2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Bridging Design and Practice in Additive Manufacturing Education: A Framework of Best Practices

Presented at Manufacturing Division (MFG) Technical Session 6: Emerging Technologies in Manufacturing Education I

Additive Manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, has become an integral part of modern life and is increasingly embedded across STEM education. From design and prototyping to laboratory and studio applications, educators are leveraging AM to enhance experiential learning, foster creativity, and strengthen students’ understanding of manufacturing principles.
However, despite its widespread adoption, both educators and students continue to face challenges in achieving high-quality printed outcomes. A significant portion of these issues arises from design-related errors and improper slicing configurations, which directly affect part accuracy, surface finish, and mechanical performance.
This paper presents a comprehensive collection of best practices identified by experienced AM educators to mitigate common design and process errors. The study highlights critical considerations for parameter selection, feature design, and input optimization. Furthermore, it introduces a set of knowledge blocks and modular instructional units collaboratively developed by the authors, which are designed to improve educational outcomes, enhance print reliability, and promote deeper student engagement in AM education.

Authors

Dr. Suhas S Alkunte Indiana State University [biography]

Dr. Suhas Alkunte is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department at Indiana State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee Tech University, specializing in the mechanical characterization of functionally graded materials produced through material extrusion.
Dr. Ismail Fidan http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4233-1049 Tennessee Technological University [biography]

Currently, Dr. Fidan serves as a Professor of the Department of Manufacturing and Engineering Technology at Tennessee Technological University. His research and teaching interests are in additive manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, distance learning.
Dr. Vivekanand A Naikwadi Tennessee Technological University [biography]

Currently, Dr. Vivekanand Naikwadi serves as a Faculty in the Department of Manufacturing and Engineering Technology at Tennessee Technological University. His research and teaching interests include additive manufacturing, metal casting (particularly Lost PLA casting), smart manufacturing, and materials characterization.
Mushfig Mahmudov Tennessee Technological University [biography]

Mushfig Mahmudov is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Technological University with 10 years of shipbuilding experience. His research focuses on additive and hybrid manufacturing for marine applications.
Omer Faruk Ozcan Tennessee Technological University [biography]

Omer Faruk Ozcan is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Technological University. His research focuses on additive manufacturing, hybrid manufacturing, and metal casting processes.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

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