.003 in
• Spindle: 300 W, 12,000 RPM, 0.001 in runout
• Collet: ER-11 (1/8 shank)
• CNC Bits: 1/32–1/4 in solid carbide tips (up-, down-, and v-bits)
• Wood, plastic, and soft metal materials
• Replaceable wasteboard

Project Storage

Wall Control®:

• 12 stations
• Steel pegboards, shelves, hooks, and bins
• Durable, strong, versatile, and visually appealing

Hand Tools

Various:

• 18V rechargeable cordless drill and impact driver
• Hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, nutdrivers, hex/allen keys, knives, bit sets, levels, measuring tapes, etc.

3D Scanning

Creality® Raptor:

• Lightweight and portable handheld scanning for inspection, reverse engineering, mold manufacturing, 3D printing, etc.
• 2 modes: Hybrid blue light laser (7 lines) and structured near infrared (NIR)
• Accuracy: Up to 0.0008 in (metrology grade)
• Scanning Speed: 60 frames per second (FPS) (blue light laser) and 20 FPS (NIR)
• Scanning Size: 0.43–72 in
• Anti-shake, 24-bit full-color, face/body scanning

Robotics

ELEGOO® Smart Robot Car Kit:

• 15+ kits
• Arduino-based educational robotics kit
• Input: IR, ultrasonic, and camera
• Output: Servo motors, servo gimbal, and LEDs

Robotics

LEGO® Mindstorms EV3 Core Set:

• 30+ kits
• EVE 3-based educational robotics kit
• Input: Color, gyro, ultrasonic, IR, and touch buttons
• Output: Servo motors

Simulation

XPULT™ Catapult:

• 30+ kits
• Small, light weight, inexpensive educational simulator used for teaching variability, Six Sigma™, design of experiments (DOE), statistical process control (SPC), process control/improvement, etc.

Gamification

Putt-Putt Project:

• Used for teaching introductory programming (Arduino), robotics, engineering design, and rapid prototyping in ENGT 18200 via an instructor created team-based project.

Gamification

Trash Pickup Project:

• Used for teaching introductory programming (LEGO EV3), robotics, engineering design, and rapid prototyping in TECH 12000 via a instructor created team-based project.

Gamification

Cornhole Catapult:

• Used for teaching introductory engineering design, 2D technical drawings, engineering product definition, mechanics, testing, and rapid prototyping in MET 10200 via an instructor created team-based project.

Surveys/Descriptive

• The impact of project-based learning on ET students design, problem solving, communication, and teamwork skills
• The current state of ET capstone experiences US post-secondary education
• The current state of dimensioning and tolerancing pedagogy in US post-secondary education
• The value and benefits of the SOLIDWORKS certification program for US students and working professionals
• Polytechnic students’ aspirations, interests, and confidence with ET majors

• ET students’ intercultural and human-centered design competency impact: Short-term South American study abroad

• ET students’ demonstration of iterative product design without a design process diagram
• The transformation of the ET gateway experience