Instrumentation for Teaching and Research in Additive Manufacturing
Abstract
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, under authority of 10 U.S.C. ¤ 2362 and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OASD(R&E)), allocated $28 million to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) with equipment and instrumentation enhancements to improve their research and education capabilities in scientific disciplines important to the defense mission. The program aims enhance the capacity of HBCU/MI to participate broadly in defense research programs and activities and to increase the number of graduates, including underrepresented minorities, in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The PI requests support for the acquisition of several pieces of equipment that will enhance teaching and research capability in additive manufacturing. Requested items will help to advance research in the area of material synthesis and processing using additive manufacturing technologies. The equipment will help to advance research in areas of mutual interest to the DoD and CSU by investigating new materials and products suitable for additive manufacturing. The PI proposes research leading to the development of high performance polymer materials for powder bed and fused deposition modeling additive manufacturing technologies; development of electrically conductive feedstock materials and compounding new polymer materials for powder bed and fused deposition modeling technologies; development of design rules and manufacturability rules for selective laser sintering additive manufacturing process for polymer materials that will provide guidance to engineers on design and process limitations/constraints; and experiments to characterize and optimize mechanical strengths of parts produced from additive manufacturing. The acquisition of this equipment will positively impact CSUÕs research capabilities and the quality of CSUÕs STEM programs through enhanced institutional infrastructure; enhanced STEM programs especially in manufacturing engineering; and enhanced academic and career development of students and faculty members. The requested equipment will support and enrich the curriculum in manufacturing engineering both in lower level and upper level courses, and enable students to work on their senior design projects. Faculty would be able to perform research leading to publications in reputable journals, which would enhance the notoriety of the program and the institution. This would encourage faculty members to initiate research projects and to pursue opportunities that would stimulate undergraduate engagement and interest in STEM. The equipment will also be used in a collaborative multidisciplinary fashion involving students and faculty members from Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Technology, Environmental Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science. It will also facilitate collaborative research with other institutions. Additionally, for several years, CSU has been involved in DoD-sponsored middle school summer science camp for students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. The goal of this camp is to promote science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and mathematics education. For the two weeks duration of the camp, students attend classes where they are taught problem solving, research, and communication skills incorporated with biology, chemistry, physics, environmental sciences, earth sciences, engineering, and design concepts. Every summer, approximately 25 students attend this camp free of charge. This equipment will be made available to educate the students during the camp.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610527
Entities
People
- Abiodun Fasoro
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Central State University
- Office of the Secretary of Defense