At the end of January, ASTRO America will be supporting Virginia Tech’s work with the U.S. Department of Defense to enhance understanding of the benefits and requirements of metal additive manufacturing. A series of workshops hosted by Virginia’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Genedge will provide participants with insights into the advantages of adopting metal additive manufacturing in small and medium size independent metal manufacturers across the Commonwealth.
Robert Smith, Chief Innovation Officer of Optisys – an advanced antenna and radar product vendor in Utah – recently shared how his journey in equipment design and analysis led him to specialize in additive manufacturing. With a background in mechanical engineering, Robert founded Qualified Rapid Products (QRP) in Utah, the first company in Utah to operate a metal 3D printer. After a short time, he founded Optisys, which focuses on turnkey advanced antenna and radar solutions. The company’s next generation RF products leverage a novel design process that maximizes the benefits of metal additive manufacturing. Robert focuses on overseeing the design and fabrication of antenna products, pushing the boundaries of metal AM processes.
To succeed in additive manufacturing, Robert emphasizes the importance of specialization. He advises companies to identify their niche, build a network with other manufacturers, and focus on solving unique problems. “We have a century of experience with subtractive manufacturing but only about a decade with metal additive manufacturing,” he explains. “As we explore new materials and their potential uses, there’s so much work to be done. Focusing on a particular material or product type will help you stand out.”
Robert highlights the unique advantages of additive manufacturing: “This field allows you to leverage the strengths of additive manufacturing, including the ability to create customized geometries and combine multiple parts easily. Some components can take up to nine months to fabricate using traditional manufacturing. With additive manufacturing, we can streamline designs, making them lighter, smaller, and more reliable.”
So, how can aspiring manufacturers get started? Robert strongly recommends attending a workshop. “Understanding 3D printing and its capabilities is best achieved in a classroom setting. Gaining exposure to the various threats and opportunities in this field is crucial for engagement. Workshops like these help you develop a vision to identify the right opportunities as they arise.”
By participating in these workshops, Virginia metal shops can position themselves at the forefront of innovation, unlocking the transformative potential of metal additive manufacturing. To hear more from Robert, consider attending an upcoming Re-VAMMP workshop, at which he’ll be teaching.
Here is the upcoming workshop schedule:
- January 28, 2025: 9:30a-5p, The Slover, 235 East Plume Street Norfolk, VA 23510
- January 30, 2025: 9:30a-5p, Virginia Tech Richmond Center, 2810 North Parham Road #STE 300 Richmond, VA 23294
- February 18, 2025: 9:30a-5p, Blue Ridge Community College – Plecker Center, One College Lane, Weyers Cave, VA 24486
- February 20, 2025: 9:30a-5p, Roanoke Higher Education Center, 108 N Jefferson St, Roanoke, VA 24016