UNC Charlotte, N.C. A&T University and N.C. State University are researching additive manufacturing through a Research Opportunities Initiative grant from UNC General Administration.
In additive manufacturing, a pre-designed object is produced by successively adding layers of material rather than cutting away at it, as in traditional subtractive manufacturing methods (e.g., machining). 3D printing-based methods such as these have the potential to significantly expand the capabilities of traditional manufacturing, as they allow for increased product design freedom, reduced production time and decreased waste of materials.
Chris Evans, director of the UNC Charlotte Center for Precision Metrology, talks about the collaborative partnership that includes Siemens in Charlotte for this UNC system-produced video.