COURSE SYLLABUS

ME 137/237: 3D PRINTING FOR

NON-TECHNICAL INNOVATORS

Meeting Times & Location

Lectures Wed 12:30 am-1:20 pm Building 550 Room 200
Workshop Sessions Fri 1:30 am-3:20 pm Lathrop Room 299

Instructors
Larry Leifer Email: [email protected]
Lauren Aquino-Shluzas Email: [email protected]
Katherine Stephenson Email: [email protected]

Class Assistant
Phillip Dupree Email: [email protected]
Betsy Soukup Email: [email protected]

Prerequisite
A laptop. A desire to make something. That’s it.

Class Objectives
3D Printing is a method of creation that requires only some basic computer skills and a few rules of thumb.
This class will allow students to discover for themselves the potential and limitations of 3D Printing through a
build intensive design project. This course is an excellent option for anyone who ever wanted to prototype an
invention, create a work of art, customize a product or just make something cool…and yet lacked the skills or a
fully equipped workshop. Students may enroll for 1 unit to attend the weekly lecture or 3 units to attend the
weekly lecture and workshop, and complete a course project. No prior technical knowledge needed.

Students can expect to be able to do the following by the end of the course:

For those who attend only the 1 unit seminar lectures:

 Be able to think critically about public reports of 3D printing in the media

 Be able to communicate clearly what makes 3D printing unique from other traditional methods of
manufacturing and what its current benefits and limitations are.
 Be able to access specific resources needed to 3D print an object; include CAD software, CAD
libraries, additional CAD and printing web tutorials, and 3D printing service providers.
 Complete online CAD tutorials independently, at their own pace.
For those who attend the additional weekly workshops and complete a project for 3 units of credit:

 Perform all steps necessary to 3D print a simple, custom object:

o Be able to open, view, manipulate and edit three dimensional object files
o To create new three-dimensional object files from scratch.
o Prepare and optimize those files for 3D printing
o Successfully fabricate the file design through a 3D printing service provider using appropriate
material and method selections.
Intended Student Audience
This course is intended for registered Stanford undergraduate or graduate students with minimal prior
exposure to Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) or manufacturing technologies. It will be particularly useful to
students outside of mechanical engineering and design who find themselves on a multi-disciplinary product
design team, such as those in the business school or medical schools. Course auditors are welcome in the
weekly lectures, if space is available.

Class Reference Materials

 Internet Resources
o Required:
 Class Web-Page
 https://web.stanford.edu/class/me137/
 Coursework Homepage: http://coursework.stanford.edu
 Slides from class
 PDFs of in-class exercises
 AutoDesk Fusion360 HomePage: http://fusion360.autodesk.com
 Recommended Further Resources
o Books
 Fabricated: The New World of 3D Printing by Hod Lipson and Melba Kurman
 Design and Modeling for 3D Printing by Matthew Griffin
o Free CAD Libraries
 AutoDesk 123D Gallery: http://www.123dapp.com/Gallery/content/all
 SketchUp Gallery: https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/
 SolidWorks Gallery: http://www.3dcontentcentral.com/default.aspx
 3D Anatomy Models: http://lifesciencedb.jp/bp3d/?lng=en
 Thingiverse by MakerBot: http://www.thingiverse.com/
 Youmagine: https://www.youmagine.com/designs
o Academic Journals on 3D Printing
 Rapid Prototyping Journal (ISSN 1355-2546)
 International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing (ISSN 1757-8817)
 Virtual and Physical Prototyping (ISSN 1745-2759)

Course Policies and Expectations

 Students must apply to the project track of the class to be enrolled for 3 units. There is no application to
attend the 1 unit seminar. The project track student list will be announced on the first day of class
(March 30th).
 If taking 3 units, attendance at the Friday workshops is mandatory.
o A significant part of the work effort of the class will be completed in the working sessions. You
MUST attend the entire session.
o Material in each session builds rapidly on the work from the previous week, so missed sessions
must be made up before the next week’s session.
o If an absence, late arrival or early departure cannot be avoided, please contact the lead
instructor ([email protected]) as early as possible to arrange suitable make up work.
 Laptops will be required for each working session.
o If you do not bring your laptop to the workshop, you CAN NOT participate in the session and will
have to arrange a make-up session.
o Computer modeling is highly energy intensive. Please bring a power cable to plug your
computer in during the work sessions. Computers will run slower on batteries.
 While laptops are necessary, cell phones are not. Please, keep them out of sight and muted.
  Everyone learns at a different speed.
o While everyone will be completing the same tutorials during the work sessions, not everyone will
complete them in the same time. Please be considerate of your classmates if you complete the
work early.
 NO, you can NOT leave early if you finish the tutorial early.
o The class will discuss the tutorial at the end of class time
 Weekly feedback will help set the pace of the class and make sure everyone is learning.

