“The Senvol Database is a tremendous resource for the entire industry, and with the addition of these learning tool exercises, we are furthering our commitment to expand mission critical knowledge and training on additive manufacturing,” said Leanne Gluck, Deputy Director of Workforce and Education at America Makes.
- Life-Long Learning and Education: help materials professionals remain current so they may advance their careers and contribute to the continued growth and sustainability of the materials community.
- Emerging Technologies: ASM has identified materials-related areas where rapid changes and developments are taking place, and to keep up with changing member needs, is working to circulate useful knowledge related to these technologies.
As we know, 3D printing materials range from plastic to circuit boards to concrete, with nearly everything in between. So with ASM focusing on circulating knowledge to its members about emerging, developing technologies (and I’d say additive manufacturing/3D printing definitely fits into that category) that are related to materials, then working with America Makes, the nation’s additive manufacturing accelerator, and having access to Senvol Database’s ever-growing lists of 3D printing materials, to help create learning tool exercises makes a lot of sense. It doesn’t hurt that, like America Makes, ASM International is also based in northern Ohio.
The exercises were piloted at several universities with a major focus on additive manufacturing. Penn State University professor of Engineering Design and Manufacturing Tim Simpson, who is also the co-director of CIMP-3D, said the exercises are “spot on in terms of what of someone may face in industry.” So, just what are these exercises about? The top of the exercise sheet offers a little more explanation:
“With over 1,500 industrial AM machines and materials covering 7 ASTM-defined AM manufacturing processes, how does a company choose which machine and material to work with?”
“The challenge of selecting the right AM machine and material for a given application impacts not only individual companies but also the industry as a whole. Therefore, it is important for those entering the AM industry to learn how to make a thoughtful, well-informed decision regarding AM machine and material selection.”
The two available exercises are for additive manufacturing newbies, and will help users start to learn how to explore the Senvol Database functionalities and “use it as a decision-making tool” when analyzing machines, mechanical properties, various materials, and the cost of ownership.
“We are very pleased to partner with both America Makes and ASM International on this,” said Zach Simkin, President of Senvol. “America Makes has a clear vision to expand additive manufacturing knowledge, and ASM International has a rich history of educating industry on materials information.”
Each exercise gives the expected time it will take to complete it, the learning objectives, instructions on how to complete the exercise, a scenario to work in, the available resources, and several exercise questions to answer.
Partnerships like the one between America Makes, Senvol, and ASM International are especially important, as it seems like nearly every day, 3D printing companies are continuing to introduce new materials and machines. Helpful innovations, aimed at benefiting our society, can only occur if the companies working on them know exactly what they need in order to succeed. Discuss in the Partnership forum at 3DPB.com.