Novel industry partnership brings latest metal additive manufacturing tech to Ohio State

Proto Precision Manufacturing Solutions furnishes Ohio State’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence with GE Additive’s latest industrial-grade metal printers

Thanks to a collaboration with Proto Precision Manufacturing Solutions and GE Additive, The Ohio State University’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) has added state-of-the-art industrial metal printers to their additive manufacturing laboratory.

Led by engineering alumnus Sugu Suguness, Proto Precision has placed two recently purchased GE Additive machines at CDME, located on Ohio State’s west campus in Columbus. The industrial-grade Arcam Q10+ and Concept Laser metal printers are capable of printing nickel alloys, titanium, and steel using laser and electron beams, respectively, and are the most recent additions to CDME’s growing additive manufacturing capabilities. Two additional GE Additive machines are operating at Proto Precision’s facility in nearby Hilliard.

"Partnering with GE Additive and CDME allows us to come together to accelerate the growth in the central Ohio additive ecosystem, empowering us to meet the needs of a growing customer base. Industry demands are trending towards titanium implants for medical, and lightweight metal parts and quicker production for automobile and aerospace.” - Sugu Suguness, President of Proto Precision Manufacturing Solutions

The new metal printers are part of GE Additive’s latest product portfolio. The Arcam Q10+ prints titanium, which can be used for medical implants and aerospace parts. The Concept Laser prints titanium and nickel alloy parts often used in the automotive and aerospace industries. CDME also recently added an ExOne printer, which uses a binder jetting interface with metal powder. The ability to print using laser, electron beam and binder jetting within one university lab is highly unique according to Ed Herderick, Director of Additive Manufacturing at CDME. "Now Ohio State faculty has another valuable option in translating their research to prototype and testing modes,” he explained. “And small businesses and manufacturers can quickly integrate high-end metal printing capability into their operation folds by partnering with us.”

 “CDME is the place where we bring together industry with our world-leading research enterprise. Uniting an innovative small business like Proto Precision with GE Additive and Ohio State faculty, staff and students is a perfect example of our work to address the biggest challenges in manufacturing.”

Dr. David B. Williams

Dean of the College of Engineering

The Ohio State University

The Wohlers Report 2018 estimates 1,768 metal additive manufacturing systems were sold in 2017, compared to 983 systems in 2016, an increase of nearly 80%. Globally, more manufacturers are appreciating the benefits of producing metal parts using additive manufacturing. 

CDME's additive manufacturing laboratory now includes:

The Ohio State University's Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence is a member of America Makes.