Additive and Advanced Materials Manufacturing

Case Western Reserve has a long history of manufacturing-related discoveries, from the automobile and aerospace industries to biomedical devices. We’ve continued that tradition into the 21st century as a leading institution in the federal America Makes network, and even with our open-access, 50,000-square-foot maker’s playground Sears think[box]. From new materials discovery to alloy developments and enhancements to thermal electrics, magnets and nitinol, we’re leading the field of advanced materials. We’re developing the next generation of aluminum lithium alloys for lightweight structures like fan blades in jet engines, and novel ways to produce micro- and nanocomposites for enhanced structural integrity.

We work with local, national and international companies to understand the needs of modern manufacturing and develop solutions for everything from robotics and automation for even the smallest runs to integrating the latest additive manufacturing techniques for large-scale products. From our foundry for metal casting to our development of novel treatments of materials surfaces to enhance their properties, we improve the production of everything from corrosion-resistant implants to tougher yet lightweight aerospace components. Our process modeling capabilities allow us to develop models that comply with the manufacturing equipment’s parameters in order to develop ideal processing techniques. Our deformation-processing equipment is capable of small-scale extrusion and simulated extractions to gain insights on new manufacturing techniques, and our expertise in additive manufacturing can enhance the production of all materials systems, whether they incorporate lightweight metals, ceramics, polymers or composites.

Institutes, centers and labs related to Additive and Advanced Materials Manufacturing

exterior of Sears think[box]

Sears think[box]

Sears think[box] is open for active students, staff, and faculty of CWRU, CIA, and LCCC from 12p-7p on weekdays. We continue to offer remote services for our community members and alumni who are unable to visit our facility.

Please click on the appropriate button below to learn how you can engage with think[box] this spring.

Microstructure

Mesoscale Science Lab

Creates experimental techniques to develop a physical understanding of processing-structure-property relationships of crystalline and amorphous materials

Microstructure imaging

Frank Ernst Research Group

Researches alloy surface engineering, plated metallization, metal-oxide interfaces and materials for fuel cells, photovoltaics, and nanotechnology

Faculty who conduct research in Additive and Advanced Materials Manufacturing

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Bud Baeslack III

Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering

Researching materials science and engineering

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Jennifer Carter

Faculty Director, SCSAM
Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

deformation mechanisms of metals and metal-matrix composites; fatigue, fracture, and creep; failure analysis; electron microscopy; 3D microscopy; novel methodologies for multi-scale material characterization; data science and analytics; open science

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Frank Ernst

Department Chair, Materials Science and Engineering
Leonard Case Jr. Professor of Engineering
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Studies and engineers microstructures, interfaces and surfaces of metallic materials by novel methods of processing and microcharacterization

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John Lewandowski

Arthur P. Armington Professor of Engineering II
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Director, Nitinol Commercialization Accelerator
Director, Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Reliability Center (AMMRC)

Researches material reliability for biomedical and structural applications, advanced materials manufacturing and processing/microstructure/property relationships. Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing.

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Jim McGuffin-Cawley

Director
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Develops new methodologies for material processing, characterizes processing-property relationships, studies high-temperature diffusion and solid-state reactions, fosters industry-university relationships

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Matthew Willard

Professor, Materials Science and Engineering

Investigates phase transformations and materials processing, especially their impact on structure and properties of materials