Get smart about 3D printing. Take this course.

You know I’m crazy about 3D Printing, or Additive Manufacturing as it’s called in the business. Well look at this fantastic online course sent to me from my friend Dr. Aric Rindfleisch and the team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They have launched a new online 3D Printing course on Coursera.

Here’s more:
The 3D Printing Revolution is course 1 of 5 in the 3D Printing Specialization. This Specialization will introduce you to the magic of 3D printing. Through a series of four cohesive courses and a hands-on capstone experience, you will acquire the knowledge, skills, and tools to turn your ideas into objects! This specialization has been developed by faculty experts from the Illinois MakerLab (the world’s first 3D printing lab in a Business School) along with industry experts from both Autodesk (software) and Ultimaker (hardware).

You will obtain a rich understanding of what 3D printing is, how 3D printers work, and how this new technology is being used by both individuals and firms to revolutionize our world. In addition, you will acquire a set of tangible skills that will enable you to create digital designs that you can transform into physical objects.

These skills can be used to help you launch a career in the growing field of 3D printing, be the 3D printing expert in your current firm, or make the things you need.

Learners who sign up for the Specialization Certificate will also obtain significant discounts on 3D printing hardware (via Ultimaker), software (via Autodesk), and services (via 3DHubs & Shapeways). Combined, these savings represent a value of over $700, which more than pays for the cost of the specialization. (Total cost for all courses is $337)

Check it out. It’s a very inexpensive course (And no, I’m not getting a kickback!) for the amount of knowledge you’ll get from it. Whether you’re a desktop amateur or you have a small business that needs custom parts, you can only win by getting your head around this exciting new technology.