Assignment 3 Reflection

            This assignment allowed me to further understand one of the essential, if not the most essential part of being an engineer—problem solving. Problem solving is a tenet in engineering, and without this skill you cannot become an efficient engineer. As an engineer you must be able to think outside the box, to look not at only the black and white of a situation, but to interpret the situation in a way which will contribute to a solution.

            Whether it was a puzzle or a business problem, my method in solving the problems followed the same general outline: find out what the actual problem is, look at all the possibilities, gather information, and attempt to solve. For the puzzle problems this process was a bit simpler, as all I really had to do to “gather information” was draw out a few diagrams and numbers, but for the actual life applied problems this involved research and logically forming a solution based on that research— a bit more time consuming.

            Overall, the assignment gave me a broader perspective as to what engineers actually do— solve problems. Engineers form solutions to some of the most crucial and demanding problems there are; they allow for true advancement in society, fixing what has been broken and building upon and improving what is.

Reflection on 3D Printing

            The development of 3D printing is one which shows just how incredible technology and engineering of today’s age is; to think that any 3D figure may be printed out in such an inexpensive and efficient manner would be perceived as mad a few decades ago, but today few shapes are too complex to be constructed. This development allows for the design of a part, invention, or any geometric shape for any purpose to be actually held in the hands of its creator in an inexpensive and timely manner— a feat which may accelerate the inventing process. This development is inspirational for those desiring to enter the field of engineering; what was once an idea may now be viewed not only as an image, but a tangible object.

            The complexity of objects printed and the process by which such objects are printed is mind-blowing; as molten polymers are deposited and layered according to a computer generated structure, the printer creates shapes anywhere from as simple as a square to as complex as a Klein Bottle. Not only is this device able to print in 3D, but it’s able to do it with more precision and accuracy as a human can assemble 3D shapes with.

            Though previously too expensive for personal ownership to be conceived, the price of 3D printers and materials used are dropping to the extent that soon it will not be uncommon for people to have them in their homes— as some already do. Not only have engineers designed a device which can turn idea into actuality, but now they’re improving that device’s efficiency and reducing its cost. This exemplifies the awesome nature of engineering— to take something so brilliant and improve and expand upon it. This is what makes engineering so great; this is what makes me proud to be involved in this field.