Metal Additive Manufacturing Laboratory

Catalog description

This course will provide in-depth and hands-on laboratory experience in metal-based additive manufacturing. The laboratory activities will expose students to all aspects of the additive manufacturing workflow for metal components, starting with conceptual design, proceeding through fabrication, post-processing, and part inspection. Laboratory activities will include part design and analysis, process simulation and modeling, build preparation and machine set up, fabrication and post-processing, and non-destructive inspection and measurement. Laboratories will include computational design tools and simulation models as well as fabrication and post-processing (e.g., heat treatment, machining). Finally, the laboratory activities will also stress safe powder handling, equipment, and laser safety, which is particularly important when working with metallic powders and feedstocks. The laboratory is intended for students that have a basic understanding of the different additive manufacturing processes and are gaining familiarity with the engineering and science of additive manufacturing. The laboratory activities will provide students with the scientific foundation and research skills necessary to rigorously ascertain the performance of additively manufacturing materials, processes, and parts. Upon completion of the laboratory, students should be able to describe the workflow for additive manufacturing, identify main cost drivers, and describe the differences when using metals versus polymers. They should also understand the key tradeoffs between design, manufacturing, and materials as it relates to the additive manufacturing processes utilized in the laboratory activities.