{"id":16878,"date":"2024-02-26T09:42:47","date_gmt":"2024-02-26T14:42:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/?p=16878"},"modified":"2026-02-18T15:32:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:32:01","slug":"pioneering-large-scale-additive-manufacturing-my-journey-at-dreams-lab-virginia-tech-with-solidworks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/2024\/02\/pioneering-large-scale-additive-manufacturing-my-journey-at-dreams-lab-virginia-tech-with-solidworks.html","title":{"rendered":"Pioneering Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing: My Journey at DREAMS Lab Virginia Tech with SOLIDWORKS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest author and Virginia Tech<\/a> Engineering Student, Kunal Jain<\/a> wrote today’s blog.\u00a0 I have known Kunal since age 14, when he participated in FIRST Robotics FRC 5422 Stormgears<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now as a Virginia Tech mechanical engineering senior, Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP), and maker, Kunal is on an amazing journey and shares with us a project from the Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems (DREAMS) Lab<\/a> at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.<\/em><\/p>\n

As a Senior Mechanical Engineering student at Virginia Tech and a member of the DREAMS
\nLab, I have had the unique opportunity to delve into the world of large-scale additive
\nmanufacturing. My journey, which began in my sophomore year, has been a blend of innovation,
\nlearning, and creating impactful solutions.<\/p>\n

The DREAMS Lab: A Hub of Innovation<\/h2>\n

The DREAMS (Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems) Lab at
\nVirginia Tech is more than just a research facility; it’s a hub of innovation and interdisciplinary
\ncollaboration. The lab’s mission is to deepen the understanding of large-scale additive
\nmanufacturing through cutting-edge research. It’s a place where ideas meet technology, fostering
\nadvancements in additive manufacturing technologies and their applications across various
\nindustries.<\/p>\n

A little about me Kunal Jain: A Passionate Engineering Student and Maker<\/h2>\n

My journey with SOLIDWORKS began in high school while participating in the First Robotics
\nCompetition. This early exposure ignited a passion for engineering and design that has continued
\nto grow. I have since worked at several companies, including Desktop Metal<\/a>, Dassault Systemes<\/a>,
\nand Dynocardia<\/a>, where I gained invaluable industry experience.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As a Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP), I have honed my skills in SOLIDWORKS,
\nwhich has been instrumental in my academic and professional pursuits. My proficiency in
\nSOLIDWORKS has not only aided in my current large-scale additive manufacturing project at
\nDREAMS Lab but also in other diverse projects, showcasing the versatility and power of this
\nsoftware.<\/p>\n

Large Additive Manufacturing: Designing the Unconventional using SOLIDWORKS<\/h2>\n

The cornerstone of my project was designing and manufacturing a coffee table. This was not just
\nany table, but one that exemplified the capabilities of large-scale 3D printing. The design process
\nwas intricate and required a tool that offered precision and flexibility. SOLIDWORKS was my
\ngo-to solution. Its intuitive interface and powerful features allowed me to bring my complex
\ndesign to life, seamlessly translating my ideas into a digital model ready for additive
\nmanufacturing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Prototyping: The Sindoh dp200 3D Printer<\/h2>\n

A vital part of my research was prototyping. Thanks to Dassault Systemes, I had access to a
\nSindoh<\/a> dp200 3D printer. This smaller-scale printer was crucial for initial trials, allowing me to
\ntest and refine my designs before moving to the large-scale 6-axis robot.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The 6-Axis Robot: Revolutionizing Manufacturing<\/h2>\n

The DREAMS Lab provided me with access to cutting-edge technology, notably the 6-axis ABB
\nRobot. This robot was central to my project, enabling me to print the coffee table at a scale not
\ntraditionally achievable. The robot’s flexibility and precision made it possible to create complex
\ngeometries and intricate details that are often challenging in conventional manufacturing
\nprocesses.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Overcoming Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Large-scale additive manufacturing is not without its challenges. Speed and defect management
\nwere significant hurdles. However, through optimized print paths, material and process
\nimprovements, and strategic infill strategies, I was able to enhance the printing speed and reduce
\ncommon defects like warping and caving, which are magnified in large-scale objects.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This project at the DREAMS Lab with the help of SOLIDWORKS has not only been a
\nsignificant learning experience but also a testament to the future of manufacturing. Large-scale
\nadditive manufacturing promises higher precision, lower costs, and increased efficiency,
\nrevolutionizing how we think about production and design.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nMy aim is to inspire other students and aspiring engineers to explore the limitless possibilities
\nwith SOLIDWORKS. Whether it\u2019s robotics in high school, internships in leading tech
\ncompanies, or groundbreaking research in university labs, SOLIDWORKS has been a constant
\ncompanion in my journey, transforming my ideas into tangible realities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thank you Kunal for sharing your journey with the SOLIDWORKS community.<\/p>\n

Design well, Marie<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Guest author and Virginia Tech Engineering Student, Kunal Jain wrote today’s blog.\u00a0 I have known Kunal since age 14, when he participated in FIRST Robotics FRC 5422 Stormgears. Now as a Virginia Tech mechanical engineering senior, Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP),<\/p>\n... Continued<\/a>","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":16887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7035],"tags":[6441,3940,7482,5158,7483,7481,4308,5698,4447,3931,7480],"class_list":["post-16878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-students","tag-additive-manufacturing","tag-design","tag-dreams-lab","tag-first-robotics","tag-frc-5422-stormgears","tag-kunal-jain","tag-manufacturing","tag-mechanical-engineering","tag-robotics","tag-solidworks","tag-virginia-tech"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/84"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16878"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16878\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20715,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16878\/revisions\/20715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}