Education

GE Power adds 3D printing lab for Clemson University students

At its Advanced Manufacturing Works (AMW) in Greenville, South Carolina, GE Power has installed three 3D printing machines. These machines are for the use of Clemson University students who can now work side by side with GE engineers at the newly established Advanced Manufacturing Lab.

James P. Clements, Clemson President, said, “Our state is a leader in advanced manufacturing and Clemson will continue to be a valuable resource for our industry partners.”

“This state-of-the-art lab will provide our students with a unique, hands-on learning experience and better prepare them for the work force. I am grateful to GE for providing our students with this opportunity.”

Advanced Manufacturing Lab

The AMW was set up in 2014 with an investment of approximately $73 million. The 125,000-square-foot facility is used for rapid manufacturing and prototyping for GE Power. It houses industrial manufacturing machines such as laser microJet metal cutting system by Synova and metal 3D printers from SLM Solutions.

At the AMW, a 1,000-square-foot has been allotted to the Advanced Manufacturing Lab for Clemson students. Established by Clemson’s Office of Corporate Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives, the additive manufacturing lab will be managed by the Clemson University’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing.

GE Power has installed three machines at the lab, which include polymer and metal 3D printers, such as the Concept Laser M2 Cusing, a direct metal laser melting machine by GE Additive.

An M2 Cusing Multilaser machine, with separate process and handling chambers - taking a more ergonomic approach to metal printing. Photo via: Concept Laser
An M2 Cusing Multilaser machine, with separate process and handling chambers – taking a more ergonomic approach to metal printing. Photo via: Concept Laser

Deep Orange

Deep Orange is an accelerated concept development program at Clemson University. It is a two year long Master’s degree for automotive engineering students. Under the Deep Orange program, each year, working across multidisciplinary fields students create a vehicle prototype. This helps students gain practical experience of the full production cycle, from development to validation.

With the establishment of the Additive Manufacturing Lab, Deep Orange students will be among the first graduates to use the GE Power facility.

Furthermore, the strategic partnership between GE Power and Clemson university would go a long way to additive manufacturing in South Carolina, as GE engineers will train the future workforce capable of handling advanced manufacturing methods such as 3D printing.

John Lammas, chief engineer and chief technology officer of GE Power, said, “We know advanced manufacturing will continue transforming business around the globe and we’re leaders in the field”

“By partnering with Clemson, a South Carolina top public institution, we will be able to train students from one of the country’s leading institutions to be the next generation of engineers, furthering their education and preparing them to move additive manufacturing forward.

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Featured image shows the Laser MicroJet at the Advanced Manufacturing Works. Image via GE.