SFU Receives Industrial-Scale 3D Printer for Innovation and Education

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Saint Francis University has received a high-speed, industrial-grade 3D printer, thanks to a generous donation from a corporate partner. Known as the BIG-Meter, the printer features a build area of one cubic meter, enabling the creation of full-scale prototypes, tooling, molds, and end-use parts in a single print.

The printer is currently being assembled in the laboratory space at SFU's Curry Innovation Center in Altoona. Once operational, it will be available for use by SFU students and faculty, corporate partners, and local schools, with print jobs for large-scale pieces managed onsite by both professional and student staff. A public demonstration will be held at the Curry Center once the unit is fully assembled and ready for use.

The acquisition of the BIG-Meter was driven in part by an engineering capstone project developed for Curry Rail Services. Under the guidance of Dr. Tim Miller and Mr. David Bolt, students designed a scissor lift and boom mechanism to support a commercial robotic arm used for sandblasting and painting the interior of rail tanker cars. A small-scale 3D-printed model of the design was created by the team. With the new printer, future capstone teams will be able to produce near full-scale prototypes, further advancing the program's hands-on, real-world engineering education.