After purchasing the Ultimaker 2 in 2014, Payson McNett's Cabrillo College Fab Lab is well on its way to success.
The Fab Lab benefits teachers, students, and community members, providing a new opportunity for design and entrepreneurship.
Bridging the Gap Between Art and Science
For Payson McNett, an adjunct professor who joined Cabrillo College in 2014, reversing the 8-year decline in art department enrollment
was the top priority. Cabrillo graduates know that revitalizing the art department and maintaining the school's reputation as a leader in art education are essential keys to success.
Ultimaker 2 printers at Cabrillo College Fab Lab
Payson believes that despite a successful program, these art courses lacked the content needed to challenge students from diverse backgrounds and with more experience.
The transformation he envisioned required not only donations to build a new design space but also the creation of courses that support newer technologies, such as using
Ultimaker for 3D printing.
"I have students from various industries, from retired Silicon Valley computer engineers to high school graduates."
Today, the Cabrillo Fab Lab is humming with four Ultimaker 2 printers used by over 50 people.
Students, teachers, and community members keep the space busy, and Payson often takes his own Ultimaker 2 home to alleviate production bottlenecks during busy academic years.
An Ultimaker in operation A student's project
Students from various fields enjoy the Fab Lab, whether they are interested in engineering, nursing, digital media, or are still undecided about their career path.
Payson believes that integrating 3D printing into his curriculum helps bridge the gap between art and science and can foster interdisciplinary collaboration through student societies and local organizations.
He found that effectively demonstrating an entrepreneurial mindset through product development and a self-managed lab was also very beneficial.
The Best "Time Machine" Solution
The path to Ultimaker was taken after very careful consideration. When he started establishing the Fab Lab, McNett spent several years extensively researching 3D printers and their assembly.
When he discovered Cura in Ultimaker, he was impressed by the ease of use and consistency of Ultimaker machines. He found other 3D printers
too complex. "Before using Ultimaker, the printing process was slow, complex, and full of unnecessary obstacles."
Cabrillo's art department accepted his proposal to incorporate their curriculum into future course content, as other administrators and professors understood the immense value brought by 3D printing technology.
Payson decided to use the Ultimaker 2 and packed up other 3D printers, never looking back.
Since upgrading to 3D printers, the art department has enjoyed the benefits brought by 3D printers.
Not only are they able to understand complex concepts, but Payson has also seen significant improvement in managing projects.
The Ultimaker 3D printers on campus have even earned the nickname "time machines," highlighting the time and effort saved for Fab Lab customers.
Student art project at Cabrillo Lab
For Better Community Collaboration Projects
Cabrillo Fab Lab launched its digital fabrication courses in the fall of 2016, and the program shows no signs of slowing down. Colleges and universities across the nation are adapting similar technologies into their curricula, and Payson believes this is an important opportunity to share knowledge about creating these 3D printing courses within schools.
Student Designs with 3D Printed Objects
Art students at the Fab Lab are also working closely with the engineering department on prosthetic projects. By designing and manufacturing prosthetics for children and veterans as a team, Cabrillo hopes this project will benefit the community while teaching students valuable lessons about entrepreneurship.
As the Cabrillo Fab Lab continues to generate interest on campus and in the community, Payson states the need to expand the number of Ultimaker printers and offer additional courses and workshops.
With students anticipating future possibilities, the Cabrillo Fab Lab is sure to have more exciting plans.
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Original source: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/50256-reviving-the-arts-through-3d-printing-at-the-cabrillo-fab-lab