“Meet the Stars of 3D Printing: The Automotive Edition” was a one-night talk and networking opportunity for young women.

Next Gen has been hosting a series of “Meet the Stars of 3D Printing” virtual events to empower students to discover careers involving 3D printing. The last event focused on the automotive industry. An all-female panel from General Motors (GM), Ford, Divergent, Stratasys and Girl Gang Garage came together to discuss additive manufacturing in the automotive industry.

The purpose of the event was to highlight female role models in the industry and provide students with a networking opportunity. Nora Touré, who founded Women in 3D printing, explained in a press release, “From an education standpoint, we also want to make sure girls and boys have access to the same type of learning, content and opportunities. That way, in the future, our next gen can make the right choices. By empowering girls and women early on, we also form a network of future team members.”

An important observation about the panel was that there are many different paths into the industry. Many of the panelists were interested in motorsports or automobiles and came to additive manufacturing through that path. For instance, Bogi Lateiner, the founder of Girl Gang Garage, is an automotive mechanic. As she ventured into custom builds and automotive restoration projects, she turned to 3D printing to source parts. Some vintage parts are no longer made, and custom parts often do not exist. 3D printing has thus become a vital resource in this field.

Today, there are fewer barriers to learning about 3D printing. Kadie Hartman, for example, discovered her passion for 3D printing through hobby projects. She bought a cheap 3D printer in college as a hobby. She began by printing small things around her house and gifts. As she developed her skills, she soon began creating 3D-printed parts for course projects and other students. Now, she uses 3D printing regularly at Ford Performance.

The diversity of talent and backgrounds on the panel gave a lot of insight into the variety of opportunities in additive manufacturing within the automotive industry. Many of the audience questions to the panel focused on how to enter the field.

How to Get into the Automotive Industry

The idea of becoming involved in the automotive industry can feel daunting for many young women, but there are opportunities. Women interested in this path are not alone. In fact, many of our panelists even felt intimidated by the field at first.

Given the automotive accomplishments of Lateiner, it is hard to believe that, like many women, she did not have resources or access to cars growing up. Her entry point to the career was her high school auto shop. Her advice to women that are interested in the automotive industry is to find opportunities to become involved in the industry. This could include learning to repair your own car, taking formal courses or participating in a workshop.

A great opportunity to learn more about the field is to join one of Lateiner and Williams’ workshops at Girl Gang Garage. Participation is free. They offer introductory workshops and the opportunity to work on an all-female restoration build. One of these workshops was Williams’ entry into the field. She had little experience with cars, just an interest in them. Working on a restoration gave her the foundation she needed to turn her passion project into a business project.

The automotive industry is not just about the mechanics. It draws from many different skill sets, so you may already have many talents that apply to the field. Williams has an art degree, which she has found has helped her with many of the creative aspects of automotive design. It can be helpful to take an inventory of the skills you do have and think about how they can be applied to the automotive industry. You likely have many useful skills already.

This is a great time to enter the field. There is currently a deficit in the trades, and the industry is looking for new talent. This means that leaders have never been more willing to invest in new talent and more open to diversity. If you are interested, the opportunities are there.

Skills for Additive Manufacturing

Much like the automotive industry, there are multiple avenues to becoming involved in additive manufacturing. If you are interested in creating designs, an engineering background is recommended. A lot of the math, software and engineering principles that you learn earning an engineering degree are drawn upon.

A career in additive manufacturing may be a good path for you if you enjoy the creative and hands-on aspects of engineering. Malini Dusey, who works at GM, describes additive manufacturing as very creative. She believes that those with a background or interest in creativity thrive in the industry. “You will find different ways of combining things, designing things, as compared to just pure engineering,” she said. Although engineering may get you through the door, your other interests allow you to be more successful.

A degree in engineering is not necessary for all career paths. Technicians who operate the machines typically do not have engineering degrees, yet they are integral members of the team. Similarly, there are opportunities in sales and marketing, which require different skill sets. This makes it a broad field well-suited to those from multiple backgrounds.

