Our project centers around introducing advanced printing technologies (APT) into university education.  The project aims to advocate for the use of digital additive manufacturing (DAM) technologies in teaching, especially design methods and printing technologies. DAM has a uniquely short timespan from initial idea over design process to actual manufacturing and can be utilized in some form at any university. This allows students to get direct feedback and hands-on knowledge even trough multiple iterations, without the enormous time and investment needed for traditional micro technologies. From our experience in teaching, ways to connect theory and praxis are few but urgently needed to train holistic and enthusiastic engineers and scientist. 

We see 3D micro printing as a way to do this and thus aim to shorten the usual decades between scientific innovations and their arrival in academic teaching.

What makes 3D technologies so interesting?

3D technologies have a fascinating range of possible applications in research and development. The variety of materials that can be used, from synthetic resins and photopolymers to metals and glass threads, makes it possible to create innovative solutions. Since they are serial, maskless processes no extra investments for templates, masks or molds have to be made and a design can become reality in no time. In addition additive manufacturing reduces material and energy waste, gives bigger freedom in design and choice of material. For micro technology the following 4 technologies are the most important and will be part of TADAM-project: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Two-photon polymerization (2PP), Inkjet Printing.