In 2004, the Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing (MSAM) Lab at the University of Waterloo was a small, 150 square foot, windowless space. Today, it has expanded to become the largest metal additive manufacturing (AM) academic research lab in Canada, with more than $25 million in infrastructure, and is one of the most comprehensive university-based metal AM facilities globally.
The expansion of the lab enables both industry and students to access top-tier expertise and equipment, facilitating the comprehensive development, iteration and validation of additively manufactured products from raw materials to finished goods by applying advanced scientific discoveries to industrial contexts.
The research conducted by MSAM is shaping the future by working with industry, institutions and communities. These partnerships infuse research solutions into sectors critical for economic growth and innovation by fostering collaborations with industry leaders and promoting technology transfer.
"The team at MSAM has strategically aimed for innovation while developing the next generation of metal AM technologies - another way of saying 3D printed products." says Dr. Ehsan Toyserkani, a Waterloo engineering professor and founder of the MSAM Lab. "We excel in novel material adoption and development, as well as creating innovative quality assurance algorithms and software solutions to enhance the resilience and sustainability of part production."
Dr. Toyserkani beside the Material Jetting Additive Manufatcuring setup in the MSAM Lab
Reflecting on the success and growth of the lab over the years, Toyserkani shares that its early success began in 2005 through a collaboration with Mount Sinai Hospital at the University of Toronto and biomedical researchers from other universities. Across the span of six years, the collaboration resulted in a patented 3D printing technology for creating anatomically shaped implants from a novel biodegradable material called calcium polyphosphate.
