In a recent interview done with Scott Simpson of The Vancouver Sun, Dr. Leo Stocco talks about the advantages of stereolithography: a 3-D printing technology that can produce prototypes of design and parts.
Students working with the 3-D technology can quickly see their designs come off the page and into three-dimensional reality. “It just allows you to do really cool, creative things. It’s five bucks worth of material. They screw it up, no big deal. I let them print a second one,” said Leo to the Sun.
Ahmad Sharkia, an engineering student who assists Leo, said in the article: “The boundary constraint you have is basically your imagination, how creative you are. It shows your weaknesses.” The 3-D printers are found in the Lightning Lab of the MacLeod Building and the technology is available to the members of the department.