e.g., rapid manufacturing of water-soluble powder-based molds
SHAP3D will provide industry members three specific technical outcomes:
- Higher performance materials and composites that enable diverse and lighter weight products to minimize total life cycle costs and environmental footprint.
- More optimal and parallel processes which print products rapidly, with higher resolution, and with lower cost.
- Integration of dissimilar materials to facilitate multi-functional components/products, broaden 3D printed applications, and increase market size.
SHAP3D also will provide industry economic benefits:
- Sharing risk at an early stage in research is a good business strategy
- Industry members direct the selection and execution of research topics across a broad range of researchers and facilities at multiple universities
- Pooling money improves return on investment in new technology
- 16:1 leveraging of membership fee
- Only 10% overhead rate (50% or higher is typical)
- Royalty‐free licenses to technology generated through the Center and pre-publication access to research results
- Receive semi-annual project reports and copies of pre-publication manuscripts generated by faculty and students
- Access to and participation in additional sources of funding
- Access to students and graduates who are well trained in the field of additive manufacturing
- Receive annual resume book of participating students
- Strategic networking and synergistic cooperation opportunities with complementary and competitor companies
Note: NSF has 40+ years of experience with the IUCRC program and provides performance oversight and external independent evaluation of the Center.