3D Printing Case Study
In late 2015, Mark Peterson acquired a 3D printer from Best Buy for $500. As he began to play around
with it, he discovered that he could use designs he downloaded from the Internet to create a wide
variety of objects. One day as he was exploring designs on the website MyMiniFactory.com
(https://www.myminifactory.com/), he came across a category of accessibility items. He was very
excited to discover such things as an umbrella holder for a wheelchair, because his brother Peter uses a
wheelchair for mobility. He downloaded the umbrella holder design and made one for Peter. The first
time Peter used the umbrella holder, several people came up and asked him where he had gotten it. Of
course, he was proud to say his brother had made it, but he had no idea how much it would cost for
Mark to make one for a customer. Peter took the names and phone numbers of two people he
encountered and promised to get back to them. When Peter approached Mark with the requests, Mark
knew that he had found the start of something good. He figured out what the time and material cost
would be to make the holders, called the interested parties, and made his first two sales.
As he continued exploring, Mark ran across an article describing ten 3D printable assistive and
accessibility devices (https://3dprint.com/126214/103dp-devices-for-the-disabled/). After investing in a
heavy duty 3D printer, Mark used his Facebook page to advertise his growing business in 3D printing
assistive and accessibility devices. He soon had many orders and his 3D printing hobby became his
fulltime occupation.
Mark rented space in an industrial park, bought two more wireless 3D printers, and hired two part-time
assistants. He brought his PC from home to control the 3D printers, and set up an Internet connection
using Verizon FiOS. His PC is connected to a FiOS modem which has a built-in wireless router. Mark
obtains his 3D printing designs from sources on the internet. He uses Google email and keeps track of
his orders on a spreadsheet on his PC.
Mark's Expansion Plan: Now, just three months later, he is ready to add seven more 3D printers and a
3D scanner, and hire five fulltime employees. Before he grows that much, he needs to set up his IT
infrastructure to manage not only the additional 3D printers, but also to manage his business. He wants
to implement a small business enterprise resource management (ERP) information system in his facility
to help him manage his business (customer orders, invoices, supply ordering, employees, etc.) more
effectively. He realizes he will also need a document printer to print invoices, etc. In addition, he wants
each of his employees to have mobile access to the ERP system and the 3D design files and printers from
anywhere in the facility, and he wants as much flexibility in which computers control which 3D printers
as possible. He has a large collection of 3D print design files and has downloaded some training videos
that he will use to train his new employees. Mark has already decided that he wants to store all of his
3D production files and his business management information locally in his facility, and to use cloud
storage for his backup files.
Your assignment, which will be done in four stages, is to assist Mark in understanding what kind of
infrastructure he needs; how it would be configured; how it will change when his business grows into a
much larger, multi-location operation; and how the various devices communicate with each other.
Specific instructions for each of the four staged assignments may be found under the Assignments tab.
3D Printing Case Study – IFSM 310 10/28/2016
IFSM 310 3D Printing Stage 1 Assignment
Before you begin this assignment, be sure you:
• Have completed all previously assigned readings, particularly those assigned in Weeks 1 and 2 of
the class.
• Read the “3D Printing Case Study."
The Case Study presents Mark's 3D printing business and explains how he wants to expand his operation
with more IT infrastructure and additional employees. He has asked you to help him better understand
what he currently has and what he will need to create the business he envisions. You realize that
although he already has several hardware and network components in use, he really does not have any
idea how to expand into a larger operation. You decide to begin with what he has, what his
requirements are, and what components he will need to meet his requirements.
Assignment:
Using the Case Study and course materials, your task is to write a paper to Mark that includes the
following:
1. Background – briefly describe the business to be supported by the new infrastructure.
2. Current IT infrastructure – List the hardware, software, and network components that Mark
currently has in place (not what he wants to add with his "Expansion Plan"). Note that you may
need to make some assumptions about the components based on what is provided in the Case
Study.
3. Requirements - List five requirements Mark has identified that the systems will have to perform
or support as he expands his business. These can be "business" needs or part of the 3D printing
operation.
4. How requirements will be met - Briefly explain to Mark what system components will be
needed to meet each of the five requirements listed above. These may be components he
already has or new components to be added.
5. Data representation and storage - Finally, Mark needs to store and use several types of data:
digital and numerical, audio, video and graphics data. Explain to him how each of these types of
data are represented in digital form, how they are stored, and on which device(s) (either in
place or something he needs to add) each type of data will be stored. Include each of the
following:
a. Digital and numerical data
b. Audio data
c. Video data
d. Graphics data
References:
Incorporate at least two resources correctly; one reference should be from the course materials and one
reference should be external. An external resource is a resource other than those provided in the class
or textbook. Incorporate properly formatted APA citations in the text of your document for each
reference used. Then, place an APA style reference page at the end of your document.
3D Printing Stage 1
1
Formatting:
For academic writing, the writer is expected to write in the third person. In third person, the writer
avoids the pronouns I, we, my, and ours. The third person is used to make the writing more objective by
taking the individual, the “self,” out of the writing. This method is very helpful for academic writing, a
form in which facts, not opinion, drive the tone of the text. Writing in the third person allows the writer
to come across as unbiased and thus more informed.
•
•
•
•
•
Write a short concise paper, 2-3 single spaced pages in length.
