University of Miami
Uni of Miami J&J 3dp center
Provost Jeffrey Duerk, President Julio Frenk and College of Engineering Dean Jean-Pierre Bardet at the opening of the J&J 3D Printing Center.
The University of Miami’s (UM) College of Engineering has opened a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) 3D Printing Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
It will serve as a location for joint research, materials development and the testing of 3D printing technologies and processes. Engineering students at the university will even have the luxury of working alongside J&J scientists.
The 5,850-square-foot facility will be home to ‘state-of-the-art’ additive manufacturing equipment, including ten MakerBot platforms and two 3D metal printers, one to support titanium powder and the other stainless steel. UM faculty are hoping the facility, which they are dubbing a ‘collaboratory’ due to J&J’s support, will help to revolutionise the way engineering is taught at the university.
“An engineering education has to give students the chance for hands-on creativity and allow their imaginations to soar,” said Jean-Pierre Bardet, dean of UM’s College of Engineering. “Thanks to Johnson & Johnson, we have yet another resource to educate tomorrow’s technology leaders.”
“The cyber-physical interconnectivity between man and machine is the digital coming together with what’s real,” added Joseph Sendra, worldwide vice president of manufacturing engineering and technology at Johnson & Johnson. “Additive manufacturing lets you envision what’s possible.”
Some have already begun utilising the J&J 3D Printing Center, including German Acosta Quiros, an aerospace engineering major. Quiros has been working with polymers and adhesives as he tries to reduce the amount of time it takes to manufacture catheters. Two weeks ago, he also printed a component for a hot-air blower system.
Upon its grand opening earlier this week, guests were able to tour the facility which, in addition to 3D printing technology, boasts other manufacturing equipment, like a special furnace to strengthen materials by changing their microstructure and instruments that measure chemical composition of powders.
UM President, Julio Frank, welcomed the launch of the J&J 3D Printing Center as ‘a hub for innovation’ that will foster ‘constructive change.’
