Student work establishes Virginia Tech as a leader in 3D printing
As 3D printing has become more common , innovative design has risen steadily to take advantage of its capacity to prototype rapidly and produce objects anywhere a machine can be plugged in .
Virginia Tech has implemented campuswide efforts to make the technology easily accessible at locations such as the Newman Library , the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine , the College of Architecture and Urban Studies , and more . Within the College of Engineering , the Frith First-Year Makerspace is available specifically for new students , in addition to assorted facilities within departments . Students also have purchased their own machines , seizing opportunities for invention even in residence halls and apartment buildings .
Within the Department of Mechanical Engineering , the Design , Research , and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems ( DREAMS ) Lab is diligently pushing 3D printing to its next level . Lab director and L . S . Randolph Professor Chris Williams is a 25-year veteran of the discipline , having entered the field well before 3D printing became an academic buzzword . Since Williams arrived on campus in 2008 , his team has not only produced a steady stream of innovative 3D-printed objects , they have also led initiatives to make better printers , pioneered new materials , and mentored the next generation of inventors .
From this unique environment , a landmark academic year has sprung . Since the start of classes in the fall of 2021 , multiple teams of students have
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