Machines vs Humans @ mHUB

Students in the Rapid Prototyping course visited mHUB to investigate the vast possibilities of rapid prototyping. mHUB is Chicago’s innovation center for physical product development and manufacturing. The students have been investigating the guiding question, What can machines do that hands can’t?. In the first unit of this course, students have been investigating the line, and concepts such as, networks, slopes, intercepts, and angles as the foundation for all things that are built. At mHUB, our host, Bria showed us around the impressive facility and explained the uses of different spaces, tools, and machines. During our tour, we met engineers who talked in-depth about different types of machines, we met designers working on prototypes for products getting ready to launch, and we met artists creating their masterpieces. It was an eye-opening experience to see the possibilities and essentially, the necessity of rapid prototyping in the 21st century.

Why?

The purpose of this Field Experience is to see rapid prototyping in the real world. mHUB is an innovative manufacturing center, helping companies and individuals create all sorts of physical models using a wide range of machines.

How?

The students got to experience mHUB firsthand, asking questions and focusing on the types of equipment offered as well as the intended clients. The students gathered information to address the question, What can machines do that hands can’t?