Third-year students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at SUNY Korea proudly held their MEC 325: Manufacturing Processes term project presentation, showcasing a variety of creative 3D-printed product designs developed throughout the semester. As part of the course’s Design and Prototyping with 3D Printing project, students were challenged to design simple yet functional products within a 100 × 100 × 100 mm size limit. Using AI-assisted design tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini, they brought their ideas to life through multiple stages — from sketching concepts and CAD modeling to hands-on prototyping at the university’s Maker Space.
During the final presentation, students unveiled an impressive lineup of 3D-printed creations including a Pokéball, stick storage unit, Pikachu-shaped cable organizer, rotating SD-card holder, and desk cable holder, among others. Each design reflected the students’ ingenuity, problem-solving skills, and mastery of additive manufacturing techniques.
The exhibition provided an opportunity for students to discuss their design process, 3D printing strategies, and material considerations, while fostering a collaborative and innovative classroom environment. The event concluded with a lively group photo session celebrating their semester-long achievements. “This project demonstrates how creativity, engineering fundamentals, and emerging technologies like AI-assisted design can merge to inspire the next generation of makers,” said Professor Min Yang, who teaches MEC 325 and guided the students through the project. With the growing importance of digital fabrication and rapid prototyping in modern engineering, SUNY Korea’s Mechanical Engineering students continue to build a strong foundation for innovation, preparing to become future leaders in manufacturing and design.