A unique laboratory for innovative projects has been opened at Polotsk State University

Polotsk State University has opened a unique laboratory for computer modeling and rapid prototyping, which has no analogues in the Vitebsk region. It will allow not only to integrate innovative methodologies into the scientific and educational process, but also to provide a wide range of services in the field of 3D printing and 3D scanning.

— This is truly a trend of the future, a tool for scientific modeling at the highest level, — said Dmitry Glukhov, Vice-Rector for Scientific Work of PSU, at the grand opening of the new department.

Together with young scientists Anastasia Bondarchuk and Maria Poddubnaya, Vladimir Lipsky, Head of the Department of Pipeline Transport, Water Supply and Hydraulics, stood at the origins of the creation of the new scientific and educational center. The authors of the idea managed to act as a locomotive for uniting all university services, whose employees made maximum efforts to achieve the common goal. But the most important factor for success was the support of the initiative by the university management, headed by Rector Dmitry Lazovsky, who is convinced that modern technologies will serve to further improve the quality of specialist training, including postgraduate students.

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To demonstrate the laboratory's capabilities, the process of obtaining a three-dimensional model of a real object was carried out before the audience. Its prototype was a model of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg – one of the student's academic works from ten years ago. Creating such a sample requires architects from two weeks to several months of manual labor. A modern 3D scanner recreated a high-quality volumetric image in just 15 seconds. A rotating table allowed automatic scanning from different angles. After their automatic stitching, a live three-dimensional working model appeared on the computer screen, which, after minor refinement, was sent for printing on a compact "Mojo" 3D printer manufactured by the American company "Stratasys".

— The rapid progress in computer technology in recent years is truly admirable. With the help of 3D printing, we have learned to produce equipment parts in space, — shared his thoughts Artem Tsubanov, head of the laboratory. — Our laboratory will help architects create models with zero waste, archaeologists – replicate fossils for study and restoration, and museum staff – accurately restore the shapes of outdated objects and organize virtual tours.

In addition, PSU will be able to manufacture unique parts of complex configuration on demand in a single copy. It is noteworthy that the low cost of consumables allows 3D printing to successfully compete with mass production. Using the "RangeVision" three-dimensional scanning system, it is also possible to provide services for reverse engineering, product quality control, archiving, and design development.

The participation of Polotsk State University in the international technical assistance project TEMPUS allowed for the creation of a training computer class with 15 workstations at the laboratory. The computers here are equipped with high-performance processors and professional graphics adapters, which fully utilize the capabilities of the licensed universal software system ANSYS installed on them. In total, over a billion rubles from various funding sources were invested in the creation of the interdepartmental laboratory.

Larisa Malashenya. Photos by the author. "Vitebskiye Vesti".