From: Neelam Soundarajan <neelam@cse.ohio-state.edu>
To: <machiraju.1@osu.edu>
CC: <neelam@cse.ohio-state.edu>, <zhang@cse.ohio-state.edu>
Subject: Re: CSE 5542
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 10:33:41 -0400


Xiaodong,

I recommend that this request be approved. It is a relatively small
amount and 3D printing is becoming widely used and graphics-oriented
courses are obvious candidates for using such facilities.

--Neelam


Machiraju, Raghu (raghu) writes:
>    Dear Xiaodong and Neelam
>    I am planning to introduce 3D printing in the Autumn offering of  CSE
>    5542. I talked to Blaine Lilly of Mech Eng. and Kevin Wolf (technician
>    of 3D printer lab) earlier today. Apparently, there is an academic
>    resource on campus which is supposed to be used primarily for
>    "teaching" purposes.
>    My goal is to have the students print the Utah teapots. Although 3D
>    printing is not real time, it is still a physical rendering. Computer
>    graphics rarely cares about actual physical dimensions. Artists and
>    engineers do; I think adding 3D printing will add an interesting
>    dimension to the class.
>    Now about costs.
>    The preliminary cost model is  $(N * 25 + 150), where N is either 40 if
>    all enrolled students 3D print or, or much less (like 10 or so) if I
>    form groups.  $150 is the set up cost. This cost model assumes that all
>    N "objects" would need to same set up and in essence are somewhat
>    similar.
>    In essence, the cost to the department will be $1150 (40 students) or
>    less (if make groups of 2 or 4).
>    Please let me know if this is OK to do.  Many of the very exclusive
>    schools (Stanford, Berkeley) already have made 3D printing a commodity
>    act. It will be nice for our students to also gain some exposure.
>    Thank you
>    Best regards,
>    raghu
>    Raghu Machiraju, Professor, The Ohio State University
>    Radiology Visiting Professor, Stanford Medical School