Materials Processing and Fabrication

Advanced Metal 3D Printing Center

Advanced Metal 3D Printing Center

The Advanced Metal 3D Printing Center houses a powder bed fusion 3D Systems DMP Flex 350 Metal Printer. It is available for use by the campus and external communities. The printer is capable of producing parts with complex geometry from metal powders on a scale similar to industry standard.

Location: M&M117
Contact: Russell Stein


Metal Casting (Foundry)

Metal Casting (Foundry)

The foundry facility supports metal-casting activities, primarily focusing on aluminum and iron. Michigan Tech is one of only a handful of education institutions nationwide that have retained an in-house foundry. Most campuses and industries have bits and pieces of a metal design process. Not us. Our team of faculty, staff, and students are present from first calculation to final report—transferring the billet each step of the way. With Kevlar gloves, of course.

Specialized lab equipment includes

  • Die Caster
  • High Vacuum Induction Caster
  • High Pressure Induction Melter
  • Arc Melter
  • Melt Spinner
  • Directional Solidification and Crystal Growth
  • Induction Melting
  • Vacuum Induction Melting
  • Extrusion Press
  • Rolling Mill
  • Hammer Swage
  • Wire Drawing

Location: M&M107
Contact: Paul Sanders


Microfabrication Facility

Microfabrication Facility

The Microfabrication Facility, managed by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is a member of the Michigan Tech Materials Characterization and Fabrication Facilities. Lab activities include micro- and nanoscale research and development of solid-state electronics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and microsystems materials and devices.

Location: M&M436
Contact: Paul Bergstrom


Other Materials and Processing Labs and Equipment

  • Deformation Processing
  • Powder Processing | Location: M&M 531 | Contact: Paul Fraley
    • Powder Mixing, Powder Compaction, Cold Isostatic
    • Hot Isostatic Pressing, Mechanical Alloying
  • Hot Vaccuum Isostatic Press
  • Inert Atmosphere Processing
  • Thermal Processing and Heat Treatment | Location: M&M 530 | Contact: Paul Fraley
  • Machine Shop
    • CNC Machining and Welding/Joining
  • Microwave Processing
  • Particulate Separation
  • Photovoltaics and Solar Cells
"For national prosperity and sustaining global leadership in manufacturing, the gap between the real-world applications of 3D printing and nanomaterials versus nanomaterial 3D printing needs to be closed."Parisa Pour Shahid Saeed Abadi, affiliated assistant professor in materials science and engineering