Eye on UMSL: Bend but don’t break

by | Jun 1, 2026

Engineering students put their designs to the test during their "Elementary Engineering Design" course at the end of the spring semester.

Students in the "Elementary Engineering Design" course at the University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Engineering watch as their S-Hook design is tested by holding a heavy load off the floor during a class on May 8.

Students in the “Elementary Engineering Design” course at the University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Engineering watch as their S-Hook design is tested by holding a heavy load off the floor during a class on May 8. Students were given two hours of 3D printing time using PLA materials to create the S-Hooks they designed. The S-Hooks held loads up to 250 pounds before breaking during the test.

This photograph was taken by UMSL photographer Derik Holtmann and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL. View more UMSL photos by visiting the UMSL Flickr and Instagram accounts.