The University of North Texas (UNT) has invested in and installed a MELD metal additive manufacturing machine. The university’s new B8 model MELD machine will allow researchers in the Center for Agile and Adaptive Additive Manufacturing (CAAAM) to explore a variety of materials and use cases for metal additive manufacturing. The use of existing alloys in materials such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium, is a unique attribute of the MELD machine. In comparison, other metal printing machines require specially formulated materials to be able to print, which can be costly.
The B8 model has a three cubic foot (12in/305mm x 12in/305mm x 36in/914mm) build area and can accommodate large parts for coatings and repairs. The machine can process multiple materials and has been designed for industry and academia alike.
The B8 model machine was recently used in a demonstration to make the world’s largest additively manufactured aluminum cylinder.
The university’s research activities using the MELD process will be overseen by Dr. Rajiv Mishra. Dr. Mishra, Distinguished Research Professor of materials science and engineering, is an expert in the development of alloy microstructures and the processing of materials properties. Dr. Mishra also serves as Director of the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes Institute, as Director of the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Friction Stir Processing and as Associate Editor at the Journal of Materials Processing Technology. He is highly regarded with many honors and is considered a pioneer in friction stir processes.
The machine is housed in a dedicated space located in the College of Engineering’s new Discovery Park facility. With nearly 300 acres of space dedicated to the sciences, technology and engineering, Discovery Park supports interactive and multidisciplinary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) research, education, and training that benefits students, faculty, and the community. UNT is a student-focused, public, research university located in Denton, Texas. Established in 1890, UNT is one of the nation’s largest public research universities with more than 39,000 students. Ranked as a Tier One research university by the Carnegie Classification, UNT is a catalyst for creativity, fueling progress, innovation and entrepreneurship for the North Texas region and the state.
