Layer By Layer: Professor Develops New 3D Printing Technology

In everything from electronics in cars to the components of commercial airliners are state-of-the-art 3D-printed materials. Their strength and properties depend on what they’re made of and how they’re made.

Inside Tarik Dickens’ lab at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, researchers are fine-tuning the tools used in 3D printing, helping to create better, stronger materials for a wide variety of applications.

Understanding the potential of advanced materials for hypersonic flight is crucial for pushing the boundaries of aerospace structures. The recent advances in this study show hybrid polymer composites improved resistance to high-energy radiation. Boron nitride (BN) stands out for its impressive thermal stability, high thermal conductivity and strong mechanical properties, making it ideal for hypersonic upthrust and re-entry applications.

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Engineering Senior Design Team 409 members standing together on FAMU-FSU College of Engineering third floor breezeway

With plans underway for establishing a crewed outpost on the Moon, the need for innovative construction methods is paramount, especially given the astronomical costs associated with transporting materials from Earth. The cost of launching payloads to the Moon using the Space Launch System (SLS), estimated at over $75,000 per kilogram, underscores the urgency for alternative, cost-effective solutions. 

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Engineering Senior Design Team 408 members standing together on FAMU-FSU College of Engineering third floor breezeway

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare (TMH) is a private, not-for-profit community healthcare system comprised of a 772-bed acute care hospital, a psychiatric hospital, multiple specialty care centers, three residency programs, 22 affiliated physician practices and partnerships with various organizations. At the center of the healthcare system in Tallahassee, Florida is the main facility, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, which serves as the major care center for the North Florida and South Georgia region offering an array of inpatient and outpatient services. 

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Engineering Senior Design Team 407 members standing together on FAMU-FSU College of Engineering third floor breezeway

KLS Martin medical technology company working since 1896 to develop and market individual patient solutions. KLS Martin’s individual patient solutions allow an intimate and personalized medical conversation between the patient and doctors. We worked with the KLS Martin team to thoroughly characterize, analyze and provide recommendations for implementing improved practices to enhance various back-office processes. 

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Engineering Senior Design Team 406 members standing together on FAMU-FSU College of Engineering third floor breezeway

We worked with NSIN-SOCOM to develop a design for a durable and versatile camouflage canopy to integrate a solar panel under different environmental and operational conditions. After research and consultation, we provided recommendations for a prototype that can function efficiently under different scenarios using adjustable straps and hooks. This technology could be used not only to integrate solar power in military operations but also in civilian applications such as firefighting, camping and hunting.

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Engineering Senior Design Team 405 members standing together on FAMU-FSU College of Engineering third floor breezeway