The Next Manufacturing Center at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa., is one of the world’s leading research centers focusing on advancing approaches to additive manufacturing and developing tools for AM to impact a wide range of other advanced manufacturing processes. The Center specializes in AM manufacturing for robotics and automation, bio and electronic applications, technology commercialization modeling, global manufacturing and policy, and other areas. The program also includes multiple community outreach initiatives for middle school and high school students, as well as teacher training. Co-directing the center are professors Jack Beuth and Anthony Rollett.

Current Research:

• Process Modeling and Process/Property Relationships
• Soft/Biomaterials and Electronic Applications
• AM robotics and automation

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing: Arcam S12 Electron Beam Metal Machines, EOS M290
• SLS: ExOne Innovent Binder Jetting, Stratasys Objet350 Connex
• FDM: Dremel 3D40 FLEX, Stratasys F170
• Material Jetting: Optomec Aerosol Jet 300, Stratasys Objet30 PRO
• SLA:  Formlabs Form 2

The 8,000-square-foot Additive Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Penn State houses a range of additive manufacturing equipment as well as a state-of-the-art design studio and prototyping laboratory. The university is known for its engineering prowess and offers a Master of Engineering in Additive Manufacturing and Design degree.

Penn and partners Battelle Memorial Institute and 3D Systems also operate the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D), which aims to advance and deploy AM technology for critical applications, in other words, development of technologies that will enable greater use of additive manufacturing in industry.

LeadTim SimpsonPenn State also offers an Advanced Medical Technologies Program focused on medical additive manufacturing and virtual surgical planning services to clinicians, educators, and researchers.

Current Research:

• Developing a software tool to store, track, and format all data related to additively manufacturing parts at an organization.
• Developing new models for laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal: Lasertec 65 3D DMG MORI laser Directed Energy Deposition, 3D Systems ProX 320 & 200 3D Systems, EOS EOSINT M 280
• SLS: Sinterstation HiQ+HS
• Material Jetting:  Stratasys Objet 350 Connex3 & Objet 30,
• SLA:  3D Systems Figure 4, Formlabs Form 1 & 2
• FDM: JuggerBot 3D P3-44 , Stratasys Fortus 400mc, German RepRap x500, Markforged Onyx, nScrypt 3DN 450HP, Roboze +400 Xtreme, Thermo Scientific HAAKE Minilab 3, Stratasys Fortus 250, Lulzbot Custom TAZ & TAZ 5
• Binder Jetting: M-Lab 1 ExOne

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Additive and Digital Advanced Production Technologies (APT) ambitiously aims to “accelerate the implementation of AM and to invent its future.” APT’s research projects focus on new AM technologies, breakthrough materials, computational methods, and other areas of innovation in 3D printing. The center goes beyond mechanical engineering and materials science to incorporate computer science, business, and strategic analyses to advance the capabilities of AM and of digitally driven manufacturing systems.

Lead by founding director Prof. John Hart, APT has a range of printer and material manufacturers as members, whose membership fees help fund research. MIT has commercial and custom-built equipment for fused filament fabrication, stereolithography, laser powder bed fusion, and jetting-based AM. It is also establishing two new AM labs with equipment provided by APT members, which include EOS, Formlabs, BigRep, Mimaki, and Renishaw.

Current Research: 

• Additive Manufacturing: Implications for Technological Change, Workforce Development, and the Product Lifecycle

The Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems (DREAMS) Laboratory within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech University (US) houses a wide range of 3D printers and equipment to forward the research groups endeavors additive manufacturing. The lab boasts a wide range of current research on methods, materials, and applications of 3D printing.

