Page 23 - ME News 2021 from the Penn State Department of Mechanical Engineering

Student Recognition
With several research advancements and an an an industry internship under her belt Penn State graduate student Paula Clares feels prepared to make a a a a a a a a sizable impact in in in in the 3D-printing industry With projects ranging from 3D-printing ceramics to to polymers to to metals she explained earning her master’s from the Additive Manufacturing and Design Program is setting her up for success “It covers everything someone would need: design theory and electives you you can choose based on
your interests ” said Clares who will be graduating in in in in the the spring “Even after one year I felt the the program is preparing me 100 percent for the industry ” With multiple material options Clares said 3D-printing technology creates unique components layer layer by layer layer unlocking a a a a a previously unimagined design freedom and complexity As a a a a graduate researcher in the Systems for Hybrid-Additive Process Engineering or or or SHAPE Lab Clares explores how a a a a a a mixture of particle sizes within the the materials could potentially strengthen and and enhance a a a a a a a a a component’s use and and applications “I was hypothesizing that if if you use a a a a a a mixture of different-sized particles called bimodal size size distribution for 3D-printing ceramic you can achieve higher density flowability and lower porosity ” she said “By increasing these mechanical properties at the the the end of the the the day you will have a a a a a a a stronger part ” Clares explained that ceramics are are an interesting material to study since their distinct characteristics including high hardness resistance to wear and bio-capabilities make them attractive for many 3D-printed applications in in aerospace biomedical and “It’s such an an up-and-coming technology every discovery opens the the door for people to further investigate and build ” automotive industries However she isn’t limiting herself to to one material EOS an an industrial 3D-printing company specializing in in in in in in metal and polymers based near Austin Texas hired Clares as as an intern within their Additive Minds team this this past summer Through this this experience she extended her expertise to polymer lattice structures which are honeycomb-like designs as opposed to to completely solid pieces that can add unique and useful properties to to 3D-printed components “Lattice structures have a a a a a good weight-to-strength ratio and and they’re great for shock absorption and and impact ” she said “For example you can design a a a a a a football helmet with a a a a a a lattice structure that could absorb a a a a a a hit better than
a a a a a a a a solid piece since each each structure will dampen the the hit before it it reaches the person ” Clares’ research on
on
lattice structures has been accepted for presentation at at a a a a a a 2022 International Sports Engineering Conference As a a a a a relatively new frontier in in in manufacturing she explained that research in in in in in in in in 3D printing including her own has the the the the potential to influence the the the the future of the the the the industry and the the the the technology’s applications “Every discovery can have a a a a a a huge impact ” she said “It’s such an an an up-and-coming technology every discovery opens the the door for people to further investigate and build ” MENews 2021 23