Los Amigos Senior Wins 3-D Design Competition

Cesar Pescador, a Cal-State Fullerton-bound senior from , captured first place for his prototype three-dimensional vehicle in the inaugural RapidTech High School Competition.

Pescador’s model of a three-wheel racing cart, which he designed with specialized software and created using a three-dimensional printer, was awarded the top prize among 13 projects from area high schools. The Santa Ana resident is a student in the 3-D drafting and design class of teacher Lee Isley, who also teaches the .

Pescador's one-of-a-kind model was inspired by combining an automobile’s front suspension with a motorcycle-style rear suspension with seating in between for the driver. He collaborated on the project with classmates Angel Munoz, Justin Daricek, Robert Bonilla, and Efrain Cortes.

For submitting the top design, Pescado received an Apple iPod Touch presented by Gary Barnak, grant project director for RapidTech. RapidTech, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, supports education and training initiatives in advanced design and manufacturing technologies, and is based locally at UC Irvine and Saddleback College.

Private industry representatives examined original student models exhibited at the Additive Manufacturing Users Group convention in Costa Mesa. Entries were scored on originality, presentation, technical merit, quality, and scientific and technological content.