A 20-hour project-based internship experience for adult and community college learners interested in exploring careers in additive manufacturing. Approved projects will be matched with up to 5 participants, contributing a combined total of up to 100 hours of meaningful, real-world work. Projects will begin on the program start date and must be completed over a 4-week period.

This experience is designed for university and community college students with emerging or foundational knowledge of additive manufacturing technologies and systems. The goal is to provide learners with practical exposure to real-world manufacturing processes, systems thinking, CAD tools, and additive manufacturing technologies while strengthening both technical and project execution skills.

Learner Goals and Capabilities

Learners will have opportunities to:

• Apply knowledge of additive manufacturing (AM) processes across the seven AM technology families (e.g., material extrusion, vat photopolymerization, powder bed fusion, binder jetting, direct energy deposition).
• Use design-for-additive-manufacturing (DfAM) principles to redesign parts and optimize performance.
• Practice CAD modeling and simulation using tools such as Fusion 360, SolidWorks, or nTopology.
• Evaluate materials (metals, polymers, ceramics, composites) and compare benefits and trade-offs for specific applications.
• Apply topology optimization and lattice structure design to minimize weight and reduce material use.
• Demonstrate project management skills including scoping, deliverable tracking, and structured collaboration.
• Strengthen teamwork, communication, and professional skills for industrial environments.

Learners will provide tangible outputs that connect academic knowledge with real-world manufacturing applications. Deliverables may include:

• CAD models and design optimization proposals.
• Research briefs or technical reports comparing processes, feedstocks, or performance outcomes.
• Simulation results (e.g., stress analysis, topology optimization).
• Manufacturing process selection guides or feasibility reports.
• Final project documentation including project scope, methodology, and lessons learned.

Companies will gain fresh perspectives, early-stage research, and entry-level technical assets that support business goals or product development initiatives.