3D Printing Education Gets Boost from Concept Laser, Arizona State U, Others

Leaders from the 3D printing industry have lamented in the past that universities’ engineering curriculums need to offer more courses and programs in industrial 3D printing technologies, also known as additive manufacturing, in order to better prepare the next generation of engineers.

Those educational programs received a giant boost in January when Arizona State University (ASU) announced the opening of a new Academic Additive Manufacturing Center at ASU’s Polytechnic School in Mesa.

The 15,000 sq.-ft. center, which holds more than $2 million of plastic, polymer and 3D metal printing equipment, was made possible by a partnership ASU formed with Concept Laser, Honeywell Aerospace, and Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies.

John Murray, president and CEO of U.S. Concept Laser, who has been one of those industry leaders worried about the lack of 3D printing curriculum at universities, was a part of the partnership announcement. “Changing the future of metal additive manufacturing begins with educated teachers and curious students,” he said. “The educational leadership that the ASU Polytechnic School provides to the Southwest region and the industry will certainly be impactful. Concept Laser is proud to be a partner in this initiative.”

Concept Laser is a global provider of 3D metal printing systems, and is one of the brands of machines China Metal Parts uses for its 3D printing/additive manufacturing services.

Honeywell Aerospace, based in Phoenix, manufactures aircraft engines and other aviation products, and is a division of Honeywell International.

Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies offers numerical simulation, product development, and 3D printing products and services to customers throughout the Southwest region of the U.S.

The additive manufacturing center at ASU’s Polytechnic School is a part of the university’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and will play a prime role in ASU’s manufacturing engineering undergraduate degree program. ASU’s program is one of only 22 manufacturing engineering programs in the U.S. accredited by ABET, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.