Boosting mechanical design with the C++ OOML and open source 3D printers

In this paper we are presenting the C++ Object Oriented Mechanics Library (OOML). The OOML is a WYGIWYM (what you get is what you mean) tool that allows the fast development of 3D objects for fabrication on a 3D Printer. Designing with a WYGIWYM paradigm help students to communicate and reason geometrically, by applying geometry in real-world settings, and by solving problems through the integrated study of number systems, geometry, algebra, data analysis, probability, and trigonometry. These designed objects can be converted to STL files. The STL file can be used in 3D printers for fast prototyping or with traditional mechanization processes. We have designed and evaluated with students the OOML. Results show that the OOML plus the 3D Printer boosts their creativity. As a non searched result, we have observed that OOML also helps students to understand better the Object Oriented Programming Paradigm.