MRI: Acquisition of Research and Education Equipment for Geometric Design and Manufacturing Integration

这项重大研究仪器(MRI)奖提供资金，用于购买一台快速成型机、一台坐标测量机、一台三维数字扫描仪和一台五轴数控机床。它将为参与的教师提供实验室设施，以进行逆向工程、设计和制造一体化、地理信息系统的快速建模、柔顺机构设计、光弹性和实验应力分析以及先进微结构的有限元分析等方面的研究。它还将用于开发微纳米机床、新的研究生和本科课程内容和设计项目、艺术设计和制造方面的教育项目、针对K-12和少数民族学生的外联项目，以及对当地产业的服务。工程学院、文理学院和教育学院五个学术部门的教员将是该设施的主要使用者。购买最先进的设施将大大加强正在进行的研究，并扩大该机构开发新项目的能力。它将通过新的课程内容和接触新的制造技术来加强本科生和研究生课程。新实验室设施的可用还将增强留住和招收高质量学生进行深造的能力，从而加强研究生课程。有了新的设施，该大学将有更好的能力为地区工业社区服务，由此产生的工业项目将通过现实生活中的工程项目为学生提供综合的研究和教育体验。地球科学部和阿巴拉契亚手工艺中心的参与增加了设备应用的更多方面，这两个中心的使命是振兴阿巴拉契亚地区的经济和文化传统。在K-12和少数民族外展计划中使用这些设施将吸引高中生和少数民族进入工程和科学职业生涯。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award provides funds for the acquisition of a rapid prototyping machine, a coordinate measuring machine, a three-dimensional digital scanner, and a five-axis numerically controlled machine. It will provide the lab facilities for the participating faculty to conduct research in reverse engineering, design and manufacturing integration, rapid modeling of geographic information systems, design of compliant mechanisms, photoelastic and experimental stress analysis, and finite element analysis of advanced microstructures. It will also be used in developing micro and nano machine tools, new graduate and undergraduate course contents and design projects, education programs in art design and manufacturing, outreach programs for k-12 and minority students, and service to local industries. Faculty from five academic departments in the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Education will be the primary users of the facilities.The acquisition of the state-of-the-art facilities will greatly enhance ongoing research and broaden the institution's capacity to develop new projects. It will enhance the undergraduate and graduate programs through new course contents and exposure to new manufacturing technology. The availability of the new lab facilities will also enhance the ability to retain and recruit quality students for advanced studies and thus strengthen the graduate program. With the new facilities, the university will have a better capacity to serve the regional industrial community and the resulting industrial projects will offer students an integrated research and education experience through real-life engineering projects. The participation of the Earth Science Department and the Appalachian Center for Crafts, which have the mission to revitalize the economy and cultural tradition in the Appalachian area, adds additional dimensions to the application of the equipment. The use of the facilities in K-12 and minority outreach programs will attract high school students and minorities to enter engineering and science careers.