University of Nevada, Reno Opens 3D Printing to Student Body

I’m old enough that I’ve done research for work and school both before and after the internet was widely available as a tool. The difference between scurrying around to various libraries for information and being able to find almost anything you need online is enormous. It’s that sort of experience that has made the internet a transformative technology.

3D printing has the potential to offer the same sort of experience. Recently, the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) opened up its 3D printing services to the student body as a whole. This gives students the chance to see their creations brought to life.

It isn’t just engineering students that are interested. Students in theater, art, marketing and plenty of other areas can also benefit from the decision. Objects created include robots, hovercraft, fine art sculpture, chemical models, lattice structures and more.

“We’ve brought the technology out of the lab and into access for all students,” said Tod Colegrove, director of the DeLaMare library. “In the arts, sciences and engineering, breakthroughs in learning or research often require going beyond pencil and paper. With technology and a supportive environment, it becomes possible to breathe life into ideas — in the library. We have a waiting list for projects, which can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 40 hours, depending on the complexity.”

Moving the 3D printer out from behind closed doors, where it’s accessible to only a small minority of the student body, and into the library shows the slow change in recognition about the systems. When the printers were only available to a select few, it’s unlikely most other students would even have known such things existed. With 3D printers becoming part of mainstream consciousness, people with different areas of expertise are becoming interested in seeing what the machines can do for them.

Below you’ll find a video of a 3D printed V8 engine as an example of the sort of objects being created by students at UNR.

Source: UNR