The Implementation of 3D Printing Prototype Making in Industrial Design Final Year Student Project

Abstract

Technological innovation has accelerated rapid manufacturing today. The adaptation of 3D printing has spread in many products manufacturing that proves the increasing of productivity and has fulfilled the requirements in industrial revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) towards digitalization. Industrial design students here in Polytechnic Ibrahim Sultan are encouraged to explore prototype making by using 3D printing to develop creativity through this product design process. During this time, product development in industrial design was practiced manually using standard techniques namely sketch, presentation drawing, technical drawing, rendering, prototype, and model making. This research was conducted to provide a review of the implementation of 3D printing in industrial design final year students’ prototype making and to analyze the impact of the 3D printing implementation on CLO achievement. The research method of this study is qualitative research, where group discussion has been conducted in a focus group. Generic process of CAD has been used in the development process consists of eight stages which include CAD, STL convert, File transfer to machine, Machine setup, Build, Remove, Post Process and Application. The findings of this research indicate the advantages of 3D printing that elevates students’ skills from traditional methods to technology-driven methods, improvement of CAD drawing techniques and enhancing skills for lifelong learning.  Based on this result, Course Learning Outcome (CLO) for DVI50144 (Industrial Design 4) session 1 2022:2023 are increased compared to session 2 2021:2022 for CLO1 (Cognitive) 6.5%, CLO2 (Psychomotor) 3.0%, CLO3 (Psychomotor) 2.5% and CLO4 (Affective) 17.5%. The adaptation of 3D printing in Final Year project (FYP) allows students to explore the challenges of 3D printing in industrial design and enhance their creativity to become industrial designers in future and the effort of lecturers to improve the skill in 3D printing.