3D printing technology becomes more and more popular and cheaper. Sale of 3D printing products and services around the world reached 3.7 billion USD in 2015 and it is assumed to be over 6 billion USD after 2019. Usefulness and implementation of 3D printing covers more and more areas, giving new opportunities. Mastering of 3D printing and implementation of this technology became recommended and expected. This situation have caused an need for training providing knowledge and skills necessary for use of 3D printing in particular professional activities.Although that the technology is just becoming popular, there are no courses, which provide comprehensive presentation of both technology and examples of its application, and also:- are available on-line, which is important for proper accessibility- give opportunity of practical use of acquired knowledge by printing sample objects and own projects of the trainees (they don't have to have their own hardware and software).The project will enable to fill this gap. Development of 3DSPEC course that is a freely accessible, comprehensive online course on 3D printing technology to be used within C-VET is the main object of the project. It will meet the needs of such users like teachers, entrepreneurs and professionals in the field of machinery designing and healthcare. There will be developed: - training materials with description of 3D printing and examples of use of this technology in particular professional activities, on internet training platform - to provide trainees with knowledge- 3D printing centre and internet platform for ordering 3D printing - to provide skills.The training materials will be available in English, Polish, Slovene and Spanish, which contributes to their accessibility for wide audience all over the Europe.To guarantee the success of the project and sustainability of the project results beyond the project duration, a consortium including KOMAG - as coordinator, IBV, PCKU, SCV, EXOVITE and DAMATIC has been set up. The following Intellectual Outputs are planned:O1 C-VET curriculum of the 3DSPEC courseO2 Complete materials and training contents of the 3DSPEC courseO3 Prototype of the 3DSPEC courseO4 Pilot tests and validation of the 3DSPEC courseO5 Internet platform for ordering of 3D printing and 3D printing centre.In terms of knowledge management the following results will be provided by the project: - collecting and dissemination of explicit knowledge regarding 3D printing technology- collecting, codification and dissemination of tacit knowledge regarding use of 3D printing in particular professions as well as building of 3D printers- dissemination of tacit knowledge regarding use of 3D printing in particular professions and assembly of 3D printers, that can't be codified - skills in 3D printing.To ensure wide dissemination of the project and its outputs, five multiplier events (held in all three countries from which project partners come) are planned.Solution developed in the 3DSPEC project will contribute to among others: - dissemination of the 3D printing technology in Europe, - development of expertise of individual workers and organizations. 3D printing is technology that is continuously developing, and the use of which is of more and more interest. Therefore continuous development of the 3DSPEC course to keep it state-of-the-art solution will be possible and expected by its users and prospective users. This gives project partners a promising base for many initiatives, projects etc. regarding 3D printing implementation.Information regarding project will be available and continuously updated on website developed for the project as well as on each project partner's website. This website will be operational for three years after the project finalization with the aim of increasing the effectiveness and impact of the dissemination activities.
3D printing includes a number of methods, applications of which range from extremely expensive, advanced and sophisticated to affordable. It has been dynamically developed for years and there is no sign indicating that it would stop in the upcoming years. It covers more and more areas giving new opportunities and – as a result - benefits. Competences in 3D printing have already become appreciated in many jobs, and might become required soon – taking into account the abovementioned growing popularity and affordability of this technology. This concerns among others persons whose professional tasks are related with (one or more): education, design, healthcare and SMEs. But there was no free course in 3D printing which enabled those persons to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to apply this technology in their professional tasks. Filling the gap was the main objective of the 3DSPEC project that was a common effort of: - Instytut Techniki Górniczej KOMAG (PL) – i) specializes in providing solutions for mining industry, which requires realization of design with use of modern software tools and methods, ii) is experienced in development of training materials and courses, and iii) was the coordinator of the project - IBV Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (ES) – i) specializes in providing solutions and services for healthcare, also with use 3D modelling, 3D scanning and 3D printing, and ii) developed many e-learning courses - EXOVITE (ES) - is a small (SMEs sector) but very dynamic company specializing in providing solutions for healthcare, based on 3D scanning, 3D printing and advanced IT - Powiatowe Centrum Kształcenia Zawodowego i Ustawicznego w Wodzisławiu Śląski (PL) and Šolski center Velenje (SLO) - are VET centres highly valued by local entrepreneurs and authorities. Both: i) specialize in providing teaching that covers state-of-the-art technologies and meets market demands, ii) integrate 3D printing in their teaching, and iii) cooperate and share experiences with other VET schools and centres. Competences and experiences of all project partners contributed to high quality of the project results. The 3DSPEC consortium developed: - 3DSPEC e-learning course in 3D printing and its application in professional practice, addressed for the following (abovementioned) target groups: education, design, healthcare and SMEs; available in English, Polish, Spanish and Slovene - Internet platform for ordering 3D printing and 3D printing centre – solution which enabled the 3DSPEC course trainees to make their own 3D printout and this way apply their new abilities. First, a survey and interviews were carried out with the target groups’ representatives to identify their preferences regarding the course content and features. The research findings were followed during the course creation. The prototype course, available in English, was tested by representatives of target groups. Based on the feedback, modifications were introduced in the course and translation to other languages was done. The 3DSPEC course covers: - fundamentals of 3D printing: how objects are manufactured, methods and their applications - knowledge and skills necessary to apply 3D printing: i) how to prepare an input file for a 3D printer (several methods of development of a 3D model on an objects are presented), ii) what materials can be used and how they affect the object properties - application of 3D printing in target groups’ professional activities – examples and instructions - building of own 3D printer – two use cases how to assemble a 3D printer were shown and instruction how to add a remote control functionality to a 3D printer was provided. The course has the following advantages: - is appropriate for ‘pure beginners’ in 3D printing, because it provides fundamental knowledge about this technology - guides about the whole manufacturing process carried out with use of 3D printing – development of 3D model of an object, generation of an input file for a 3D printer, and carrying out the 3D printing process - if possible open-source software tools are applied (in examples) and/or referred to – their names and links are provided, therefore they are also available for the trainees (no ‘lack of software’ barrier). In the course there are general topic and profiled topics – addressed to particular target groups. But knowledge and skills acquired based on the profiled topics are often transferable to other professional applications. Not to lose this opportunity, each trainee obtains access to all the course content. As it was mentioned, 3D printing includes a number of methods. The 3DSPEC course provides solid ground for mastering each of them.