Clemson University’s Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics is using a new 3D printer for such classes as 3D Printing Workflow and Product/Package Design and Prototyping. Students are utilizing a full-color, commercial Mimaki 3DUJ-553 for educational and research initiatives, as part of a continued partnership between the university and printer manufacturer.
Students gain hands-on experience in the design and printing of 3D objects. “I want to show that it is beneficial for reducing the number of individual parts in a product and its assembly process, and can be used to create unique forms, fits, and functions,” says Shu Chang, Ph.D, who teaches the 3D printing class.
The design and prototyping course offers pupils a chance to test their designs, which is how many companies utilize 3D printing to quickly prototype and test a package. “Students design a perfume or cologne bottle, and after we 3D-print it, they can test its functionality,” says Haley Appleby, instructor for the class. With tangible, printed products in their hands, students are able to understand more about the technical and functional aspects of design, she says.