Month: January 2014

3D Printers in January News

SprocketA Michigan Tech MSE/ECE team’s work on 3D printing and strategic alliances with industry was covered by MSN Money, the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, 3D Printing Industry and many others.

From Tech Today.

Corp Magazine published an article on 3D printing revolution, quoting Associate Professor Joshua Pearce (MSE), with photos of Pearce and one of his 3-D printers. See Corp Magazine.

From Tech Today.

Open Electronics ranked Michigan Tech’s open-source metal 3D printer as one of 10 of the Most Incredible Open Source Hardware projects born in 2013.

Michigan Tech’s 3D Printers for Peace Contest was listed as one of the top 5 3D printing applications of 2013 by 3D Printing Industry.

From Tech Today.

Notables

Malaysi’s HongKiat named Michigan Tech’s metal 3D printing as one of 6 Tech Trends That Will Dominate 2014.

From Tech Today.

6 Tech Trends That Will Dominate 2014

6. 3D Printers

Metal printers are usually available for half a million, and only to organizations, not for personal use. Earlier this December, Michigan Technological University announced their open source 3D metal printer, which is available for only $1500.

Read more at HongKiat.

In the News

Joshua Pearce (MSE/ECE) was interviewed for Teknisk Ukeblad (Technical Weekly), which is Norway’s leading engineering journal on 3D printing. His group’s 3D printing research was also covered by Ingeniøren, a Danish weekly newspaper specializing in engineering topics. Michigan Tech’s research in 3D printing was discussed in The Conversation in an article “What price our fascination with cheaper 3D printing?”

From Tech Today.

Toward ICME Development of Co-based Gamma/Gammaprime Superalloys: Microstructural Evolution and Phase Equilibria

MSE SEMINAR
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Room 610, M&M Building

Toward ICME Development of Co-based Gamma/Gamma-prime Superalloys: Microstructural Evolution and Phase Equilibria

Dr. E.A. Lass
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD

E. A. Lass Abstract February 4, 2014

Drelich and Bowen Interviewed on Stents

Professor Jarek Drelich and PhD student Patrick Bowen (MSE) were featured in the QMed article: “Stent Designers Think Zinc.”

From Tech Today.

Stent Designers Think Zinc

Seeking an alternative to magnesium-based stents, researchers at Michigan Technological University (Houghton) are conducting studies on a stent design made from zinc. This material, the scientists say, offers better degradation rates than magnesium and can be processed in such a way as to increase its mechanical properties. In the following conversation, Jaroslaw Drelich, professor in the department of materials science engineering, and Patrick Bowen, PhD candidate in materials science and engineering, share their insights into zinc as a potential candidate for next-generation absorbable stents.

Read the full interview at Qmed, by Bob Michaels.

Learn more about stent research at Surface Innovations, a research group at Michigan Tech.

Pearce on Physicists and Simple Technology

Printable Lab Equipment
Printable lab equipment: A student tests the 3D-printed analyser.

Joshua Pearce (MSE/ECE) published a feature article “Technology whose time has come” in the January issue of Physics World.

From Tech Today.

Technology whose time has come

Reinvented as open-source appropriate technology (OSAT), the modern form of AT focuses on technologies that promote sustainable development and are designed in the same fashion as free and open-source software (FOSS).

Physicists have a good track record of opening up science for the common good. We have been sharing our open-access e-prints on arXiv for more than 20 years, long before “open access” became a buzzword. Given this background, I think it is time for physicists to take a serious look at OSAT.

Read more at Physics World, by Joshua Pearce.

AccuWeather on Snowy Solar Panels

Snow Solar PanelErin Cassidy quotes Associate Professor Joshua Pearce (MSE/ECE) in the AccuWeather story “Are Solar Panels Usable in Snowy Climates?” which is based in part on research being conducted at the Keweenaw Research Center.

From Tech Today.

Are Solar Panels Usable in Snowy Climates?

Joshua Pearce, associate professor at Michigan Tech University (MTU), said, “If snow is completely covering the panel, you are obviously only going to get the amount of energy out of the panel from the amount of light that is able to pass through the snow.”

Pearce describes several methods they have used to increase the efficiency of panels with snow accumulations.

Read more at AccuWeather.com.

Contact Angles on Rough Surfaces Including Superhydrophobic and Superhydrophilic Surfaces

MSE SEMINAR
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Room 610, M&M Building

Contact Angles on Rough Surfaces Including
Superhydrophobic and Superhydrophilic Surfaces

Jaroslaw Drelich
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI

Jarek Drelich Abstract January 14, 2014

Hein and Rothenberger Nominated for Staff Awards

Making a Difference Nominees Announced

Forty-four Michigan Tech staff members have been nominated for a 2013 Making a Difference Award in one of the following categories: rookie award, serving others, outstanding supervisor, creative solutions, above and beyond, unsung hero and bringing out the best.

MSE staff members Allison M. Hein and Margaret P. Rothenberger are among the nominees for the 2013 awards.

The nominees will be honored and the award recipients announced at a reception on Wednesday, Jan. 8, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Ballroom A of the Memorial Union Building. All Michigan Tech employees are invited to the event.

From Tech Today.