Two MABE research teams will begin the new year with extra funding thanks to the 2023 Technology Maturation Grant Awards they received from the UT Research Foundation (UTRF).
Schmitz
Dvorak
Professor Tony Schmitz and MABE Maker Lab director and doctoral student Jake Dvorak received a $4,000 grant for their project, “Low-cost Model-Part-Machine Alignment for Hybrid Manufacturing.” Schmitz and Dvorak are working to develop a phone app that allows users to 3D scan a 3D print and automatically align their final part design to the print for machining. This is a low-cost way for manufacturers to complete hybrid manufacturing (3D printing and machining) without needing to purchase new equipment. The maturation award will fund IT support for app development.
Vaidya
Spencer
Professor Uday Vaidya and doctoral student Ryan Spencer received a $15,000 grant for their project, “Monitoring of Thermal Expansion for Intrinsic Material Properties and Defect Detection.” The funds will be used to detect micro-cracking with a high-resolution optical technique. They will develop this technique into a 3D setup and compare with leading standardized methods. This award will fund the hardware and experimentation, while also supporting an undergraduate research assistant.
This marks the 15th year of UTRF’s Technology Maturation Program, which aims to assist innovators in advancing new technologies on the path to market. The winning projects are selected based on a demonstrated path for commercial development, market potential, and stage of development.