Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing (AM) process that uses a laser beam to melt metal powder as it is spread onto the build surface using a roller or scraper, followed by rapid solidification to manufacture a 3D component, one layer at a time.
In SLM process, density...
Creating effective packaging is about finding a balance between product protection during shipping and time consumption in the design process. Given time and cost constraints, it is hard to produce sufficiently protective padding while having it not be thicker than it needs to be. This thesis describes a method to...
Manufacturing exists as a stronghold for continuous growth and development of economies, a trend that is likely to continue as the demand for commodities and products grow. Manufacturing drives innovation and productivity in developed nations, as well as promoting economic stability and development in developing nations. However, manufacturing activities pose...
In the U.S. there are increasing energy demands that require an ever-increasing need for the large-scale use of new energy resources. Specifically, sporadic renewable energy sources are being incorporated into utility energy portfolios. Thus, supporting stationary energy storage technologies are needed to make these renewable sources reliable and feasible for...
Powder injection molding (PIM) is a net fabrication technique that combines the
complex shape-forming ability of plastic injection molding, the precision of die-casting,
and the material selection flexibility of powder metallurgy. For this
study, the design issues related to PIM for fabrication of thin-walled high-aspect
ratio geometries were investigated. These...
Lean manufacturing, or more generally continuous improvement (CI), has been the methodology behind significant improvements in quality, work in process inventory reductions, lead time reduction and cost reduction while conversely being associated with failed implementations and occasionally with unpopular work practices. This research focused on promoting understanding of CI methodology...
Having a series of excellent properties, the oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) steels provide promising solutions for the challenges of structural materials in nuclear energy, especially the development of future advanced nuclear fission and even fusion reactors. The current manufacturing route for ODS alloys includes mechanical alloying (MA) of master alloys or...
Sustainability has become an unprecedented priority in global manufacturing due to the growing concerns over issues such as an aging workforce, environmental degradation, and public health. The simultaneous consideration of the economic, environmental, and social aspects – often referred to as the “three pillars of sustainability” – is crucial to...
Cell membranes act as barriers against unwanted movement of ions and biomolecules and are complex surfaces littered with protein channels, ion channels, cholesterol, and a myriad of different proteins. While this surface is extremely well studied, there is still much we do not know. The work in this dissertation demonstrates...
Photonic sintering of nanoparticles is a relatively new process for sintering of nanoparticles, deposited on a substrate, into functional solid structures. The working principle of this process is the incidence of large-area broad-spectrum light onto deposited nanoparticles, which results in heat generation in the nanoparticles and their subsequent densification. Key...