🚀 As part of the ENVIHEI pilot implementation phase, 36 students from Silesian University of Technology (SUT), enrolled in the 1st and 2nd years of the Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, participated in a 15-week Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience within the Application of 3D Printing Technologies course.
🖨️ Students were challenged to design and manufacture functional products using 3D printing technologies, applying their engineering knowledge to practical manufacturing challenges. Working individually or in small teams, they developed their ideas from initial concepts to physical prototypes, including 3D modelling, material selection, manufacturing preparation, printing, and evaluation of the final products.
💡 The projects covered a wide variety of applications, including modular exercise equipment, a water filtration system, a car armrest, and a functional lamp. Other students explored designs for a wall-mounted bottle opener with a cap counter, personalised wrist supports, orthopaedic shoe inserts, and modular elastic mat covers. These projects illustrated the range of applications explored by students using additive manufacturing technologies.
🌱 Sustainability was integrated throughout the design and manufacturing process. Students considered how their decisions influenced material consumption, manufacturing efficiency, product functionality, and waste generation. The activities encouraged the exploration of resource-efficient designs, responsible material selection, and opportunities for reducing waste, while introducing concepts related to the circular economy and product life cycles.
🔧 Using CAD modelling software, 3D printers, and digital tools for preparing manufacturing processes, students produced prototypes and evaluated their quality and functionality. The experience also involved overcoming practical challenges, such as adjusting component geometries, selecting suitable printing parameters, and improving dimensional accuracy. Through design adjustments and technical evaluations, students gained hands-on experience with the complete additive manufacturing process.
🤝 Beyond technical skills, the implementation promoted creativity, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent decision-making. By combining engineering design with sustainability considerations, students explored how additive manufacturing technologies can be evaluated from a resource-efficiency and sustainability perspective.
📚 This ENVIHEI pilot implementation highlighted the potential of Project-Based Learning to integrate sustainability into mechanical engineering education, providing students with practical experience in designing and manufacturing products while considering their technical performance and environmental implications.
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