Somerset Community College installs OpenAdditive Panda L-PBF system
Somerset Community College (SCC), Kentucky, USA, has installed a Panda Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) system from OpenAdditive, the research division of Universal Technology Corporation, based in Dayton, Ohio, USA, to advance its AM training and education capacity as educational institutions and companies continue their efforts to bridge the ‘AM skills gap’ in the engineering workforce.
SCC states that it is the first institution in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to add metal Additive Manufacturing to its advanced manufacturing capabilities. According to the college, the Panda system was chosen due to the openness in design and operation it offers, expected to better enable both instructors and students to gain experience and understanding of the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) process.
The system has been installed with the processing parameters and powder feedstock for additively manufacturing parts in tool steel, stainless steel and other metals. Peripheral systems for powder recycling and disposal and post-processing have also been installed, to enable onsite training in the full AM workflow.
