Developing students' thirst for knowledge is the core purpose of educators in the Department of mechanical and automation engineering of the Chinese University of Hong Kong ("CUHK"): since 3D printing technology was incorporated into its curriculum in 1995, educators at CUHK have expanded the impact of 3D printing from demonstration to the establishment of engineering prototypes and new equipment. The Department of mechanical and automation engineering of Hong Kong Zhongda was established in 1994 and is currently using fortus ®  3D production system fourth generation 3D printer.

Allan Mok, director of electronics in the Department, said, "our curriculum framework is to teach product design and material use, so that students have the opportunity to test their own design models." With the help of 3D printers, students can easily make models in a few hours. Multidirectional car with wheels printed by fortus 3D manufacturing system

The strength of this material is an important factor in the multi-material prototype.

Mok said, "when we first introduced 3D printing technology into our course content, our original intention was to demonstrate the casting manufacturing method. But now, we often use this printer to make teaching aids, and let undergraduate students practice 3D printing, including verifying their own model design."

Through 3D printers, students can more easily understand and master complex mechanics, theories or the overall operation of components. Although 3D printing system is mainly used for teaching, it is also used for prototype design, research and development, commercial experiments and so on.

Mok said that the fortus 3D production system has many advantages. "In addition to saving about half of the initial cost compared with other 3D printers, FDM ®  The thermoplastic materials used in the technology enable us to make ready to use components, such as endoscope shell, camera bracket on Visualization equipment and installation base of laboratory equipment. For example, doctoral students make a model car with four reverse wheels. "This car is called a multidirectional car because it uses pre-set calculator programming technology and can automatically move in any direction," Mok said The outer wheel is made of aluminum, but its bearings are 3D printed thermoplastic: when embedded in parts made of different materials, it is strong enough to support a certain degree of wheel movement.

"3D printers are changing the traditional way of engineering, research and development. They are simple to operate and can be used even by non experts," Mok said. "For us, the fortus system has been and will continue to play a vital role in our engineering and mechanics courses. We hope that by quoting 3D printers, students can be prepared for their future work environment."