3D Technology Summer Institute

To obtain a Certificate in 3D Technology from Vermont State University, a student must successfully complete the following courses: 3D Printing, 3D Imaging, and 3D Modeling.

3D Printing | Students will learn the principles, practice, and applications of 3D printing, use software to prepare models, use different technologies to print multiple parts or objects, and learn about the safety, maintenance, and operation procedures for the equipment.

Programming for 3D | This course introduces the fundamentals of computer programming through hands-on activities connected to 3D environments. Designed for beginners with no prior programming experience, the course emphasizes core programming concepts. Students write small programs that interact with and control objects in a virtual 3D space, allowing program behavior to be visualized directly. In addition to graphics and the basics behind interactive 3D environments, subjects related to the other courses in the 3D Technology program will be considered from the computer software perspective. Lab-based activities reinforce concepts through immediate, observable results.

3D Imaging | Students will learn the basic principles of 3D imaging, including photogrammetric, LIDAR, and structured-light approaches, while utilizing a range of advanced 3D scanners to create highly accurate 3D models of reality.

Intro to 3D Animation: 2D to 3D | This one-week course introduces fundamental concepts of 3D animation. Students will spend the first two days of the course learning and practicing the principles of animation through a series of traditional 2D animation exercises. After building a foundation of basic knowledge, the course will transition into learning how to animate in a 3D space, using Autodesk Maya software. By the end of the week, students will have the opportunity to work with rigged objects and characters.

3D Modeling | Students will spend their first week using industry standard software to create narrative scenes that could serve as assets for hypothetical games or animation. After gaining a basic understanding of 3D modeling concepts, students will have the opportunity to add realistic textures and lighting to their characters and environments. In their second week, students will explore introductory concepts in parametric modeling. In their second week, students will explore introductory concepts in parametric modeling using Fusion software.

Virtual Reality | This course introduces students to the field of virtual reality and extended reality. The course covers an overview of the theory behind 3D graphics and environments, and the utilization of that theory in VR. A wide range of VR applications are thoughtfully explored – from education and industrial to creative and entertainment.

CT Scanning | Although many are familiar with medical computed tomography (CT) imaging, industrial CT imaging extends the application to a wide variety of fields, such as material science, 3D volume and surface model creation, manufacturing, failure analysis, and much more. This one-week introductory course explores utilizing X-ray μ-CT to acquire non-destructive 3D images, and how to visualize and analyze the internal structure of objects. Students will learn the principles of X-ray generation, image acquisition, reconstruction, and techniques to investigate microstructural properties such as cracks, pores, burrs, and particle size distributions.