The National Science Foundation will fund a Pitt study to develop a novel 3D printing method

The National Science Foundation recently awarded Markus Chmielus, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, nearly $300,000 to research how a special kind of printing affects the microstructure and properties of particles called magnetic shape-memory alloys.

“Magnetic-field-enhanced binder jet printing is a type of additive manufacturing that uses a magnetic field to align powder particles during printing,” said Chmielus.

If successful, this study could lead to efficient, economical production of magnetic actuators, which are used in items such as sensors, robotics and mechanical devices and can be used in power generation.