BREAKING NEWS: Northlink College to launch first 3D Printing Academy in South Africa
Mr Ronald Murray, CNC lecturer at one of the 3D Printers
According to Explaining The Future (www.explainingthefuture.com) 3D printing and the technology it uses is based on a technique called stereolithography that was invented by Charles Hull in 1984. Now in the 21st Century with the help of Charles Hull’s stereolithography and great developments in technology, Northlink College will be the first College in South Africa to open a 3D Printing Academy. This will allow students to study further in this new and exciting technological field of engineering. The launch of the academy will be taking place on 20 March 2015 at the Wingfield Campus of Northlink College with the support of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
10 Printing machines made their way to the shores of Cape Town and will be used to train lecturing staff from other Colleges in the country as well as the students that would like embark on training in this field. The launch of the 3D printing academy will also include a demonstration of the quality and the working of the machines.
“3D printing is one of the latest technological developments to hit the market. It is now possible to grow complex designs via technology and plastic. This technology will in future extend the scope of 3D model design which, up to recent times, has been using wood, paper, wax or graphics. This is a first at our TVET Colleges and it is expected that this technology will grow exponentially in the future, not only in areas like Mechanical Engineering design but also in other disciplines such as boat building, civil and electrical engineering, aerospace, medical technology etc.” says Sandra Schmidt, Northlink College Wingfield Campus Manager.
Northlink will be training the other five technical vocational education and training (TVET) Colleges’ lecturers that they too will acquire the knowledge and will be able to use the machines.
The launch will be from 10:00 – 11:00 at the Northlink College Wingfield Campus in Jackes Gerwel Drive.