The primary objectives of the Additive Manufacturing: Expanding Futures in Appalachia (AMEFA) project was to raise general societal awareness of additive manufacturing (AM) and its revolutionary impact on virtually all industries, to develop and implement the curriculum necessary to educate sorely needed technicians who could utilize the technology for the betterment of the Appalachian region, and to prepare regional industries for the coming threats and opportunities that AM brings. The ultimate project goal was to bring area businesses up to speed in AM while simultaneously creating an AM workforce for the inevitable demand that would result from that awareness and national manufacturing transition trends.  

Over the course of the project, Somerset Community College (SCC) developed and implemented one of the nation?s first college accredited AM technician certificates. SCC?s cutting edge AM curriculum has now been replicated in four other Kentucky community and technical colleges. As a result, 699 students have taken college credit bearing courses in AM technology for nearly 42,000 student contact hours. AMEFA project personnel have provided guidance to several out of state institutions, such as the Ivy Tech Community College system, on replicating SCC?s successful approach. The SCC AM program became one of only two educational institutions in Kentucky to have a metal 3D printing system and created a course and curriculum around its utilization. The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) designated SCC as the Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AMCOE) in the state.   

Project personnel have partnered with the software company Autodesk to bring advanced 3D modeling applications related to AM production, such as Generative Design, to students and teachers across the state of Kentucky. Project staff have provided nearly 750 participant training hours in AM for secondary school teachers, industry professionals, and veterans. The project also assisted and advised more than a dozen small and large businesses with AM technology integration into their process workflow. Several of these interactions resulted in technology and products never before seen on the commercial market. SCC?s AM Center of Excellence hosted over 3,000 visiting students and professionals in tours, commercial events, and requested appointments related to AM technology during the project.    

As a result of the AMEFA project, PI Eric Wooldridge developed a new technique for improved internal optimization within FDM 3D printed parts known as the Phantom Hole technique. He also researched, developed, and presented at multiple conferences the practical commercialization applications around low cost additive manufacturing (LCAM), including a streamlined life cycle assessment comparing a LCAM production model over conventional injection molding which demonstrated the environmental benefits of technicians utilizing LCAM for the production of certain plastic products within a range of production runs.     

To disseminate the results of the project, AMEFA personnel created several simple and easily sustainable platforms for dissemination of AM related research, news, technology tutorials, troubleshooting guides, equipment reviews, and student applications in the form of a college webpage with a cloud drive access point (www.Somerset.kctcs.edu/3dprinting) and a YouTube channel, The Additive Guru (https://www.youtube.com/user/cadscc). 

As a result of the successful work and expertise garnered during the execution of AMEFA, SCC was awarded three USDA Rural Business Development grants focused on AM for small business impact and scaling SCC?s work across other regions of eastern Kentucky. Additionally, SCC was selected to become a key partner in the Kentucky NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 project titled Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Partnership for Enhanced Robotics and Structures (Award #1849213). SCC will work alongside seven universities to focus on expanding SCC?s AM work across the state and directly impacting the workforce. These additional sources of funding have created not only a sustainable application of the project?s goals, but also have resulted in taking AMEFA objectives well beyond its original goals.     

In the end, this project resulted in a dramatic regional shift across SCC?s service area in terms of AM awareness and utilization, technician training, industry investments, educational opportunities, and practical commercial application. Participants, both student and professional alike, were enlightened to the realities that the AM revolution is bringing to the fields of manufacturing, biomedical, small business, armed forces, research, home improvement, education, consumer products, and do-it-yourselfer access. SCC introduced and trained future technicians in both cutting edge fabrication technology and next-generation product creation through Generative Design, being one of the first community colleges in the nation to do so.  

Although, the project ran into obstacles and required some rethinking, retooling, and creative workarounds, the AMEFA project achieved its goals. Educational materials were developed, students received cutting edge technical skills, job opportunities were created, existing industries were provided new opportunities, the AM technology field was advanced, knowledge and expertise was shared, and the work became self-sustaining. The work of the AMEFA project was brought to a close, but with it, the doors of opportunity opened for the Appliacian regions of Kentucky and its citizens.  

Last Modified: 11/12/2019
Modified by: Elaine Kohrman