Georgia Institute of Technology’s (Georgia Tech’s) biomedical engineering (BME) program has established a unique learning environment that is set up more like a design studio than a traditional classroom or lab.
Students — along with developing their engineering and design skills — learn key disciplines that range from opening their minds to explore fresh ideas to intense focus on specific design elements.
Key to this program is establishing an entrepreneurial atmosphere, and 3D printing is at the epicenter of this atmosphere. 3D printing gives students the opportunity to test their designs in a practical way and make proof-of-concept models, allowing them to iterate faster.
Georgia Tech recently added the Stratasys F170 3D printer to the program. Because the F170 prints faster than our other printers, students have more time to learn from their errors and make corrections to their designs. The schools has since seen two major benefits of the F170 3D printer:
ReliabilityÂ
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Georgia Tech’s BME program sees a high volume of prints. The F170’s plug-and-play capability means that students and staff spend more time teaching and learning and less time repairing or calibrating the printer. The department’s constant stream of student projects can continue without speed bumps, ultimately keeping classes on schedule.
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Lowering Print Costs
Ultimately, the F170 has lowered printing costs for the department. The most common material used on the F170 is PLA, a thermoplastic made from renewable resources. Marty Jacobson, Design Instructor and Director, BME Design Shop at Georgia Institute of Technology claims the F170 is “cheaper than the maker systems because there’s no downtime and the cost per print is significantly lower.”
Learn more about what Jacobson has to say about how his students use the F170 3D printer in this case study.
