3D Printing in Higher Education with Markforged
Collaboration for Save the Rhino's London Marathon Rollin' Rhino with Mark3D UK, Coleg Y Cymoedd, and Wild Connect

3D Printing in Higher Education with Markforged

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Coventry University's High Precision Engineering

Coventry University is a modern multidisciplinary university based in the west midlands of England. With a long history of manufacturing in the area, Coventry University is well positioned to engage with industry - including additive manufacturing.

The Coventry University High Precision Engineering Centre, complete with harrier jumpjet and simulators
The Coventry University High Precision Engineering Centre, complete with harrier jumpjet and simulators

Coventry University has a state-of-the-art High Precision Engineering Centre, with countless projects going on continuously. Students can often be seen working on their Formula Student car, suites of simulation equipment, and there is even a Harrier Jumpjet (pictured above) hiding inside one of the buildings!

The university supports these projects with state of the art manufacturing equipment, including a fleet of Markforged desktop, industrial, and metal 3D printers.

The strength and accuracy of Markforged prints are ideal for the intense forces that their engineering students have to account for - but the reliability and safety of these machines are a winning combination in educational settings. In addition, the department's FX20 large-format composite 3D printer enables the creation of parts that would otherwise take weeks to machine or fabricate.

Phil Green from Coventry University speaking about additive manufacturing
Phil Green from Coventry University speaking about additive manufacturing at the May 2024 3D printing event

On the 15th of May, Coventry University opened the doors of their engineering department to host a technology event in collaboration with Mark3D UK Limited - The UK's #1 Markforged Partner , demonstrating their additive capabilities and how manufacturers are modernising their research and development and factory floors with industrial 3D printers.

Huge thanks to Dr. Shaheer Z. and the team at Coventry University for working with us on this great event!

Coleg y Cymoedd

Colleges across the UK are also investing in 3D printing, and Coleg y Cymoedd is one of the ones leading the charge with this modern industrial technology.

Alistair Aston and the team at Coleg y Cymoedd are continuously finding new uses for their Markforged 3D Printers, and this year they worked with Wild Connect and Save the Rhino International to create the Rollin' Rhino for the 2024 London Marathon.

In this instance, the frame for the Rollin' Rhino was supported by a custom 3D printed junction, designed to attach to the back of the wheelchair, and holding all of the struts beneath the skin of the Rhino in place. This component was 3D printed by Mark3D UK Limited - The UK's #1 Markforged Partner in collaboration with Coleg y Cymoedd .

Not only was this a great cause, it was also a great opportunity for students at Coleg y Cymoedd to develop practical manufacturing skills.

The team working on the Rollin' Rhino ahead of the 2024 London Marathon
The team working on the Rollin' Rhino ahead of the 2024 London Marathon

In addition, Coleg y Cymoedd hosted a 3D printing event with Mark3D UK at their Nantgarw campus, with additive veterans Daniel Stokes and Lynn Marie Smith demonstrating live composite 3D printing.

Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology

The Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology is another forward thinking educational institution with a suite of Markforged 3D printers, enabling their students with modern manufacturing technology.

When Mark3D UK met with Darran Marks back in the summer of 2021 he had a dream of delivering something special to New College Swindon, its students, and the local employers who used it for training their staff.

?? Click here to read the complete Swindon and Wiltshire IoT Case Study PDF

Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology
Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology

If you would like to visit the Swindon and Wiltshire IoT Darran Marks or a member of his team may be reached on 01793 611470, or you can call Mark3D UK Limited - The UK's #1 Markforged Partner on to arrange a visit.

Safe, Simple Metal 3D Printing with Markforged

When deciding which 3D printing technology to use in education, ease of use, flexibility, and safety are critical considerations. This is precisely why the Markforged Metal X system is so popular in this space.

Safety

Many metal 3D printing technologies work with a bed of powdered metal, from which the object is sintered with lasers or joined with binder fluids. While these technologies have advantages in speed and size for manufacturing, there are drawbacks to consider - particularly the handling of dangerous materials and the requirement for hazmat suits and containment.

A completed set of 3D printed steel parts on the Markforged Metal X
A completed set of 3D printed steel parts on the Markforged Metal X

By contrast, the Markforged Metal X works with filament spools, where all metal is contained within wax and polymer and extruded like any normal filament 3D printer. This makes the system far safer to operate than powder-based machines, which is ideal in educational environments where new users need to be trained regularly.

Ease of Use and Flexibility

Because the Metal X is a filament based system, there are additional advantages in ease of use and flexibility. Because material spools are interchangeable, you can switch from tool steel to copper in 5 minutes by following the instructions on the touch screen.

Markforged Metal X 17-4 Stainless Steel and Ceramic Release material spools
Markforged Metal X 17-4 Stainless Steel and Ceramic Release material spools

The Markforged Metal X also includes a secondary ceramic release material, designed to allow supports for overhangs. This material goes into the sinter with the rest of the print, and when the part comes out as solid metal you can simply give it a knock and the ceramic breaks away, cleanly separating the support without need of any post-processing, cutting, or grinding.

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Composites Replacing Aluminium

While the ability to 3D print metal comes with many advantages, composite materials are now serious rivals to traditional materials. One such example is Markforged 's carbon fibre reinforced Onyx material, which is stronger, lighter, and cheaper than aluminium.

Because these composites are nylon and carbon based, they have useful mechanical and chemical properties that are difficult to achieve with metals. Dixon Valve use both composite and metal 3D prints from Markforged machines for their robot tooling - taking advantage of the robustness and corrosion resistance of composites, and the traditional strengths of 3D printed steel depending on the application.

Dixon Valve's composite robot end of arm tooling, 3D printed with Markforged Onyx
Dixon Valve's composite robot end of arm tooling, 3D printed with Markforged Onyx

The end results were fabrication time savings of 93%, and fabrication cost savings of 98% compared to traditional methods. Their robot tooling is now delivered in hours instead of weeks, and at a fraction of a cost.

?? Click here to see how Dixon Valve are replacing metals with composites

What Next?

If you’d like to know more about what we offer or Markforged technology, you can call Mark3D UK Limited - The UK's #1 Markforged Partner on +44 121 661 1151.

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Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology have a suite of 3D printers from Markforged, offering modern manufacturing skills to their students

Lynn Marie Smith

Mark3D is your #1 European partner for Markforged high-end 3D printers, filaments, software and accessories.

8 个月

Alistair Aston and Coleg y Cymoedd really did well with Save the Rhino International for the London Marathon!

James Whelan

Technical Assistant at Mark3D UK Limited - Specialist in Markforged Additive Manufacturing 3D Printers

8 个月

Great to see Coventry University succeeding with 3D printing

Oliver Partridge

I Market Industrial 3D Printers - Solving Tough Manufacturing Problems with Markforged

8 个月

Sam Baynham there are some good examples here of how educators are working with the manufacturing industry in this newsletter!

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