Spatial visualization as the impetus for additive manufacturing education – An insight from computer-aided design perspective

Spatial visualization skills are the stepping stones for generating a geometric model using Computer-Aided Design software, which necessitates building an additive manufacturing model. This work supports that expertise in Computer-Aided Design geometric modeling skills paves the way for better additive manufacturing of components and assemblies which are thus not possible through traditional manufacturing methods. The students can hone this Computer-Aided Design modeling skill through practice in the spatial visualization area. Identifying a stable orientation surface for slicing the Computer-Aided Design model requires creative and imagination skills which can be acquired through spatial visualization skills. Once the Computer-Aided Design model and assemblies are generated, further confidence is gathered for slicing, transfer to the Additive Manufacturing machine unit, and buildup of the physical prototype/workpiece. The students have used the design “Failure Modes and Effects Analysis” for design validation about a case study of a wall-mounting bracket component. In an Additive Manufacturing laboratory course, 120 observations have been derived from a set of 24 students who have been trained in the spatial visualization skill set through case studies of wall-mounting brackets, shaft holders, and machine components. An improvement in this laboratory course is observed in their percentage scores from an initial mean of 23.17% before training, versus, 51.53% after training in spatial visualization skill-set. From the Analysis of Variance, it is observed that spatial visualization training has maximum influence on problems relating to machine components. Thus, spatial visualization is observed as a scientific and creative tool that gives the initial impetus for additive manufacturing learning.