Open Access

Stefan Junk, Steffen Schrock

• Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing (3DP), has increasingly become more wide-spread and applied to a great degree over the past years. Along with that, the necessity for training courses which impart the required knowledge for product development with 3D printing rises. This article will introduce a “Rapid Prototyping” workshop which should convey to students the technical and creativeAdditive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing (3DP), has increasingly become more wide-spread and applied to a great degree over the past years. Along with that, the necessity for training courses which impart the required knowledge for product development with 3D printing rises. This article will introduce a “Rapid Prototyping” workshop which should convey to students the technical and creative knowledge for product development in using additive manufacturing. In this workshop, various 3D printers are initially installed and put into operation for the construction of self-assembly kits during the introduced training course. Afterwards, the students use databanks to select and download suitable components for the 3D print on the basis of criteria. Lastly, the students develop several assembly kits independently and establish design guidelines based on their experience. The students likewise learn to estimate and evaluate economic boundaries such as, e.g. costs and delivery times. For a start, it is a new approach to be using various assembly kits. These are up to date with current technology and dispose of features such as, e.g., additional nozzles for support material and heated building platforms. Moreover, a comprehensive evaluation of the training success will be conducted. The students’ level of knowledge in various areas will also be determined and compared with surveys taken before and after the conducting of the workshops. Additionally, cost and delivery time estimates and knowledge of databanks will be determined through concrete questioning.…