MRI: Acquisition of an Additive Manufacturing Machine for 3D Metal Components for Research and Education

这项主要研究仪器(MRI)赠款提供资金，用于购买一台用于直接制造三维(3D)金属部件的添加剂制造机器，以促进综合研究和教育。该设备执行基于激光的直接金属添加剂制造过程(有时称为3D打印)，该过程使用金属粉床，并选择性地熔化粉末，以从许多不同的金属(包括钛合金和不锈钢)逐层制造三维金属部件。这使得能够创建复杂的组件，包括那些具有不可能使用替代技术制造的特征的组件。该设备将实现两个研究目标：(1)推进加法制造科学和工程，其中拟议的仪器将被用作加法制造研究和培训的试验台，以及(2)实现医疗器械、机器人和摩擦学的尖端研究，其中设备将用于为研究项目建立独特的结构和设备。收购该设备将通过加深我们对加法制造的了解，并通过在医疗器械、机器人、航空航天和能源系统等其他领域实现新发现，对先进制造的科学和技术产生广泛的影响。该项目的目标是获得一台基于激光的添加剂制造机器，用于制造研究和教学用的金属零件。制造3D金属部件的附加制造工艺正在开始给制造业和其他科学和工程领域带来革命性的变化；收购这种设备将加速目前的努力。预计该设备还将带来未来工程师必须学习和实践的新设计和制造范例。这些设备为大学课程提供了重要的机会。它也是一个很有希望的平台，让K-12年级的学生对制造业感兴趣--缺乏这种兴趣是美国制造业未来面临的最重要的挑战之一。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant provides funding for acquisition of an additive manufacturing machine for direct fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) metal components to facilitate integrated research and education. This equipment performs the laser-based direct metal additive manufacturing process (sometimes referred to as 3D printing), which uses a metal powder bed, and selectively melts the powder to fabricate, layer-by-layer, three-dimensional metal components from many different metals, including titanium alloys and stainless steel. This enables the creation of complex components, including those with features that are impossible to fabricate using alternative techniques. The equipment will enable the realization of two research thrusts aimed at (1) advancing additive manufacturing science and engineering, where the proposed instrument will be used as a testbed for research and training on additive manufacturing, and (2) enabling cutting-edge research in medical devices, robotics, and tribology, where the equipment will be used to build unique structures and devices for research projects.The acquisition of this equipment will have a wide-ranging impact on science and technology of advanced manufacturing by enhancing our understanding of additive manufacturing and by enabling novel discoveries in other fields, such as medical devices, robotics, aerospace and energy systems. The objective of this project is to acquire a laser-based additive manufacturing machine for fabrication of metal parts for research and education. Additive manufacturing processes for fabricating 3D metal components are starting to revolutionize both manufacturing and other science and engineering fields; the acquisition of this equipment will accelerate current efforts. The equipment is also expected to bring new design and manufacturing paradigms that future engineers must learn and practice. The equipment offers important opportunities for the college curriculum. It is also a promising platform for exciting K-12 students about manufacturing--the lack of such interest is one of the most important challenges for the future of manufacturing in the United States.