Category Archives: AM News

CIMP-3D continues to revolutionize additive manufacturing with the introduction of the Selective Powder Deposition (SPD) module by Aerosint, now integrated into the 3D Systems ProX320 laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) system.  The technology—which can deposit three different powders within a single layer at 300 µm² resolution—unlocks unprecedented design flexibility and material versatility.  The system was acquired by Dr. Guha Manogharan, Co-Director of CIMP-3D and lead of the Systems for Hybrid-Additive Process Engineering (SHAPE) lab.

Penn State’s CIMP-3D recently demonstrated its capabilities for large format multi-laser powder bed fusion by fabricating three large aluminum components representative of fittings on industrial-scale piping systems. Working alongside 3D Systems, the entire production process was executed from start-to-finish, including: design-for-AM, fabrication, post-processing, and inspection.

Compliant mechanisms enable engineered motion, force transmission, and energy absorption without linkages or assemblies.  Dr. Jared Butler (PSU ME) has been developing compliant mechanisms for a wide range of applications, and with doctoral student Connor Huxman, has recently turned his attention to medical applications.  One exciting development they’re pioneering is compliant bone plates^1,2, which promote healing in comminuted fractures by enabling prescribed axial strain while preventing shear.  These compliant mechanisms are typically cut from sheet, but CIMP-3D teamed up with Dr. Butler to fabricate a Ti6Al4V version of this compliant mechanism using powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (3D Systems ProX 320). 

Guha Manogharan, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State, has been appointed as the co-director of the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition. Following Tim Simpson, who held the position since the center`s establishment in 2012.