3D Printing Workshop at S. Thomas’ College

By Capt. G.A. Fernando
Hony Secretary,
S. Thomas. College, Mount Lavinia, Old Boys’ Centenary Group.

3D printing is fast becoming a household name in modern usage. This is mainly due to the printers themselves becoming cheaper to purchase, and consumers realising the technology’s amazing capability to design and build components for art, science, biomedical and engineering applications, and much more.

This technology is transforming many industries by being able to customize for specific applications in industries such as construction, food, agriculture, fashion, hobbies, etc. Components can be designed and built at the site using recyclable material, thus reducing the requirement for shipping and logistics, while also benefiting from shorter lead times and reduced environmental impact.

3D printing consists of two primary activities, namely the design phase, and the printing phase. At the core of the first is 3D designing using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software and modeling. In the printing process, material in the 3D printer is deposited or solidified layer by layer according to the digital model created. This is achieved by controlling the feed rate of the material through a heated nozzle or precision head, ensuring it melts or solidifies at a controlled temperature.

The precise movement of the head along the X, Y and Z axes is managed by a computerised system with three motors, each allowing for accurate layering and creation of a three-dimensional shape. Diverse materials, including those that are wood-based, conductive, flexible and rigid, cater to a range of applications. In specialized fields such as the food industry, printers craft intricate icing designs on chocolates and cakes. In the automotive and aviation sectors, 3D printers are utilized to manufacture metal parts for applications demanding high standards of precision and reliability.

Vice President Eddie Appathurai of the S. Thomas’ College Old Boys’ Centenary  Group awarding a Certificate to one of the participants

S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, with the guidance of the Warden and Sub-Warden, recently conducted a 3D printing workshop. The first venture of its kind in any school in Sri Lanka, this initiative aimed at introducing modern technology to students was proposed by Dr Chandika Wickramatillake, an Old Boy of the school, and financially supported by STC’s Centenary Group of Old Boys.

Two additional partners, a supplier, and an academic institution, combined resources to support and execute the program. They were Sri Lanka’s leading 3D printing company, ‘Thrimana’; and the Technology Department of the University of Colombo.

 The two-day workshop was conducted at the Mt. Lavinia campus on 15th and 16th September 2023, with 22 college students from grades 7 to 11 registered for the program. Students interested in this technology had little or no understanding of and proficiency in the subject to begin with, nor knowledge of the physical printing techniques involved in converting the ‘raw’ material to a component, from a design.

Many printers and high-speed computers were set up by Thrimana. Students were divided into groups of four or five, with two 3D printing expert technicians allocated to each team to support knowledge-sharing, provide detailed explanations, and offer hands-on practical support during sessions.

The first day’s morning session consisted of learning basic 3D printing technology from the University of Colombo lecturer. In the afternoon, students began using the 3D design software to make small components such as chess pieces and pen holders.

On the second day, students progressed to designing components for a self-guiding vehicle, with electronic components and sensors provided by Thrimana. Next, attendees started building and testing the vehicle with their well-designed wheels, chassis parts, etc, completing the build in time to participate in a competition.

Five teams then challenged each other to have their vehicles travel accurately on a self-guided path, as well as a straight, high-speed track. The team named ‘Cyber Designers’ won the overall competition. All students were rewarded for their participation with a 3D model and an academic certificate from the University of Colombo.

The overall expectation was to equip these budding innovators with foundational knowledge and hands-on experience in this cutting-edge technology. It is hoped that the workshop, and others like it, will fulfill their goal of inspiring a new generation of designers, engineers and visionaries to play a pivotal role in shaping future of technology in Sri Lanka.