A new chapter in manufacturing

Waterloo lab helps fill industry demand for experts in additive manufacturing - By University Relations - In recent years, factories have been steadily modernizing their facilities with more automation and manufacturing capabilities. With faster and better additive manufacturing solutions that can custom-make durable parts in one piece without the expense of the tooling, a new and exciting chapter in digital manufacturing has begun. This shift has attracted a new generation of engineers back to the shop floor. "Additive manufacturing is reshaping the way manufacturing looks," says Mihaela Vlasea, a professor in mechanical and mechatronics engineering and associate director at the Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing  (MSAM) lab at the University of Waterloo. "It's bringing more excitement back into manufacturing, especially for this young generation of students who live in the digital space." The MSAM lab is Canada's largest academic-based research and development facility in metal additive manufacturing. It has state-of-the-art machinery and custom 3D printers that work with composites such as graphene, polymers and ceramics. The lab offers research programs and courses in support of graduate programs and runs regular workshops benefiting professionals working across industry sectors.