New Frontiers in Manufacturing Education: Rapid Prototyping, 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering

With the introduction of the first Rapid Prototyping machine two decades ago, manufacturing technology has matured from building prototypes by various additive processes to creating net shape finished product from CAD models and reverse engineer parts from data obtained from 3D scanners where no CAD models exists. As 3D scanners have been more affordable, the process of reverse engineering has become more common place adaptable to a larger number of manufacturing applications. Rapid Prototyping was first established at Albany State University with the purchase of a 3D Printer and SolidWorks CAD software in 2003. Since the summer of 2007, two different 3D scanners and complementing reverse engineering software were acquired. This fully functional reverse engineering facility is now used for conducting engineering student's research projects. A new laboratory project on 3D scanning and reverse engineering was added in the fall 2008 semester to the sophomore level introductory engineering course.