Manufacturing engineering is a key component of most engineering curricula, particularly in the industrial sector. Manufacturing courses cover a broad spectrum, from a basic understanding of processes, including their applications and main working mechanics, to the optimization and study of parameters and variables, and the effects on the mechanical properties of the materials produced. In many of the processes studied, such as casting, molding, bulk forming, or sheet forming, specific fixtures, tooling, molds, and dies are used. The geometrical analysis of these tools is complex due to the wide range of shaping variants. Traditionally, the study and understanding of these tools have been facilitated through plans, sketches, and technical drawings. However, according to current curricular programs, the fundamentals of manufacturing engineering are taught in the second year of the Industrial Bachelor’s degrees at the University of Castilla-La Mancha. At this stage, students often lack the necessary skills to evaluate technical drawings, especially when the complexity of the elements is high. Visits to companies or access to real tools are not always feasible due to various reasons, such as the high number of students and the difficulty of handling heavy elements. While photographs, images, and videos, particularly those that include animations of the manufacturing process, are valuable resources, it is essential to use detailed realistic models in the classroom. Additive manufacturing has been employed for over a decade to create simplified 3D models for educational purposes across various fields. However, some educational resources need to be developed according to very specific requirements, necessitating the design of models as parts to be assembled to demonstrate relevant technical details. Additionally, the construction of these models must align with the vertical coordination of the curriculum content taught in other years.

According to the indicated above, the area of Manufacturing Process Engineering of the Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineering of Albacete, has been developing a methodological action for the last two years to provide students with tangible models that allow easy manipulation and analysis. These resources are manufactured by FDM 3D printing in polymers. The dies and molds are designed for educational purposes, simplifying complex geometries to maximize student learning. A key advantage is that they can be manufactured in multiple parts, allowing disassembly to reveal normally hidden components, which cannot be studied with real dies.

Models have been developed to explain casting, metal extrusion, and injection molding processes, which are covered in the second-year course of Manufacturing Systems and Industrial Organization. The use of these 3D printed models, along with digital simulation techniques taught in later courses, has proven to enhance the understanding of these complex processes.

Keywords: Manufacturing, 3D print, education innovation, tangible models.