Montana Technological University has significantly expanded its 3D printing capabilities by investing over one million US dollars in new equipment. This expansion of equipment is attracting not only academic collaborations, but also interest from industry.
“We have some of the finest additive manufacturing capabilities in the area,” said Associate Professor Dr. Nathan Huft, who leads the Montana Tech Advanced Manufacturing (MTAM) Research Group with Dr. Peter Lucon.
Recent acquisitions include an Xact Metal printer, two MPrint laser powder bed fusion printers from One Click Metal and associated MPURE powder processing systems. These devices enable the printing of stainless steel, titanium and nickel alloys. The $630,000 investment was funded through a cooperative agreement with the Army Research Laboratory. In addition, a 3D scanner was purchased for 46,000 US dollars and a high-speed infrared camera for 170,000 US dollars.
The lab features a wide range of equipment, including a powder rheometer and patented vibratory mixers that support the production of proprietary powder alloys. A newly arrived X-ray fluorescence machine enables rapid analysis of metal compositions, while an optical emission spectrometer performs precise, albeit more invasive, analysis. The 3D printers also include a large-format polymer printer that can produce objects up to 1.5 meters wide and 0.75 meters high, as well as a printer for special inks that are used in printed circuit boards, for example. “We mix our own feedstock powders, so we want to verify compositions before we start our printing process,” Huft said.
In addition to scientific projects, the laboratory is also used for student work. These range from artistic objects to functional spare parts, such as a replica of a broken nameplate.
“We really try to give the students the ability to learn the printer, because they can’t do the research unless they really understand,” Huft said. “We encourage them to do their own projects, because if they just do the research they will never learn what the printers are capable of.”
The research facility is used not only by local companies, but also by external universities. Current projects include the production of molds for historic theater parts and strength testing of printed parts for naval research. The addition of the equipment positions Montana Tech as a regional center for additive manufacturing and collaborative research.
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