The NDSU student 3D printing club, known as Project P, has scheduled a rocket launch for Saturday, Nov. 23, at noon on the Emerging Prairie Grand Farm, located off exit 54 on I-29. The event is open to the public.
A total of 15 club members plan to participate in the launch, which is expected to continue for about two hours. The rockets are in two categories: Rocket Competition and Launch for Fun.
The students have designed the rockets, with certain design restrictions. For example, in the competition section, the rockets must contain only 3D printed material, except for the engine, parachute and shock cord.
“This is an opportunity for students to couple their science and engineering coursework with Computer Aided Design, or CAD, and advanced manufacturing techniques,” said senior Martin Eichers, a mechanical engineering major who is the Project P president. “3D printing is an evolving technology, and students involved with Project P are able to learn about and apply this technology first hand. They also get to learn how to use CAD and research new fields, such as aerodynamics. Every student is excited to launch their rocket because it is a design they personally developed and manufactured. Being able to design something feels great, but physically producing and using it is amazing.”
Members of the Project P club have a variety of majors, ranging from every discipline in the College of Engineering to students studying marketing.
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