A scholar engineering workforce at VT CRO has created an automatic plate swapping system for 3D printers that considerably reduces downtime between print jobs. The system, developed by the Manufacturing Work Cell workforce, routinely removes accomplished prints, shops them, and begins new print jobs with out human intervention. This automation cuts transition instances from doubtlessly 5-6 hours to simply 5-10 minutes, addressing a standard bottleneck in 3D printing workflows.
The challenge combines customized mechanical {hardware} with built-in software program programs. The bodily plate motion mechanism was designed by the workforce’s mechanical engineers, whereas the software program aspect features a web-based queue system hosted on Oracle servers. The system options integration with widespread slicing software program together with Bamboo and Orca, together with Discord notifications that alert customers when their prints are full.
Accessibility and affordability have been key design concerns for the workforce. “A system like this at a maker and shopper degree actually doesn’t exist at this value level or on the accessibility degree that we’re attempting to perform,” famous a workforce consultant. The whole system prices roughly $3,000 to construct, with CAD information and directions made obtainable for hobbyists who want to replicate it.
The challenge exemplifies interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing collectively college students from numerous engineering backgrounds. Group members embrace majors in pc science, pc engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and aerospace engineering. This collaborative strategy enabled the creation of an entire product slightly than only a software program or electrical system, demonstrating the worth of cross-disciplinary teamwork in engineering schooling.
Supply: information.vt.edu
