Open classes in 3D printing to be offered at SUNY New Paltz this summer

The SUNY New Paltz MakerBot Innovation Center (MIC), home to 30 desktop 3D printers and a staff of additive manufacturing experts, will be the site of a series of 3D printing classes this summer.

The classes will be offered through the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center (HVAMC) and are open to the public. They are designed to introduce community members on and off campus to the basic concepts and capabilities of 3D printing.

“One of the goals of the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center is democratize access to 3D Printing,” said Dan Freedman, dean of the School of Science and Engineering and director of the HVAMC. “Through our introductory classes and the Digital Design and Fabrication Program, we will give everyone the knowledge to access this transformational technology.”

Two 75-minute classes will be offered on each of the days the program is in session: “Introduction to 3D Printing,” which will offer an overview of the technology, and “Introduction to 3D Modeling,” which will equip students with basic tools to begin designing 3D-printable objects.

“The first course will provide an introduction for those who are interested in learning about the different types of 3D printing and how to set up and check your own builds,” said Aaron Nelson, MIC instructional support technician, who will administer the classes. “The second course will be a primer on working with a 3D modeling program.”

Nelson’s advice to newcomers is to be excited by 3D printing, rather than intimidated. “This can be a little overwhelming, and there’s a lot of terminology that gets tossed around, but in the end it’s really just assembling simple things into complex things,” he said. “Just approach it like any other learning exercise: start with the most basic, simple stuff, and don’t be afraid to fail.”

Classes will be offered on campus at the Coykendall Science Building, Room 145, on Tuesday, July 7; Thursday, July 16; Thursday, July 23; and Tuesday, July 28. On each day, “Introduction to 3D Printing” will run from 1-2:15 p.m., and “Introduction to 3D Modeling” will run from 2:30-3:45 p.m. The two courses must be taken in sequence.

The classes are offered free to New Paltz students, faculty and staff. Simply present your valid SUNY New Paltz ID at the date and time of the class to be admitted.

Community members are welcome to take the courses at a cost of $40/class, which includes $5 of 3D printing in the MakerBot Innovation Center. Please follow this link to register.