Digital technologies

Below you can find sections of different digital technologies, based on their level.

3D printing resources

Modern printing technology has enabled the accurate printing of nearly any shape in a wide variety of materials, with many different printing methods to choose from. Selecting a print method will depend on the application, material, and budget used. Materials vary from almost any metal alloy, thermoplastics, ceramics, paper, edibles, rubbers, and clay. Printing methods include extrusion (heating material and forcing through a nozzle), powder bed (placing powdered material and using adhesive or melting to attach), and light polymerized (using UV light to polymerize material on a build plate). 3D Printers utilize an onboard controller to control the printer head and build plate in order to print each 2D layer in the right order and position. In addition, most 3D printers have downloadable software (slicers) that allows a user to position a 3D model on a virtual build platform, as well as adjust the printer’s settings for the build before sending the data to the printer. These 3D models used by the software can be generated using CAD (computer-aided design) methods, laser scanning, or photogrammetry, although CAD is typically used in conjunction with the latter two to refine the output from these methods.

3D printing

3D Printing- Beginner
- Basic understanding of 3D printing and 3D printers
- Ability to slice and start a print on an Ultimaker 2+ printer
- Basic ability to troubleshoot a print
3D Printing- Intermediate
- Basic understanding of custom slicer settings and print orientation
- Basic understanding of print post processing
- Basic understanding of dual extrusion prints
- Basic understanding of different slicer software
- Intermediate understanding of printer functions
- Intermediate troubleshooting abilities
3D Printing- Advanced
- Ability to use all materials available at the Makerspace
- Ability to use all Makerspace printers
- Ability to print large components (print optimizations)
- Advanced understanding of 3D printing extrusion
- Proficient with UM2+ settings

3D modeling (for 3D printing)

3D modeling- Beginner
- Basic knowledge of 3D modelling in TinkerCAD
- Basic knowledge of model modifications in TinkerCAD
3D modeling- Intermediate
- Proficient 3D modelling skills in TinkerCAD
- Basic ability in parametric CAD modelling softwares
3D modeling- Advanced
- Subdividing large models for 3D printing
- Basic understanding of one or more modelling softwares
- Basic understanding of 3D scanning and Scan to CAD

Laser cutting resources

Laser cutting uses a high-powered beam to cut material based on computer-controlled parameters. As the laser guides its beam along the material, everything in its direct path is vaporized, burned or melted. One of the benefits of laser cutting technology is the cut product rarely needs any finishing work as this process ensures a high-quality surface finish. A graphics software is used to import or create designs that are meant to be cut.

Laser cutting

Vector graphics editor

Vector Graphics- Beginner

Arduino resources

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform that provides an easy and accessible way to make robotics projects. The boards can receive input signals from sensors and produce outputs through its I/O pins. Arduino boards are used by a diverse set of people, including students, hobbyists, engineers, researchers due to the simple layout and programmability of the Arduino boards.

Arduino- Beginner
- Basic understanding of programming
- Ability to control few components such as LEDs
- Basic understanding of how sensors work
- Basic understanding of the Arduino board