MSC Software Corporation (MSC) has announced a new research collaboration to advance additive manufacturing (AM) techniques for high performance and high reliability applications with the Materials Innovation Guild (MIG) at the University of Louisville.
AM is moving from prototyping to production, where it will have a transformative impact on many aspects of product design, manufacturing, materials, supply chain and workforce implementation, but there remain many new issues and opportunities. Through MIG, the University of Louisville helps organizations such as NASA and Boeing develop additive programs and trains future engineers in new design and production techniques.
Under the partnership, MSC Software will support the University's on-site and distance learning by supplying software and training. Startups in its 3D Printing Business Incubator will also utilize MSC software products in conjunction with education in techno-economic aspects AM to enhance their competitiveness in product and manufacturing design.
Dr. Sundar Atre, Endowed Chair of Manufacturing and Materials, MIG, commented, "By integrating MSC's Simufact and Digimat platforms into MIG's research and teaching initiatives, I believe we will provide the opportunity to introduce new material, design and product innovations in healthcare, defense and transportation."
Consistency of material properties in new designs remains a barrier to the adoption of AM in high performance and high reliability applications. MIG research will use MSC Software's Simufact and Digimat modeling and simulation platforms to understand the fundamental materials properties and microstructure in metal powders, polymers and composites, and how to exploit the new materials-design-process relationship. These new materials and properties will help the industry define a common language for AM and enhance the AM capabilities of MSC Software tools.
The MIG is collaborating with NASA on a new AM technology called Metal Fused Filament Fabrication (MF3), that will be simulated within the Digimat-AM product as part of the collaboration. Dr. Kunal Kate, Assistant Professor at UofL, explained why: "MF3 or similar powder-binder based 3D printing processes require post processing steps of debinding and sintering, which are currently subject to trial-and-error experiments. Combining experimental research with MSC Software capabilities can result in the development of new tools that predict 3D printed part material properties and effectively capture post debinding and sintering effects for powder-polymer based 3D printing."
MSC Software is the latest of several industrial partners that have chosen to collaborate with the MIG. The partnership includes Digimat and Simufact software licenses and training that will help in research, capabilities development, resident and online degrees. The partnership also supports the activities of the Louisville Additive Manufacturing Business Development Alliance (LAMBDA), which provides training and consultancy to advance innovation in local industry.
For more information contact:
MSC Software Corporation
4675 MacArthur Court
Newport Beach, CA 92660
714-540-8900
info-msc@mscsoftware.com
www.mscsoftware.com
University of Louisville
2301 S 3rd St.
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-5555
www.louisville.edu