Professor and alumnus Peter McCord opens a world of possibilities.
Peter McCord BA’09 MFA’13, associate professor of instruction at UT Dallas, wants to introduce students to a whole new aspect of the word “creating.”
McCord, a professor in Animation and Games and a self-taught hobbyist, is teaching the 3D Print Lab (ANGM 3330), the first standalone introductory course on 3D printing at the Bass School.
The Bass School opened its first 3D Printing Lab this semester, enabling students to transform their digital creations into physical models using these printers. The lab, located at ATC 1.101 on the first floor of the Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology Building (ATC), features 20 new Creality K1 3D printers.
In ANGM 3330, students learn to design 3D models using computer software and gain hands-on experience operating and maintaining 3D printers, equipping them with practical skills for their future careers.
“What I’d like them to take away from this class is that 3D printing is just another medium to create,” McCord said. “Our students, they’re creating their own stories, their own ideas. They can actually print that stuff out to show their families, to show people, to show the world their art.”
Since joining the UT Dallas faculty in 2016, McCord has taught animation and games courses on digital lighting and composition (ANGM 3307 ANGM 4307). Along with Associate Professor Monika Salter, McCord leads and co-directs Animation Lab II (ANGM 4317). This yearly project pushes UTD’s most advanced animation students to produce an original animated short in a professional studio setting.
As an undergraduate and graduate student at UT Dallas, McCord was among the early pioneers of the ATEC program. While pursuing his MFA, McCord began his career as a lighting and compositing artist at the visual effects and animation studio Reel FX.
Around 2018, the late Nicholas Zuhoski, a fellow lighting and compositing artist for Reel FX, introduced McCord to 3D printing. Using his collection of quadcopters and 3D printing setup, Zuhoski opened McCord’s eyes to a world of possibilities.
“I started looking into getting a 3D printer, and my wife bought me one for either my birthday or Christmas,” McCord said. “So I got it, and I just spent all my extra time on the Internet, watching YouTube videos, tutorials, and Reddit. Just learning the basics of 3D printing took like one or two years.”
Jack Franklin, a senior graduating this fall, is among the first cohort of 19 students enrolled in 3D Print Lab.
Franklin, an avid gamer of first-person shooters, moved from College Station to pursue a career as a 3D modeler through the UT Dallas Animation and Games program. He’s taken several classes with McCord and even bought a 3D printer to further his skills and print on his own artistic projects.
“I love working with my hands, and printing is perfect for this,” Franklin said. “Once you figure it out, you can really make whatever you want. These blinders come off, and you just never stop. When you approach problems, or maybe need to buy something new, you start thinking, “Oh, maybe I can print that part, or maybe someone tried printing one of these parts before.”
The 3D Print Lab (ANGM 3330) is open to all students who have completed the Animation and Game Fundamentals (ANGM 2310) course with a grade of B or higher.
Communications Manager
Javier is a communications staffer who keeps the campus well-informed about the outstanding work the Bass School community produces. When he’s not at UT Dallas, Javier loves playing PS5 and indulging in his love for graphic novels.