Two-Day Additive Manufacturing 101

Discover the Future of Making: Intro to Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)

Additive manufacturing better known as 3D printing is revolutionizing industries across the globe. In the aerospace and defense sectors, it’s enabling faster prototyping, lightweight part production, and even mission-ready hardware. The U.S. Air Force has 3D printed metal parts for fighter jets, and NASA is testing 3D printed components for deep-space missions. Entire houses are now printed in concrete, and yes SpaceX is actively building rocket engines with additive techniques. One ambitious team even 3D printed a full-sized, functional McLaren supercar.

What do all these innovators have in common? They all started somewhere and now, it’s your turn.

In this hands-on two-day workshop, you'll gain the foundational skills needed to design, model, and bring your own 3D creations to life using industry-standard tools. Whether you're an aspiring engineer, hobbyist, artist, or disruptor, this course is your gateway into the world of digital fabrication.

What You'll Learn

🔧 Day 1 – Design Like a Pro:
Dive into AutoDesk Fusion 360, a powerful CAD (Computer-Aided Design) tool used by engineers and makers around the world. You’ll learn the core concepts of sketching in 2D and transforming your designs into 3D models. By the end of the day, you’ll be able to replicate real-world objects and create your own unique designs from scratch.

🖨️ Day 2 – From Digital to Physical:
Now that you've mastered modeling, it's time to bring your creations to life! We’ll cover how to prepare your designs using a 3D slicer, choose the right printer settings, and start printing your own models. You'll also get hands-on experience with 3D printers and learn about different materials and applications.

Bonus Topics:

• How to connect with the Department of Defense (DoD) additive manufacturing community
• Where to find and use open-source 3D models
• Rapid prototyping strategies that can accelerate product development and reduce supply chain bottlenecks

Why Take This Class?

Whether you're exploring a new hobby, building your technical skillset, or preparing for a career in a high-growth field, this course will give you practical, real-world experience. Additive manufacturing is more than a buzzword—it’s a skill that’s reshaping how we build the future.

PLEASE NOTE:

• This class is intended for Air Force Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and Team Travis personnel.
• This class is in person. Access to Travis Air Force Base is required to take this class.
• UOD is civilian attire
• Classes start at 0900 each day
• Please help us not waste people's time and money! No-showing for class will result in an email to your leadership.
• The software used in this course is a personal choice of our instructors and is in no way an endorsement from the Air Force to use these products. This course is intended to lay foundations for students to go on to use any software they prefer.