Next Level Skills for 3D Printing

If you are interested in 3D printing, the panelists recommended learning by printing. Printers are becoming more accessible to consumers, and there are many resources to get you started. You can find many pre-created designs on Thingiverse, which can get you printing without learning to design. This is a good entry point and will open the door to learning more.

But what separates a novice from an expert in 3D printing? Experts require a deep understanding of 3D printing design principles and knowledge of materials. There are many different printing materials and printing processes, each of which has positive and negative attributes. An expert needs to understand which processes and materials are best suited to the purpose and application of the part being printed.

Creating a part goes beyond understanding the part in isolation. The panel recommended system-level thinking. It is important to know how the part will be used, but it can be more important to think about where it fits within a system. How do the process and materials of 3D printing fit within that system? This level of expertise comes from knowledge and experience. Learning how to analyze a part is an important step toward becoming an expert. Experience is also key, so novice experience can build an important foundation for later expertise.

What Skills and/or Software Should Students Learn?

The most important thing to bring to this field is the mindset of a lifelong learner. Technology is constantly changing, so throughout your career, you will need to learn about new technologies. Those who are creative and curious will find this aspect of the job very rewarding.

The panel offered some practical advice about what to learn now to prepare for a future career. Taylor Doty, who works at Divergent, recommended learning to program. Lately, she has begun to learn how to code in Python and has found that this new skill is making her more efficient at her job.

Allyson Abel, who works at Stratasys, encouraged students interested in the field to start learning modeling software. There is a lot of open-source freely available software that can introduce you to the modeling skill that you need in the field. If you have a PC, she recommends GrabCAD Print. Another great open-source option for 3D modeling is Blender. However, there are many different freely available tools that can introduce you to modeling.

Current students should also take advantage of opportunities on campus. Many universities have student-led engineering projects that can give you valuable experience, but this is not the only way to get experience. Extracurricular activities can provide a variety of experiences and open many doors. Doty created a haunted house with her sorority sisters that required machining parts, which she used to highlight her skills in later job interviews.

Do not underestimate the skills you already have and can bring to the career. When entering the field, be sure to showcase the personal projects that you have worked on. The key is to frame the experiences you already have in a way that translates to the hiring manager.

Challenges in the Field as a Woman

Historically, women have been excluded from the automotive industry. However, the panelists believe that this is changing. Dusey’s experience at GM best demonstrates this change. She has found that GM has created a culture of inclusion. It accomplishes this by having consistent messaging from every member that diversity and inclusion are core company values.

Although there is progress, not all companies are as forward-thinking as GM. Lateiner, who has faced discrimination within the automotive industry, feels the best way to overcome these challenges is to find your allies. She said, “No matter what career or path you are taking, you’re going to have people that don’t support you or want you to do what you do but find your allies and let the people that don’t support you feel your fire. And find the resources, find the people out there that are true leaders.”

Succeeding in a male-dominated profession can make women feel like they must prove themselves. They may feel like they must work extra hard and put in more hours to prove they deserve to be in the industry. Dusey warned that might not be the best approach. “It’s OK if you don’t do that. You don’t. You being there, your experience, your knowledge, your passion for the job, are enough. Do your job, but you don’t have to do 200 percent. Because you will burn out, you will get resentful. You won’t give your all when things get like that.”

Learning to trust in your ability can be difficult for young women entering the field. All the panelists could relate to these feelings. However, as they have grown in their careers, they have gained that confidence to feel like they belong in the industry. Now, people like Doty are responsible for hiring the next generation.

There are many opportunities for women in additive manufacturing within the automotive industry. The founders of Girl Gang Garage said, “The future is 100 percent now as far as we’re concerned. The opportunities that 3D printing affords vehicle customization are unbelievable. Its ever-growing accessibility the depth of female talent are all things that make us genuinely excited to learn more.”

What’s Next?

“Meet the Stars of 3D Printing: The Automotive Edition” is part of a series of Meet the Stars of 3D Printing events. The next event is the Beauty Edition May 22, 2021. This panel will discuss how 3D printing is used within the cosmetics industry. It will feature speakers from Estée Lauder and L’Oréal.