Digital Manufacturing Challenge 2019 and an Opportunity to Attend the RAPID + TCT Event

SME, an organization dedicated to developing the future manufacturing workforce — has announced its 2019 Digital Manufacturing Challenge, themed: Additive for energy transfer and heat exchange. Student designers and engineers are challenged to go beyond the classroom or laboratory and showcase their technical and commercial talents by demonstrating new and creative ways additive manufacturing can add value. Entries are welcome from both college/university students and high school students.

Judging Criteria:

• Functionality and durability: Provide a description and analysis of features and functions.
• Cost-benefit/value analysis: Justify reason(s) for using additive manufacturing.
• Utilization of DDM material(s): Justify the material(s) selected.
• Utilization of DDM process(es): Justify the additive manufacturing process(es) used.
• Design integration and innovation: Showcase AM capabilities / compare with traditional methods.
• Marketing: Justify market appeal and market share forecast.
• Social and environmental impact: Forecast, explain and justify the affects anticipated.
• Judges’ discretion.

Prizes Awarded:

First Prize (One university winner and one high school winner).

The designer whose design is judged as being the best example of how DDM can be most efficiently and effectively exploited will receive:

1. A complimentary conference pass to RAPID + TCT event.
2. A stipend of $1,000 to use for travel and lodging to the conference.
3. A certificate of achievement.
4. A complimentary, one-year SME student membership.
5. A recognition letter sent to the winner with a copy sent to the university advisor/educator.
6. A recognition letter sent to a student newspaper/technical publication designated by the winner.

How to Enter:

Each category submission will consist of a zipped file, which includes:

• A completed entry form.
• STL files of your design.
• A one-page summary stating why your design is suited for direct digital manufacturing (DDM).
• Include the benefits your design would bring to the consumer.
• Indicate the volume of the build.
• Include your name(s) and contact information.
• Include your school name along with the name of your academic advisor as well as his/her email address plus title of your entry.

In addition, college/university entrants will also need to submit a report (not to exceed three pages) containing the following additional elements:

• Justified choices of DDM processes and materials to be used.
• Social and environmental impact analysis.
• A cost-benefit analysis for using DDM (include an estimate of the quantity to be manufactured).
• Include your name(s) and contact information.
• Include your school name along with the name of your academic adviser, including his/her email address, with title of your entry.