Students at Tri-C ’s additive manufacturing program worked directly with disabled veterans to create assistive devices during the summer of 2017. The students, who were working on a Capstone Project by partnering with the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, talked to a group of disabled veterans about what they would like to use these devices for.
One veteran said he wanted to garden again. Others said they would like devices to aid in using eating utensils, shaving, and turning pages of physical books and e-books.
The students used a 3D printer to make these assistive devices, which makes them easy to customize and for far less money than with traditional manufacturing methods.
The instructor of the course, Maciej G. Zborowski, said he wanted his students to be able to apply methods learned in class to actual issues. “It is one thing to assign a project that is just a figment of my imagination, but I figured that it would be more impactful to test the students using problems that actually existed out in the real world,” he said.
Additive manufacturing is a growing field, especially in the medical industry. Tri-C offers a one-year certificate in their 3D Digital Design and Manufacturing Technology program - graduates of the program can begin working immediately or can opt to pursue an associate or higher degree.
For the full story, check out the article in Community College Week.
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