MRI: Acquisition of Open-Source Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion Platform to Expand Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education

这一重大研究仪器(MRI)奖支持收购一种新的开源电子束粉末床融合(EPBF)系统。作为美国第一个此类系统，该仪器将使德克萨斯大学埃尔帕索分校(UTEP)的研究人员和一个庞大的合作者网络能够在金属添加剂制造的关键领域进行基础研究-支持新材料系统和增强工艺理解和控制。这一知识可以带来更轻、更坚固、更高质量和更多功能的材料和部件--使更省油的汽车能够以更低的成本生产，使医疗器械和植入物具有最小的侵入性，并使先进的飞机发动机具有更高的效率并显著减少排放和燃料消耗。该仪器还将通过在本科生研究和教育以及K-12外联活动中使用，加强对下一代先进/智能制造劳动力的培训。该工具将丰富地区初中和高中的外展活动，招募以西班牙裔背景为主的学生从事STEM职业。该仪器将使研究人员能够深入了解EPBF工艺的工艺-结构-性能联系，并结合新型扫描策略的能力，将提供制造耐火合金、高强度铝合金、镍钛形状记忆合金和金属基陶瓷复合材料等复杂材料所需的知识。该仪器的过程监控功能将使研究人员能够从根本上洞察物理上相关的过程现象，如粉末喷射、粉末装料和氧化，这些现象可能导致缺陷。该仪器的高温处理能力将使研究人员能够更好地了解与加工过程中的热历史相关的相变、缺陷形成和微观结构演变的复杂性。这将为在耐恶劣条件下制造材料方面的进步以及开发更耐用和更具弹性的智能部件和能源、航空航天、国防、交通和医药所需的新型材料奠定基础。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award supports the acquisition of a novel open-source electron beam powder bed fusion (EPBF) system. As the first system of its kind in the US, this instrument will enable University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) investigators and a large network of collaborators to perform fundamental research in key areas of metal additive manufacturing—enabling new material systems and enhanced process understanding and control. This knowledge can lead to lighter, stronger, higher quality and more versatile materials and parts--enabling more fuel-efficient cars that can be produced at lower cost, minimally invasive medical instruments and implants, and advanced aircraft engines with higher efficiencies and significantly reduced emissions and fuel consumption. The instrumentation will also enhance training for the next generation advanced/smart manufacturing workforce through use in undergraduate research and education and K-12 outreach activities. The instrumentation will enrich outreach activities in regional middle and high schools, to recruit students from predominantly underrepresented Hispanic backgrounds to pursue STEM careers. The instrumentation will enable researchers to gain insight into processing-structure-property links for the EPBF process and, together with the capability for novel scan strategies, will provide knowledge needed to fabricate complex materials such as refractory alloys, high strength aluminum alloys, Ni-Ti shape memory alloys and metal matrix ceramic composites. The instrumentation’s process monitoring capabilities will enable researchers to gain fundamental insight into physically relevant process phenomena such as powder ejecta, powder charging and oxidation that can cause defects. The instrumentation’s high temperature processing capabilities will enable researchers to better understand the intricacies of phase changes, defect formation, and microstructural evolution in relation to the thermal history during processing. This will provide a foundation for advances in fabrication of materials that withstand harsh conditions and the development of more durable and resilient smart parts and novel materials needed for energy, aerospace, defense, transportation and medicine.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.