Introducing and Sustaining Traditional Fabrication Methods in the Context of Teaching Prototyping for Engineering Design

Abstract

The introduction of Makerspaces across Canada has made it much easier for universities to provide engineering students the opportunity to “close the loop” on engineering design, by giving students the means to implement their projects. However, with the introduction of newer rapid prototyping technologies such as 3D printing, students forget or are unware that traditional fabrication technologies can often be more efficient then these new technologies, depending on the situation.This paper discusses the development and sustainability of traditional fabrication methods through the development of low cost dedicated facilities used in interdisciplinary engineering design courses. The introduction of these traditional fabrication methods have proven to increase the efficiency, creativity and critical thinking of engineering students related to the development of quick and iterative prototypes for their engineering designs. However, much work remains to be done if these facilities are to be optimized and sustained in this new engineering education paradigm.