Current research:

• Cyber-Physical Security for Additive Manufacturing Systems
• Robotic Material Extrusion: Explore the possibilities of material extrusion by removing the constraints imposed by using a 3 degree of freedom (DOF) gantry
• Tissue-Mimicking Materials
• Post-Consumer Waste Stream Plastics as a Source for Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing:  SLM 280 2.0, DMS 2Cubed Hybrid Metal Additive System (H-6222A/S), Direct Ink Write (DIW), custom built machines
• SLS:  Prodways ProMaker P2000 HT, DTM Sinterstation 2500 Plus
• FDM:  Stratasys Fortus 400mc, AON 3D AON-M2 2020, Rize One, (Custom-built) desktop-scale high-temperature FFF
• Material Jetting:Objet Connex350 PolyJet Printer, Nordson PicoPulse Jetting Valve, Microfab PH-04a
• Material Jetting: ExOne Innovent+, ExOne R2, ZCorp 510SLA: custom-built machines, FormLabs Form 1+, Autodesk Ember
• Robotics:  Multi-axis Robotic Deposition, ABB IRB 1200-7/0.7,  ABB IRB 6640 130/3.2 + Model 30 Strangepresse
• Other: Filabot EX2 Filament Extruder

The additive manufacturing program and lab at Arizona State University (US) is under the leadership of Dr. Dhruv Bhate. Through the ASU Polytechnic School’s Innovation Hub, students have access to a multi-million dollar collection of 3D printers, post processing equipment, scanners, and software.

The Universities additive manufacturing research group, called 3DX Research, was established in 2017 and specializes in bio-inspired design and cellular materials, as well as a range of other additive manufacturing. ASU offers both undergraduate and graduate-level courses in additive manufacturing.

Current Research:

• Aperiodic Lattice Design Optimization for Multi-functional Lightweight Aerospace Structures
• Effect of Specimen Size and HIP on the Mechanical Properties of Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Inconel 718
• Multi-functional Cellular Materials for Energy Absorption

Printer technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing: Concept Laser M2 and MLab R Cusing
• SLS: EOS Formiga P 110
• FDM: Stratasys Fortus 450mc and 250mc, Stratasys Dimension and uPrints, Hyrel 3D 30M, Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle
• Composite: Mark Forged Mark Two
• Material Jetting: Stratasys Polyjet Connex 350, Stratasys Polyjet Objet 30
• SLA: FormLabs Form 2
• Scanner:  Zeiss Coomet L3D 5M, Keyence VR-3200 Optical Scanning Microscope

Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing, based on the RWTH Aachen University Campus, is a 3,000-square-meter AM lab space that pools resources and facilitates industry’s access to the additive manufacturing expertise of leading scientific and research institutions.

ACAM bills itself as a one-stop-shop for additive manufacturing, covering the entire process chain, from design stage through to quality control and focuses on topics, such as process chain automation, the development of customized materials, increasing productivity and reducing turnaround times.

ACAM offers opportunities for joint research and development, a sophisticated training and education program, as well as an online platform enabling industry members to build business connections and exchange practical knowledge.

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing: EHLA Hornet Ponticon, LMD-w Gantry,  TrumaForm TruPrint 3000, SLM Solutions 280 HL & 280 HL Twin, Concept Laser M1 Cusing & X Line 2000R , EOS M270 & M290, Realizer SLM 50 & SLM 100, 3D Systems & ProX 320, Aconity 3D One, Midi & Mini, Arcam Q10plus
• SLS: Stratasys Commax 500 & Object 1000 Plus
• FDM:  Felix Pro 1, Ultimaker 2 Extended & S5, Creality3D CR10, Big Rep One & X 1000
• Composite:
• Material Jetting: ZPrinter ProJet 660Pro, HP Multijet Fusion
• SLA:  Formlabs Form, Sintratec Kit
• Robotics: Reis, Kuka, ABB
• Other: Arzburg Freeformer Hybrid Manufacturing Cel

Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP) in Singapore serves to drive research development and industry adoption of additive manufacturing technology through collaborative projects with leading industry partners, and with schools and research centers within and beyond the university. SC3DP, which offers a PhD and Ma​sters programs in additive manufacturing​ is funded by government, university, and external industry partners. The lab was founded in collaboration with printer manufacturer SLM Solutions.

