We have seen over the past few years the excitement and creative potential of 3-D printing – also known as additive manufacturing – as enthusiasts from casual hobbyists to commercial developers have been able to acquire the technology at more affordable price points. 3-D printing can be applied to both prototyping and parts manufacturing for finished product, but where does one start? How do you evaluate materials or walk through a design? The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has been experimenting with additive manufacturing since 2015, in efforts conducted by well-known scientist Dr. Nadarajah Narendran, PhD, along with a team of esteemed researchers. Narendran has presented on the topic at our Strategies in Light conference, as well as hosting a panel on additive manufacturing at the past event.
As Narendran states in the second linked article, 3-D printing is ready to serve well beyond the “cool factor.” Benefits of additive manufacturing include the ability to reduce inventory and manufacture parts on demand, as well as onsite; and the capability to address custom parts design more quickly and reduce design iterations through low-cost prototyping. Indeed, in late 2019, the LRC announced new funding from the US Department of Energy for a two-year investigation to determine how additive manufacturing might reduce the typical costs of some LED luminaire sub-systems.
Now the LRC has collected its research experience into an interactive learning opportunity for professionals to gain insights into the materials, design, execution, and evaluation of cost-effective 3-D parts. The six-week online course will be led by senior research scientist and adjunct assistant professor Jean Paul Freyssinier, MS; Narendran, who is both a professor and director of research at the LRC; and Dr. Indika Perera, an LRC research scientist. Running from Sept. 30‒Nov. 18, 2020, the curriculum will equip students with the knowledge to get up and running with 3-D printing for design, prototyping, and manufacturing of lighting components. Participants are eligible for 15 continuing education credits (CEUs) upon completion of the course.
For more details on the program objectives, registration costs, and materials, visit the LRC website.
