Odyssey
Academics
3D Vision STUDENTS DESIGN MODELS OF CAMPUS LANDMARKS
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The only limit in the class was our creativity. When I was able to pull off an idea, it was really satisfying.
At top: Jacob Lorimier ’22 checks on the print status of his model of Suntrup Field. The project required troubleshooting how to keep old filament from clogging the printer and the finished project took nine hours to print.
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Above: The completed model of Suntrup Field.
“I didn’t have an outline, so I had to draw the curves of the track freehand,” said Jacob Lorimier ’22, explaining a challenge he faced while designing a model of Suntrup Field for Mr. Bender’s 3D Printing class. Determination, creative problem solving, and patience served students well as they learned to design and print three-dimensional objects. Using Autodesk Fusion 360, professional-grade software created for engineers and machinists, students built everything from a working door hinge to a helicopter and even Thor’s hammer. They began with simple design projects, including a six-sided die, to learn the basics of the software and practice skills, such as identifying which modifications were necessary to print projects successfully. “The only limit in the class was our creativity. When I was able to pull off an idea, it was really satisfying,” Jacob said. His model of Suntrup Field was complete with field markings, goal posts, and windows in the press box. Jacob’s turf replica was one of the class’s final assignments. It required students to create 3D models of campus landmarks using Google Maps and photos as reference points for architectural detail. In the last week of classes, students were tackling the challenge of designing chess pieces branded with De Smet Jesuit logos. This elective class, growing in popularity, provides “a fantastic creative outlet for students,” said Mr. Bender. “They enjoy the collaborative nature of the work.”
PHOTOS BY DEBBIE HIGGINS
Below: A screenshot of Caleb’s design in Autodesk Fusion 360.
Above: Caleb Dunbar ’22’s model of Boian Chapel includes details like replications of the window structures.
12 Odyssey
SUMMER 2021