Current Research:

• Highly printable hydrogel for bioprinting
• Shape memory polymer for SLA process
• Geopolymer concrete printing
• Method of embedding carbon nanomaterial onto polymeric powders for additive manufacturing

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal: SLM250HL & 280HL & 500HL, DMG MORI LaserTec 65, Arcam EBM A2XX Machine, BeAM MAGICS 800, TRUMPF TruLaser Cell 3000
• SLS: Binhu SLS1400
• Binder Jetting:
• Material Jetting: Stratasys Connex500, Optomec Aerosol Jet
• FDM: Stratasys Fortus 450mc Machine, Ultimaker 2+, Teirtime UpBox, Choc Creator chocolate printer
• Bioprinting: RegenHU

Located at the University of Texas at El Paso, the Keck Center is a multidisciplinary research facility focused on the use and development additive manufacturing technologies with primary focus areas in AM technology development, engineered and structured materials, and advanced AM applications. The Keck Center occupies over 13,000 square feet of floor space and has more than $8 million in research infrastructure, including over 50 AM systems and combined facilities for advanced manufacturing, metrology and reverse engineering, materials characterization and testing, and synthetic and analytical chemistry.

Research focuses on hybrid AM technologies, large-area AM technologies, developing model polymer matrix composites and polymer blends, the use of ceramics in AM and other topics.

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing: Arcam EBM, SML Solutions, Aconity3D, EOS
• FDM: Stratasys Fortus 400mc & 900mc & uPrint, Lulzbot TAZ, Cincinnati BAAM, 3D Systems SLA 250
• Binder Jetting: ExOne Innovent+ & M-Lab, ZCorp color,
• SLA: EnvisionTec DLP, custom-built machines, 3D Systems Viper si2 & 500, Stratasys Objet EDEN 333
• Robotic: custom multi3D system

The University of Texas at Austin Center for Additive Manufacturing and Design Innovation (CAMDI), which occupies more than 3,000 square feet and is equipped with AM equipment for polymers and metals, aims advance current additive manufacturing processes and foster innovation through AM research into new processes and design-for-AM best practices that enable widespread adoption of AM. One of the selective laser sintering process, Joseph Beaman, is a current professor at CAMDI.

Current Research:

• Rapid High-Resolution Visible Light 3D Printing
• Selective Laser Flash Sintering of Ceramics
• Microscale Selective Laser Sintering

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing:  EOS INT M280
• SLS: Sinterstation HiQ+HS
• Material Jetting:  Stratasys J750 Digital Anatomy
• SLA: 3D Systems SLA 5000

The Ohio State University Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) has an impressive amount of metal 3D printing capability and is focused on industrialization of the technology, including multi-laser processing, in-situ monitoring, design for AM, and materials development.

The Additive Manufacturing (AM) Lab at CDME is equipped to bring together academic and industry experts to stimulate AM innovation and train the future workforce with more than $6 million in additive manufacturing equipment.

To date, CDME has partnered with more than 150 companies and has completed over 520 applied engineering projects. The AM Lab is also equipped to partner with organizations in the U.S. Department of Defense supply chain. There’s also a clinically focused medical printing lab with a mission to improve patient care and outcomes using additive manufacturing.

OSU does offer an additive manufacturing track in its Masters in Global Engineering Leadership program as well as additive programs and course options across a number of engineering departments, including welding engineering, materials science engineering, mechanical engineering, and integrated systems engineering among others.

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal: Concept Laser M2, MLab; AddUp FormUp 350, Aconity One, Open Additive Panda, Arcam Q10+, ExOne Innovent, Trumpf TruLaser 3000, Fabrisonic SonicLayer 1200, Yaskawa Robot + Lincoln Electric wire arc system, Student built wire arc system, EOS P110, EOS M290 (coming soon), Solukon SFM-800s, nLight dynamic focus ring laser
• Binder Jetting: Stratasys J5 MediJet,
• FDM: Stratasys F370, Cincinnati Inc. MAAM, 50+ desktop style polymer printers

Australia’s RMIT University Centre for Additive Manufacturing focuses on industrial AM technology across a range of industries, including aerospace, biomedical, automotive, mining and energy. Their AM courses are offered with specialties that include metal and polymer additive manufacturing systems, protection materials for defense, and industrial automation.

