Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory

University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
What the facility does

Research on additive manufacturing in macro- and micro-scale for a variety of applications

Areas of expertise

The Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing (MSAM) Laboratory is one of the largest research and development additive manufacturing facilities in the world, hosted at the university of Waterloo. The MSAM lab focuses on next generation additive manufacturing processes. To this end, the lab explores novel techniques to develop advanced materials, innovative products, modeling and simulation tools, monitoring devices, closed-loop control systems, quality assurance algorithms and holistic in-situ and ex-situ characterization techniques.

Research services

(1) Feedstock material development and processing libraries

(2) Correlated thermo-mechanical and topology optimization models

(3) Advanced monitoring and control strategies

(4) Innovative processes, mechatronics platforms

(5) Innovative AM-made products

(6) Post-processing and hybrid manufacturing approaches

(7) Software design, path planning, optimization, and controls

(8) Process and product qualification, non-destructive testing

Sectors of application
  • Aerospace and satellites
  • Automotive
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
  • Manufacturing and processing

Equipment

Function

Powder-Bed Fusion | EOS M290

This system equipped with Ytterbium continuous fiber laser and novel melt pool monitoring device

Powder-Bed Fusion | Renishaw AM400

AM 400 is equipped with a pulsed Ytterbium laser, an improved optical control software, and revised gas flow

Powder-Bed Fusion | Arcam AB-GE Additive

Arcam A2X is specifically designed to withstand extremely high process temperatures, up to 1100° C, with a build envelope of 200x200x380 mm

Laser Directed Energy Deposition | DMD-IC160

Customized robotic 2 KW disk-laser powder-fed system with environmentally controlled chamber and a working envelope of 35x35x35 cm

Material Jetting | J750 Stratasys

This multi-color, multi-material system can create parts in 14-micron layer resolution, allowing up to six materials at once and over 360,000 colors

Custom Multi-nozzle jetting system

A novel 3D printer has been designed and integrated recently by MSAM, enabling the printing of viscous inks such as silicone

Aerosol Jetting | Optomec

The Optomec system allows the  use of microscale laser-assisted manufacturing process (aerosol jet printing)

Binder Jetting | M-Flex ExOne

Creates functional parts with superior wear characteristics, fast print speeds, no support structures

Binder Jetting | Z310 3D Systems

Develop innovative implants from biodegradable and biocompatible materials

Custom desktop binder jetting setup

Custom desktop machine allows creation of medical, dental and other high-value components

Custom binder jetting setup with added patented features

Custom workstation to print in powder bases layers and also inject liquid into the same build

Fused Deposition Modeling | F370 Stratasys

Print everything from fast, low-cost concept models to durable assemblies

Nano-CT scanner | Zeiss Xradia 520 Versa

Adds new degrees of flexibility for scientific discovery and non-destructive testing

High precision optical scanner

Allows for very fast data acquisition and a high level of detail. Measurement fields from 60 mm up to 1,550 mm can be captured.

Laser-optical profilometer | Keyence

Combines a 3-in-1 system providing the convenience of an optical microscope with the analytical functions of an SEM

Particle size and shape analyzer | CAMSIZER X2

Used for quality control of fine powders used in powder-based additive manufacturing processes

Powder rheometer

Evaluate flowability, shear properties and many other critical powder parameters required for quality control

Density analyzer

Specifically designed to measure the true volume of solid materials, even powders and porous solids

High temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) / Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) / Fourier Transform Infrared (spectroscopy) (FTIR) | Netzsch

Combines the simultaneous application of TGADSC up to 1600C

  • Promation
  • Rio Tinto
  • EOS
  • Siemens
  • Mount Sinai Hospital
  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  • GE Aviation
  • Optomec
  • Advanced Test and Automation
  • Smart Fabrication
  • Whitfield Welding Inc.
  • Autodesk
  • AA Laser
  • Burloak Technologies
  • Automation Alternatives
  • Renishaw
  • Safran
  • Xiris
  • Delta Elevator
  • Expanse Microtechnologies
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Sensortech Systems