Youngstown State University has been awarded a $1.9 million grant through America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, and the Air Force Research Laboratory to investigate the repair process for tooling using a hybrid process technology.

The project continues the hub-and-spoke consortium on hybrid manufacturing active in the Youngstown area for several years.

YSU chemical engineering professor Pedro Cortes says this grant will allow the Mahoning Valley to remain an integral participant in the effort to incorporate advanced manufacturing platforms in real-world challenges and applications.

The project uses a laser hot wire cladding Directed Energy Deposition Mazak 3D printer installed at YSU's Excellence Training Center (ETC) last year.

According to a press release, the printer takes advantage of the interwoven benefits associated with the additive process and traditional machining to provide restored metallic tooling and end-use parts.

According to the release, there are numerous other participants in this project, including the Youngstown Business Incubator in the Mahoning Valley.

The award is being carried out in collaboration with ETC Director Jackie Ruller, ETC machinist John Carballo, alongside YSU STEM professors Brian Vuksanovich, Holly Martin, Virgil Solomon, and Bahrat Yelamanchi.