IRT3000 magazine, in cooperation with EIT Manufacturing Hub Slovenia and with the support of SPIRIT Slovenia, organised the “Student idea with business potential” competition. At the closing event of the IRT Forum in Portorož on 12 and 13 June 2023, students from the University of Ljubljana, who are carrying out their projects in the open laboratory of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (Peskovnik), presented their ideas. The Peskovnik teams took 1st and 2nd place with their ideas. The winning idea of a high-speed 3D printer received €2,500 and the runner-up idea of a toaster received €1,000.
A group of eight students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – Janko Tuta, Vid Nemec, Tim Guzelj, David Kolšek, Vid Gostiša, Petar Lekoski, Tim Kankelj, Anže Jarc and one student from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Matic Čič – under the auspices of an open laboratory – Peskovnik – set out to develop a high-speed 3D printer that would enable the sustainable production of products without material waste. The printer they built has a workspace of 180x180x240mm and speeds of up to 2000m/s with accelerations of up to 4.5G. Polymer concrete cast into an aluminium structure was used to dampen vibrations. Some parts are made using SLS 3D printing technology, while others are made using 3D printed plastic. During this term, these parts will be replaced with aluminium parts. Through this project, students contribute to the development of environmentally friendly technologies and provide a new perspective on the production and use of materials.
Toasters are challenging to manufacture as they require knowledge of a wide range of technologies and regulations relating to food contact surfaces and equipment. The challenge was also taken up in Peskovnik by Jaka Gerič, a student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and Jan Perenič, a student at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. The first step was to review all the regulations and implement them in the final product. Toaster is for those who want a hot snack on a quick break, but do not have time to queue at canteens and inns. It allows you to order a variety of hot sandwiches to suit every taste, ready in 1 minute. It is important that the toasts are made from quality Slovenian ingredients at an affordable price.
Both teams would like to thank the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, sponsors, and donors for their support of Peskovnik. Without the open lab at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the support they received, the project would not have been possible.
If you have an innovative idea for a new project, we invite all students of the University of Ljubljana to apply for the Summer Call for Student Projects, which will take place between 10 and 14 July. Information about the call is available on the Peskovník website, where you can also find a link to the application form. Hurry up, the deadline for project applications is 19 June!
We congratulate the winners and wish them every success in turning their business ideas into reality!
