How 3D Printing is Shaping the Next Generation of Engineers

3D printing is shaking up engineering education, giving students more than just textbooks and lectures; it’s handing them the tools to create. At Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW), freshmen get their first real taste of what being an engineer is all about.

Their professor, Troy Tonner, is an enthusiastic advocate for using 3D printing in the classroom. 

“We all need common sense when we design and build, but that common sense comes from experience. 3D printing gives them that experience.” – Troy Tonner, engineering professor at PFW

Shaping Future Engineers, One Print at a Time

While advanced machining and metalworking courses are part of the curriculum at PFW, they’re reserved for later years. Freshmen, who don’t yet have access to drills, cutting tools, or the machine shop, benefit from the safer, cleaner, and highly versatile capabilities of 3D printers.

But it’s not just about access. 3D printing also builds critical thinking. Students rapidly prototype and refine their ideas, transforming concepts into tangible objects in just hours. 

Along the way, students grapple with key design questions: Is this manufacturable? How cost-effective is it? How long will it take to produce?

“They get to understand that some of the best designs are terrible or hard to make,” Tonner explains. “It is easy to draw, but can you build it? 3D printing allows students to go from finding a solution to physically manufacturing a solution.”

Professor Tonner’s philosophy is simple: learning happens best when your hands are busy. His students thrive on tinkering, tweaking, and testing – getting elbow-deep in the design process to figure out what works and what doesn’t. 3D printing allows them to walk step-by-step through the design process while gaining invaluable insights.

Students experiment with different plastics, testing durability, usability, and practicality, simulating the full engineering process through projects like 3D-printed bridges or smartphone stands.

“Students love 3D printing,” Tonner says. “It looks awesome and allows you to say, ‘Yeah, I made that.’ It helps them build that identity of being an engineer.”

And even as students progress to machining and metalworking courses, 3D printing remains a crucial part of their toolkit. Many upper-level classes combine 3D printed prototypes with machined components, for example.

Advice for Fellow Educators

Integrating 3D printing technology into the classroom wasn’t without its challenges for Tonner. He began with two older printers that required constant troubleshooting and maintenance, and were too slow for his students’ needs. 

Seeking a better solution, he turned to the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, which was recommended to him for its print quality.

"The machines are truly turn-key, perfect for beginners and, in my case, perfect for freshmen," Tonner explains. With its reliability, intuitive software, and multi-color capabilities, the printer shifted his focus from troubleshooting technical issues to teaching and guiding his students effectively.

Reflecting on his experience, Tonner highlights the value of choosing tools that support the learning process rather than hinder it. He also emphasizes the importance of letting students take the wheel. Experimenting – even with designs that fail – provides invaluable learning opportunities.

"It's okay to fail," Tonner says. "3D printing allows students to learn from that failure while refining their approach."

Lastly, Tonner advises teaching students to use 3D printing strategically. While the technology can create nearly anything, students should learn when to print, when to source off-the-shelf components, and how to combine manufactured parts with custom designs. 

Essential Tech for Tomorrow’s Engineers

For Troy Tonner, 3D printing is a “must-have” at school, whether it’s for the students doing projects or as an educator making projects for their students.

By bridging the gap between theory and practice, this tech empowers the next generation of engineers to innovate, experiment, and problem-solve with confidence. It's more than just a (fun) tool, it's an experience.

“It can give that freshman the feeling of being an engineer for the first time. You switch from being a student in the classroom to applying what you learned and making something. Truly a great feeling.”

Ready to adopt 3D printing in your classroom? 

Learn more about 3D printing in education.