Advanced manufacturing

We are defining the future of advanced manufacturing research by fabricating technologies for implantable medical devices, automotive racing applications using metal additive manufacturing, and lithographic processes for M/NEMS sensors.

Advanced manufacturing

Additive manufacturing

Our leadership in additive manufacturing (AM) research includes analysis, modeling, experimentation, qualification, and device development and characterization.

Expertise extends to process mapping, geometric and mechanical characterization, optimized assembly, control systems, role of powder properties in metal AM, and finishing processes and systems for AM fabricated parts.

Researchers are using new techniques to 3D print ceramics, biodegradable actuators, lithium-ion battery electrodes, and devices for aerospace and biomedical industries.

Faculty involved: Amir Barati Farimani, Jack Beuth, Reeja Jayan, Burak Kara, Sneha Prabha Narra, Burak Ozdoganlar, Rahul Panat, Kenji Shimada, Victoria Webster-Wood, Trevor Jones, Ophelia Bolmin

Micro/nano-manufacturing

Researchers investigate a diverse range of advanced manufacturing processes and associated equipment to create micro- and nano-scale components and devices.

Expertise includes micromachining and micromilling, nano-molding of polymers, soft-lithography, semiconductor and data storage manufacturing, and micro-scale finishing processes.

Exciting new approaches include DNA origami (bottom up manufacturing) to enable nanomanufacturing and nanomechanics of multiprotein systems as well as exploring microstructures for biomimetic sensors and actuators (top down manufacturing).

Developing new materials for thermal management—like polymer nanofibers and supersolder—will transform thermal management in electronic devices.

Faculty involved: Amir Barati Farimani, Burak Ozdoganlar, Rahul Panat, Sheng Shen, Rebecca Taylor, Shawn Litster, Ophelia Bolmin

Medical device manufacturing

Our researchers make groundbreaking developments in manufacturing processes for bioinert and dissolvable materials.

Areas include: fabricating implantable medical devices like neural probes, brain-machine interfaces, and transdermal microneedles; manufacturing surgical training equipment; fabricating skin tissue scaffolds and robotic skin; manufacturing electronic tattoos for health monitoring; and developing biological polymers, tissues, and proteins for organic robots.

Faculty involved: Carmel Majidi, Burak Ozdoganlar, Rahul Panat, Rebecca Taylor, Victoria Webster-Wood, Ophelia Bolmin, Trevor Jones, Inseung Kang

Manufacturing Futures Institute

The faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering are exploring collaborations across disciplines through Carnegie Mellon University's Manufacturing Futures Institute (MFI). This initiative is leading the digital transformation of manufacturing to accelerate innovation for economic prosperity.

At Mill 19, a more than 300,000 sqft discovery workspace, our innovators partner with industry pioneers to apply digital innovation, advanced manufacturing technology and human intelligence to the production of the future.

People

Learn who in Mechanical Engineering is working in advanced manufacturing.

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Shrinkage porosity, a common defect in metal castings, has been identified in laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing.

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How can engineers produce smooth transitions between lattice cells in complex structures? Combining additive manufacturing and machine learning to look at latent space endpoints may help.

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Engineering alumnus Brian Fisher embodies the vision for additive manufacturing his former professor Jack Beuth helped him to see.

Virtual reality partners become real world neighbors Opens in new window

In July, the YKK AP Technologies Lab opened at Mill 19. Their focus on the development of a virtual factory is well aligned with the digital twin work underway at the Manufacturing Futures Institute.

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Microscopic engineering, macroscopic value

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Metal 3D printing across scales

New faculty member Sneha Prabha Narra is interested in utilizing recent advances in in-situ monitoring, process modeling, and fundamentals of welding to advance the use of wire arc additive manufacturing for new applications and materials.

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Designing for a brighter future

New MechE faculty member and alumnus Christopher McComb wants to develop successful human-machine teams, create a student-centered learning environment, and give designers computational superpowers.

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Tantalizing tantalum actuators and sensors Opens in new window

Can this refractory metal be an efficient substitute material in microelectromechanical system (MEMS) thermal actuators?

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Students taking a new course combine rapidly expanding technologies to create innovative solutions for real societal problems.

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Virtually awarded

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Despite the coronavirus shutdown, researchers and students were creative about continuing their work and joining the fight against COVID-19.

Molding masks against coronavirus Opens in new window

Kenji Shimada and Erica Martelly team up for the America Makes Fit to Face Challenge, creating one of the top two designs in the competition.

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Making innovation count

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An alternative to the syringe Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon University will provide microneedle drug delivery patches to support COVID-19 vaccination and treatment research.

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Engineering faculty win Carnegie Science Awards Opens in new window

Carmel Majidi and Ryan Sullivan have won Carnegie Science Awards from the Carnegie Science Center for their incredible contributions to science.

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Does a material exist that can be used to selectively, reliably, and efficiently form hydrogen peroxide whenever and wherever it’s needed?

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3D printing nanoparticle neural probes Opens in new window

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Zhang and Yao earn MFI award for 4D printing

Jessica Zhang and Lining Yao earn a Manufacturing Futures Initiative (MFI) award to develop fiber-reinforced composite structures through a process called 4D printing.

Sheng Shen’s spectacular supersolder Opens in new window

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3D printing the next generation of batteries Opens in new window

MechE’s Rahul Panat has developed a revolutionary new method of fabricating battery electrodes using Aerosol Jet 3D printing.

The intersection of 3-D printing and machine learning Opens in new window

Self-correcting 3-D printers may soon become a reality, as Jack Beuth and Luke Scime have combined machine learning with 3-D printing to enable real time process monitoring.

Manufacturing the future Opens in new window

CMU established the Manufacturing Futures Initiative to support manufacturing research and fund interdisciplinary projects.

Lighter weight, lower costs in 3-D printing Opens in new window

Levent Burak Kara develops ways to best bolster lightweight, 3-D printed materials and reduce production costs.

A high-tech spin on spider silk Opens in new window

This game-changing technology can transform polymers from soft and thermally insulating materials to an ultra-strong and thermally conductive material.

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Is 3-D printing the future for ceramics? Opens in new window

B. Reeja Jayan has been awarded the NSF CAREER Award and $500,000 to pursue research in creating 3-D printing ceramics, and create an integrated research and game-based education plan.

Measuring macro with micro Opens in new window

College of Engineering’s Rebecca Taylor earns funding from the U.S. Air Force’s Young Investigator Research Program to develop next generation sensors with DNA and PNA.

Synthetic muscle gets its punch from design method Opens in new window

Carnegie Mellon researchers design building blocks for synthetic muscle using computational method.

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3-D printing better medical training Opens in new window

CMU team uses 3-D printing to create a hands-on training tool for surgeons.

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