Colorado School of Mines receives $2.5M grant to establish 3-D metal printing consortium

Aaron Stebner

Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo., has announced that Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professors Aaron Stebner and Douglas Van Bossuyt have been awarded a $2.5 million Advanced Industries Accelerator grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade to establish a 3-D metal printing research consortium.

Mines is building out 2,200 sq. ft. of dedicated laboratory space in the new Coorstek Center for Applied Science and Engineering for the consortium, while industry members Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, Fauston Tool, and Manufacturer’s Edge are providing more than $4.5 million of initial investment in the program.

The center will be dedicated to performing applied research and creating database infrastructure needed to qualify 3-D printers and their parts in a timely, cost-effective manner. Large businesses will be able to use the center to help accelerate their technology development cycles, while small manufacturing businesses will be able to supply certified 3-D printed metal parts to advanced industries.

“Central to our consortium is the creation of a high-fidelity, intelligent database for purposes of qualifying, calibrating, and optimizing 3-D metal printers and parts for any business wishing to enter the market,” Stebner said.

Mines will perform research together with Faustson and Concept Laser on the first U.S. installed dual-laser 3-D metals printer. Mines also will acquire the first U.S. university-owned X-ray diffraction microscope capable of both diffraction contrast tomography and submicron-resolution computed tomography for purposes of advanced microstructure characterization of 3-D printed metal parts.

Over a 12-month period, Mines researchers will demonstrate the capabilities of the center’s infrastructure through two pilot research projects on 3-D printed nickel and titanium alloys. The center also will offer workforce training programs at Mines and other Colorado educational institutions.

Douglas Van Bossuyt