About Us
Establishment
The İTÜ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Additive Manufacturing Education and Research Center was established through the 2018 Innovative and Creative Istanbul Financial Support Program, supported by the Istanbul Development Agency, and began operations in 2019. Since its establishment, industrial collaborations and academic studies have continued at İTÜ EKAM.
Our Vision
The İTÜ Additive Manufacturing Education and Research Center Laboratory aims to contribute to the development of high-value-added technological products in Istanbul and Türkiye by utilizing additive manufacturing processes.
Our Mission
İTÜ EKAM aims to collaborate with industry, conduct research projects in the field of additive manufacturing, participate in joint studies, and contribute to the development of a qualified workforce by organizing educational activities.
Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing is a manufacturing method in which three-dimensional objects created using computer-aided design are produced from a selected material in successive thin layers. Unlike conventional manufacturing methods, products are manufactured by adding material rather than removing material from the part. This enables the production of parts that would be impossible to manufacture using conventional methods.
Research Conducted at İTÜ EKAM
Binder jetting additive manufacturing studies are conducted at İTÜ EKAM using CoCrMo, SS316L, soft magnetic, and copper powders.
During the binder jetting additive manufacturing process, parts are subjected to sintering to achieve their final mechanical properties. The sintering furnaces available in the laboratory have been used to investigate the effects of different atmospheric conditions on sintering, including argon flow, hydrogen flow, and vacuum. Sintering modeling studies are also conducted by capturing real-time images during the sintering process.
The microscopes available in the laboratory are used to examine the grain structure, porosity, and other characteristics of sintered parts. In addition, the laboratory’s precision balance enables density measurements based on Archimedes’ principle. This allows the densities of complex, non-prismatic parts containing internal cavities to be measured.
A three-dimensional scanner is used to evaluate the dimensional accuracy of the manufactured parts, allowing production tolerances to be determined comprehensively. The scanner is also used for reverse engineering studies.