3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing by Aric Rindfleisch

This is the intro to 3D printing that skips the hype. You will see how printers work, what people actually make with them, and why additive manufacturing is shaking up prototyping and small-batch production.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Obtain a rich understanding of 3D printing, including how it works and what you can make
• Explain the revolutionary advantages of 3D printing and the exciting future of this technology
• Examine real-world examples and expert interviews to see 3D printing in action
• Get free digital designs you can turn into 3D printed objects

✅ Requirements

• Skills: No prior 3D experience needed, basic computer literacy is enough
• Tools: Web browser with Coursera access, optional slicer to inspect free designs
• Hardware: Computer with stable internet connection, no 3D printer required

📝 Description

This course keeps it simple and hands-on. You watch short video lectures, then cut to on-location interviews with people who use 3D printers every day. No heavy math. You get the slicing workflow from file to print, what materials do what, and where prints fail in real life.

Then it zooms out to business. You will look at why printing beats tooling for low volumes, how it speeds up rapid prototyping and product development, and where the money actually goes. The examples cover makers, startups, and factories, plus a clear take on digital transformation in manufacturing.

It is also listed in the top 50 MOOCs of all time by Class-Central for a reason — it is short, clear, and useful. You finish with free digital designs to try yourself, 5 assignments to check your thinking, and a solid sense of what emerging technologies like this mean for jobs and products.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Beginners, students and curious makers who want a clear intro to 3D printing without buying a printer
• Managers, marketers and entrepreneurs who want to understand how additive manufacturing affects products, costs and business models

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Aric Rindfleisch is Professor of Marketing at the University of Illinois Gies College of Business, where he studies consumer behavior and innovation. He is known for his work on the 3D printing revolution and how co-creation changes new product development. His Coursera course became one of the most popular MOOCs worldwide.

🏁 Final Result

• A solid working knowledge of 3D printing technology, its business impact, and free printable designs plus a shareable certificate to add to LinkedIn