The university also offers the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct (AMP), which is a $30 million research and teaching facility that includes metal and polymer manufacturing, high end CNC machines, 3D scanning, and testing. Their onsite technologies include Laser powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, industrial polymer printers, and both additive and subtractive manufacturing. RMIT University has partnered with Siemens and Festo Diadactics on the Industrial Digital Innovation Hub at AMP.

Current Research:

• Automotive seat optimization for Futuris Automotive
• Additively manufactured lightweight hybrid ballistic protection
• Just-in-time 3D printed patient-specific bone tumour implants
• Sustainment of high value aircraft components through laser metal deposition

The Adaptive Additive Technologies Lab at Perdue University (US) is a collaborative research space in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, that focuses on production of adaptive structures. The lab uses additive manufacturing and novel manufacturing processes for production. The lab space includes multiple 3D printers including FDMs, SLAs, and general purpose tooling.

Also at Purdue University is the Bechtel Innovation Design Center, which is a makerspace for engineering students. This 3D printing center specializes in standard 3D FDM, composite 3D printing, metal 3D Printing, along with CAD/CAM manufacturing, laser cutting, welding and engraving.

Current Research:

• U.S. Air Force grant to fast-track development of a new metal additively manufactured runway mat for temporary or expeditionary flight operations.
• US Department of Energy grant to accelerate the development of a 3D printed nuclear reactor core
• A method of 3D printing concrete wind turbine parts for offshore use

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• FDM: LULZBOT 5 & 6, Makerbot Replicator
• Material Jetting:  Stratasys Objet Eden 350
• SLA: Autodesk Ember, Formlabs 2 & 3D

The University of Sheffield (UK) Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) focuses on more than additive manufacturing, but its AM wing is impressive on its own. AMRC has a range of industrial partners including Boeing, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Airbus it works with for one-off projects or as a members for long-term collaboration. University of Sheffield offers a Masters in Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies focusing on state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and materials that requires students to carry out an industry-focused research project on additive manufacturing. University of Sheffield is involved in a £33 million partnership with AM projects to revolutionize aerospace design with GKN Aerospace’s Developing Design for Additive Manufacturing (DAM) program and Additive Industrialization for Future Technology (AIRLIFT).

Current Research:

• Metal powder characterization
• Powder metallurgy processing technologies
• Design for additive manufacturing – maximizing the potential of AM via intelligent design and topology optimisation.

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing:  Desktop Metal Studio System, Renishaw’s AM250, Renishaw AM400, Renishaw AM500Q, Optomec LENS MR-7
• SLS: Stratasys F170, Stratasys Fortus 900mc
• FDM:  Markforged MK2, Stratasys uPrint SE Plus, Stratsys Mojo
• Composite:
• Material Jetting:  3D Systems ProJet 6000SD
• SLA: Formlabs Form 2, Photocentric Liquid Precision i5
• Other: DMG Mori Lasertec Hybrid AM

Established in 2017, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Research Facility in 3D Printing (U3DP) provides all-round support for staff, researchers, and students in applying various types of 3D printing technologies to design, engineering, and medicine. Lead by director Prof. HC Man, the center also boasts research initiatives and industrial collaborations with companies in aviation, medical implants, medical rehabilitation, architecture, toys & games, fashion, apparel and jewelry.

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing: SLM 280HL, SLM 125HL
• FDM: Fortus FDM 900MCTM, Fortus FDM 450MC, MakerBot Replicator 5th Gen, MakerBot Replicator Z-18
• Composite: Optomec AJ300
• Material Jetting:  Stratasys J750 Color, Stratasys Objet30 Prime, Stratasys Objet30 Pro
• SLA: EnvisionTEC Perfactory 4, Formlabs Form 3
• Bio: EnvisionTEC 3D Bioplotter, Optomec AJ300
• Scanners: RangeVision Smart, Carl Zeiss Comet L3D 5M, Thor3D

It was in this lab in 2003 that 3D printing metal parts using the world’s first commercial ARCAM AB Electron Beam Melting (EBM) Machine started. These strong manufacturing links combined with a globally-respected faculty, gives us the background and skills to perform groundbreaking research. Today, North Carolina State’s Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics takes members to interested in the business benefits of additive manufacturing and developing ta global supply chain that supports additive manufacturing.