Use at least two resources with APA formatted citation and reference. Use at least one external
reference and one from the course content.
Compare your work to the Grading Rubric below to be sure you have met content and quality
criteria.
Submit your paper as a Microsoft Word document, or a document that can be read in Word.
Your submission should include your last name first in the filename:
Lastname_firstname_Stage_1
GRADING RUBRIC:
The "right" and "wrong" answers have to do with whether or not you correctly incorporated the course
vocabulary and concepts from the textbook to support your choices and have addressed all parts of the
assignment.
3D Printing Stage 1
2
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
< 60%
Far Above Standards
Above Standards
Meets Standards
Below Standards
Well Below
Standards
18-20 Points
16-17 Points
14-15 Points
12-13 Points
0-11 Points
The background
description is clear,
logical, derived from
the Case Study, and
demonstrates a
sophisticated level of
writing. It provides a
complete list of
hardware, software
and network
components currently
in place.
The background
description is
adequate, and is
derived from the Case
Study. It provides a list
of hardware, software
and network
components currently
in place.
The background
description is not
clear, logical
and/or derived
from the Case
Study. The list of
currently inplace
components is
incomplete.
Background
Section not
submitted, or
demonstrates
little effort.
And/or list of
currently inplace
components is
very incomplete
or missing.
18-20 Points
The background
description is clear,
logical, derived from
the Case Study, and
demonstrates a clear
understanding of the
course concepts. It
provides a fairly
complete list of
hardware, software
and network
components currently
in place.
16-17 Points
14-15 Points
12-13 Points
0-11 Points
Five requirements are
listed and are clear,
logical, derived from
the Case Study;
demonstrates a
sophisticated level of
analysis and writing.
18-20 Points
Five requirements are
listed and are clear,
logical, derived from
the Case Study;
demonstrates a clear
understanding of the
course concepts.
16-17 Points
Five requirements are
listed and are derived
from the Case Study.
Fewer than five
requirements
may be listed
and/or are not
derived from the
Case Study.
List of
requirements is
very incomplete
or missing.
14-15 Points
12-13 Points
0-11 Points
20
Explanation of how
the five requirements
listed will be met with
the components is
clear, logical and
derived from the Case
Study; demonstrates a
sophisticated level of
analysis and writing.
Explanation of how
the five requirements
listed will be met with
the components is
clear, logical, derived
from the Case Study;
demonstrates a clear
understanding of the
course concepts.
Explanation includes
how the five
requirements will be
met with the
components.
Explanation
addresses how
some of the five
requirements
will be met with
the components;
and/or may be
inaccurate or
incomplete.
18-20 Points
16-17 Points
Explanation of
how the five
requirements
will be met with
the
components is
very
incomplete,
very inaccurate,
or missing.
0-11 Points
20
Explanation includes
representation,
storage and devices
for all four types of
data; is clear, logical,
derived from the Case
Study; demonstrates a
sophisticated level of
analysis and writing.
Explanation includes
representation,
storage and devices
for all four types of
data; is clear, logical,
derived from the Case
Study; demonstrates a
clear understanding of
the course concepts.
Possible
Points
Criteria
Background
and Current
IT Infrastructure
Requirements
How
Requirements will
be Met
Data
Representation and
Storage
3D Printing Stage 1
14-15 Points
Explanation
somewhat includes
representation,
storage and devices
for the four types of
data and is related to
the Case Study.
12-13 Points
Some portions of
the explanation
are incomplete
or inaccurate or
are missing,
and/or are not
derived from the
Case Study.
20
20
Explanation of
data
representation
and storage is
incomplete or
missing.
3
Research
Format
9-10 Points
8.5 Points
7.5 Points
6.5 Points
0-5 Points
10
Two or more sources-one source from
within the IFSM 310
course content and
one external (other
than the course
materials)--are
incorporated and used
effectively. Sources
used are relevant and
timely and contribute
to the analysis.
References are
appropriately
incorporated and
cited using APA style.
9-10 Points
Two sources are
incorporated and used
effectively. Sources
are relevant and
contribute to the
analysis. References
are appropriately
incorporated and
cited using APA style.
Two sources are used
and properly
incorporated into the
text. Reference is
cited using APA style.
At least one
reference source
is included, but
may not be
properly
incorporated or
used and/or is
not relevant or
timely; and/or
does not follow
APA style for
references and
citations.
No research is
incorporated or
reference listed
is not cited
within text.
8.5 Points
7.5 Points
6.5 Points
0-5 Points
Submission reflects
effective organization
and sophisticated
writing; follows
instructions provided;
uses correct structure,
grammar, and
spelling; presented in
a professional format
using Word.
Submission reflects
effective organization
and clear writing;
follows instructions
provided; uses correct
structure, grammar,
and spelling;
presented in a
professional format
using Word.
Submission is
adequate, is
somewhat organized,
follows instructions
provided; contains
minimal grammar
and/or spelling errors;
is in Word format.
Submission is
not well
organized,
and/or does not
follow
instructions
provided; and/or
contains
grammar and/or
spelling errors;
and/or is not in
Word.
10
Document is
extremely
poorly written
and does not
convey the
information.
TOTAL Points
Possible
3D Printing Stage 1
100
4
Purchase answer to see full
attachment