Conference proceeding
Interdisciplinary Senior Design Project to Develop a Teaching Tool: Dragon Conductive 3D Printer
2014 ASEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
01 Jan 2014
Abstract
The desired current set of skills required of modern engineers and technologists has been steadily expanding. In addition to familiarity with manual machining and prototyping techniques, mastering CAD/CAM, Computer Numerical Control (CNC), and automation methods are increasingly becoming essential tools in the design, prototyping and manufacturing of complex systems. In this paper, an inter-disciplinary design project towards the development of a 3D printer machine is presented as an alternative to purchasing and installing traditional prototyping equipment to provide hands on experience. The Dragon 3D printer is designed to bridge the gap between commercial printers and consumer 3D printers - to be the first "prosumer" 3D printer. However, the Dragon printer is more than just an upgraded Makerbot - it has features that are not available even on commercial models. The Dragon printer has evolved into a commercial printer with never before seen features - for a fraction of the cost, and perhaps most interestingly, at a fraction of the cost to run as other commercial models. The most exciting feature of the Dragon conductive 3D printer is its ability to create 3D prints with integrated traces and variable resistivity. This will take 3D printing from making solid objects to making useful electronic devices. The Dragon 3D printer will be useful for engineering technology classes - because it continues the trend of technology being more powerful, more hands on, and available for a fraction of the cost of other alternatives. The Dragon 3D printer will make prototyping viable for larger parts - in a way that was not possible with smaller printers and expensive filament. The Dragon 3D printer will be a boon to students, prototypes, and hobbyists interested in the exciting field of rapid prototyping.
The significance of the methodology to be applied in this capstone course project is to combine theory and practice to prepare the students to become better problem solvers and obtain practical solutions to real life/simulated problems using a project based approach. Students in the Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial fields along with many others can learn many new skills from multi-disciplinary projects such as the design and development of a 3D printer. Such projects show students how to use different types of technology, and demonstrate how advanced technology can be used in an innovative application. Overall, many different fields of engineering can benefit from this application, enabling the development of skill and knowledge in many different engineering aspects and processes. This capstone design project stimulates the students' interest in real-world product realization. As manufacturing laboratories are very expensive to develop, this project can also be adapted at other institutions that have limited funding to improve manufacturing process and prototyping facilities.
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Details
- Title
- Interdisciplinary Senior Design Project to Develop a Teaching Tool: Dragon Conductive 3D Printer
- Creators
- Yalcin Ertekin - Drexel UniversityIrina Nicoleta Ciobanescu Husanu - Drexel Univ, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USARichard Chiou - Drexel UniversityJoshua KonstantinosASEE
- Publication Details
- 2014 ASEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
- Series
- ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
- Publisher
- Amer Soc Engineering Education
- Number of pages
- 9
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Engineering Leadership and Society/Engineering Technology
- Identifiers
- 991019170555104721
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Source: InCites
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- Education & Educational Research
- Education, Scientific Disciplines
- Engineering, Multidisciplinary