Research Areas

• Biomedical
• Logistics and Supply Chain
• Hybrid Manufacturing
• Material Development

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• FDM: Stratasys F370, F123
• Binder Jetting: HP
• SLS: Formlabs Fuse 1
• SLA: Formlabs

Australia’s Deakin University Additive Manufacturing Lab offers commercial and desktop printers for undergraduate and doctoral students. Deakin University’s industry affiliations include xLam technology for design of sustainable building materials and Orca Civil Products for recycling glass within the construction market.

Current Research:

• Recycled 3D plastic on the Solomon Islands reused to 3D print useful parts

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing: SLM
• FDM:  Stratasys Fortus 450
• Material Jetting: Stratasys Objet 500 & Connex3, HP 580 MultiJet Fusion, 3D Systems Projet 660

The Technical University of Munich (Germany), innovative future laboratory for additive manufacturing is part of the University’s Institute of Machine Tools and Industrial Management. The AM department supports companies in Germany in coping with current and future challenges in 3D printing.

The Department of Additive Manufacturing concentrates on the processing of metallic materials. The process portfolio includes selective laser beam melting (LBM), wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), binder jetting and ink jet printing. Various systems for processing polymers, which are primarily used for teaching or for the production of prototypes, complete the equipment.

TUM is a partner in the Additive Manufacturing Institute, an industry-facing consortium, focusing on interdisciplinary research in raw material powders, optimized AM production, and end-to-end process integration, including automation and AM digitalization. TUM and its partners, Swiss technology group Oerlikon and the industrial gas manufacturer Linde, aim to develop new high-strength, lightweight aluminum-based alloys that can serve the safety and weight reduction needs of the aerospace and automotive industries.

Current Research:

• Alloy Development for the Laser Beam Melting Process,
• Additive Manufacturing for Plugin Hybrid Electrical Aircraft,
• Development of a methodology for the evaluation of the feasibility and economic efficiency of Additive Manufacturing (AM) of components with focus on the requirements of car body parts

Printer Technologies & Printers:

• Metal 3D printing:  EOS M400-1, EOSint M280, Trumpf TruPrint 2000, Realizer SLM 250 HL, Fronius CMT-Advanced 4000, Fronius TPS 400i
• SLS: EOS FORMIGA P 100,
• FDM: Ultimaker MakerBot, Creality 3D Ender 3
• Material Jetting:  Testachse Voxeljet AG VTS 128, 3D Systems ProJet 3000
• Robotic: Kuka KR15/6, Yaskawa Motoman MH24

The University of Bayreuth (Germany) Campus Additive Innovations (CA.I), founded in April 2020, is home to scientists from five faculties and more than 20 research groups working together on innovative solutions in AM. They also are cooperating with companies in the region to promote and adopt additive manufacturing.

The University of Bayreuth offers nearly 50 printers on campus, from conventional material to biomaterial, metal and ceramic printers.

These universities have more recent or narrowly focused additive manufacturing programs and have established 3D printing facilities for students, staff, and researchers.

• University of Sydney (Australia) Sydney Manufacturing Hub
• University of Maine (US) Center for Additive Manufacturing of Metals The University of Maine has plans in the works to expand its Advanced Structures and Composites Center in Orono, with an eye toward advancing research into large-scale, bio-based additive manufacturing that uses artificial intelligence and arrays of huge 3D printers. The university calls the new facility the “factory of the future.” The goal is to have the facility up and running in 2024.

• Saint Louis University (US) Center for Additive Manufacturing
• Auburn University (US) National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence
• University of Memphis (US) Metal AM Lab
• Advanced Additive Manufacturing Research Center Kindai University (Japan)