Assignments & Grading

Both the seminar and project tracks of the course are graded on a S/NC basis.
Regular attendance at the weekly lecture is the only requirement for 1 unit of class credit. One absence is
allowed. Please contact the instructors if additional absences are unavoidable.
For 3 units of credit, each student must attend (in addition to the lecture) a 2-hour weekly workshop
session and complete a team design project. The tutorials and project will consist of the following
assignments:

 Completion of tutorial assignments 25 ( 5 points each x 5 tutorials = 25)

 Team Project Idea Submission 5
 First Project Part file 5
 First Project Printed Part 10
 Second Project Printed Part 10
 Final Project CAD files 15
 Final Printed Project & Presentation 30
100 points
The project assignments are structured to ensure that each team makes steady progress on the project
throughout the quarter, with adequate time at the end of the quarter to allow for a variety of printing methods.

Stanford Policies
 Use of Online Files:
o Submitting 3D Solid files found online as the student’s own work, either “As is” or with only
minimal modifications, is NOT acceptable and will be considered plagiarism.
o However, in this class and in design in general, designers will often download a basic file and
modify it to fit their needs. Alternately, they may combine multiple 3D solid files to create a new
design. Significantly modifying an existing file can be as difficult (if not more so) that creating a
brand new one.
o To avoid any possible risk of plagiarism, always cite the source for any file you use in your
design. Be prepared to discuss your own creative contribution to the new design.
 Students with Documented Disabilities
o Students who may need an academic accommodation based on the impact of a disability must
initiate the request with the Office of Accessible Education (OAE). Professional staff will
evaluate the request with required documentation, recommend reasonable accommodations,
and prepare an Accommodation Letter for faculty dated in the current quarter in which the
request is being made. Students should contact the OAE as soon as possible since timely
notice is needed to coordinate accommodations. The OAE is located at 563 Salvatierra Walk
(phone: 723-1066, URL: http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/oae
Class Schedule

Week Topic Date Day Time Room HW

LECTURE 1 30-Mar W 12:30 550-200

Course Outline
Cool Stuff Showcase
"Can you print it?" Game
Design 101: Design Process Overview
1 WORKSHOP 1 1-Apr F 11:30 AM Lathrop 299

Loading Fusion 360

The CAD Environment
Best Practices for Running CAD
Common CAD Files Types
CAD Libraries
LECTURE 2 6-Apr W 12:30 PM 550-200

Tech Lecture: A Short History of Digital Manufacturing

Interactive Exercise: Design for 3D Print
WORKSHOP 2 8-Apr F 11:30 AM Lathrop 299 HW #1 Due
2
Fusion 360 Modeling
Sketching
Extruding
Collaborating on Files
LECTURE 3 13-Apr W 12:30 PM 550-200

Tech Lecture: Process Flow

Design Lecture: Empathize
3 WORKSHOP 3 15-Apr F 1:30 PM Lathrop 299 HW#2 Due

Fusion 360 Sculpting

Moving between Environments
Matching Imported Geometry
LECTURE 4 20-Apr W 550-200

3DP in Public Media 3

Tech Lecture: The 3DP Business Case

Design Lecture: Define

4 WORKSHOP 4 22-Apr F 1:30 PM Lathrop 299 HW#3 Due

Working with Meshes

Scanning Tools

Editing Scanned Files

Fixing Scan Bugs

LECTURE 5 27-Apr W 12:30 PM 550-200

Tech Lecture: Printing in Plastic

5 Design Lecture: Ideate
WORKSHOP 5 29-Apr F 11:30 AM Lathrop 299 HW#4 Due

Optimizing for Print

 Printing @ Stanford
Print De-Bugging
LECTURE 6 6-May W 12:30 PM 550-200

Tech Lecture: Printing in Metal

Design Lecture: Prototype I
Workshop 6 6-May 11:30 AM Lathrop 299 HW# 5 Due
6
Making Assemblies
Moving and Aligning Parts
Joints

Motion Studies
LECTURE 7 11-May W 12:30 PM 550-200

Tech Lecture: Printing in glass, wood, concrete & more

Design Lecture: Prototype II
7 WORKSHOP 7 13-May 11:30 AM Lathrop 299 HW #6 Due

Fasteners
Finishes
Advanced Modeling Tools
LECTURE 8 18-May W 12:30 PM 550-200

Tech Lecture: Bioprinting

Design Lecture: Test
8 WORKSHOP 8 20-May 11:30 AM Lathrop 299 HW #7 Due

Working with service providers

Optimizing Files for Different Methods
Debugging Prints
LECTURE 9 25-May W 12:30 PM 550-200 Final Design Files Due

Tech Lecture: Politics & Ethics

Guest Speaker
9 WORKSHOP 7 27-May 11:30 AM Lathrop 299

CAD Rendering
Mechanical Drawings
Photographing Parts
LECTURE 10 1-Jun W 12:30 PM 550-200

End of Class Details Announcement

Special Guest Speaker
10
WORKSHOP 10 3-Jun F 11:30 AM Lathrop 299

Presentation Coaching
Questions, extra help
LECTURE 11 8-Jun W 12:30 PM TBD Final Project Due
11
Student Presentations