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Western Illinois University students presented their winning puzzle car design at the 2014 national RAPID Conference in Detroit.
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WIU Engineering Technology students Scottie Waldhaus and Darren Walker displayed models of their winning puzzle car design.
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Pictured left to right: WIU Engineering Technology Professor Rafael Obregon, Scottie Waldhaus and Darren Walker..
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Western Illinois University Students Present Winning Design

July 23, 2014

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University students Scottie Waldhaus, from Quincy (IL), and Darren Walker, of Fort Madison (IA), recently presented their winning design at the 2014 national RAPID Conference in Detroit in June.

The two engineering technology students won first place in the 2014 Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM) Design Competition in February (See more about this at wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=11667.), which awarded them the opportunity to present their project during the DDM Tech Group meeting and have their design distributed by show-floor exhibitors as pieces for the conference. They also received a complimentary pass to RAPID 2014, the industry-leading forum for discussion of the latest developments, trends and techniques specific to additive manufacturing, rapid technologies and 3D printing and scanning; a stipend of $300 to use for traveling to and lodging for the conference; a recognition award and a complimentary one-year student Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) membership.

"The fact that two of our students won the competition is huge," said Engineering Technology Professor Rafael Obregon. "It is the largest exposition of its kind in the world, and it shows that Western and our students are very in tune with what's happening outside of this area."

Waldhaus and Walker were enrolled in the prototype design and production course at WIU, which focuses on the development and creation of prototypes by additive manufacturing and 3D printing techniques. Obregon taught the class and encouraged his students to participate in the DDM Design Competition.

For more information about the conference, visit rapid.sme.org. For more information about WIU's engineering technology program, visit wiu.edu/cbt/engineering_technology.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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