UConn opens Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center

April 10, 2013
The U. of Connecticut has opened the Pratt & Whitney Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center, a collaboration between UConn and Pratt & Whitney and the first such facility in the Northeast to work with metals rather than plastics.

Storrs, CT - The University of Connecticut has opened the Pratt & Whitney Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center, which is a collaboration between UConn and Pratt & Whitney. It will be used to further additive manufacturing research and development and is the first such facility in the Northeast to work with metals rather than plastics.

The center will be used to train engineers and designers in the latest techniques for advanced manufacturing technology. It features 3D manufacturing equipment and rapid prototyping technologies, including two Arcam electron beam melting (EBM) A2X model machines for manufacturing large, complex metal parts at high temperatures. The A2X models are the first to be introduced in North America. The UConn center recently provided the first EBM on-site training for academic personnel and industry engineers in the US.

Related: National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute established in Youngstown, OH

Related: Elizabeth Kautzmann from Fanuc FA America explains the importance of laser additive manufacturing

Related: Gail Overton from Laser Focus World gives the background on laser additive manufacturing

Pratt & Whitney has invested $4.5 million in the Center and over the next five years will invest an additional $3.5 million. Paul Adams, Pratt & Whitney’s chief operating officer, said, “Additive manufacturing is necessary to build the next generation of jet engines. We are currently using additive manufacturing to build complex components with extreme precision for the PurePower commercial jet engine.”

The center supports President Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership initiative, launched in 2011, which encourages innovative collaborations between industry, universities, and the federal government to increase the nation’s global competitiveness by improving existing manufacturing capabilities through the development of advanced materials, components, and technologies.





About the Author

Industrial Laser Solutions Editors

We edited the content of this article, which was contributed by outside sources, to fit our style and substance requirements. (Editors Note: Industrial Laser Solutions has folded as a brand and is now part of Laser Focus World, effective in 2022.)

Sponsored Recommendations

Current Trends in Laser Absorption Spectroscopy: More than Just Beer's Law

Dec. 5, 2023
Dive into the cutting-edge world of absorption spectroscopy in our upcoming webinar, exploring groundbreaking techniques such as cavity ringdown spectroscopy, photoacoustic spectroscopy...

Insights on the Global Quantum Computing Market

Dec. 5, 2023
Dive into the cutting-edge realm of quantum computing with the Quantum Computing Market Forecast, a groundbreaking analysis by Hyperion Research, backed by the Quantum Economic...

Case Study – Large OAP Mirrors

Dec. 4, 2023
Customized Large Optics by Avantier: Meeting Unique Needs with Precision and Quality In the ever-evolving world of optical technology, the demand for customized large optics ...

Next-level virus detection via WIDE-MIP microscopy

Dec. 4, 2023
Rapid and accurate detection of a virus can quite literally make the difference between life and death. With this in mind, researchers created a mid-infrared photothermal microscope...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!