Case Study: Highland Community College expands prototyping and community STEM outreach with 3D Platform

College looks to educate students and the community with 3D printing

Highland Community College in northwestern Illinois wanted to expand hands‑on learning and community outreach by bringing 3D printing into its classrooms and local programs. Faculty needed a reliable large‑format solution to support manufacturing courses, turn 2D textbook images into tangible prototypes, and host K–12 demonstrations that would inspire students and local organizations.

After a small‑format proof of concept, the college purchased a large‑format 3D printer and integrated it into coursework and community projects. Calibrated and paired with smaller printers and proper software workflows, the system proved predictable and easy to maintain, enabling scaled‑up models, rapid prototyping (including a tsunami cityscape), and low‑cost tangible learning—improving students’ visualization skills and expanding outreach across the region.

Highland Community College

Jeremy Monigold

Computer Science Professor, Faculty Member