2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This study presents a collaborative, project-based learning experience integrated into an undergraduate Additive Manufacturing (AM) course. Students in one class worked in seven teams to design and fabricate individual components of a functional toy car, including the chassis, wheels, and body frame. Each group was responsible for ensuring dimensional accuracy, tolerance control, joining interfaces, and material selection while coordinating interfaces with other teams to achieve a fully assembled product. The project assessment was structured at three levels: individual performance, subgroup teamwork, and full-system integration. This hands-on approach fostered students’ understanding of design-for-AM principles, collaborative engineering practices, and problem-solving skills. Implementation strategies, outcomes, and student feedback demonstrate the project’s effectiveness as a scalable model for manufacturing education.
Keywords: Additive Manufacturing, Project-Based Learning, Collaborative Design, Engineering Education, Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), Manufacturing Curriculum, Student Engagement