Disruptive design via additive manufacturing: Chris Williams at TEDxVirginiaTech

Chris Williams is an Assistant Professor with a joint appointment with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Engineering Education. He is the Director of the Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems (DREAMS) Laboratory and the co-director of Virginia Tech's Center for Innovation-based Manufacturing. He is a National Science Foundation CAREER awardee and has received the two most prestigious awards for a young researcher in the field of additive manufacturing. Chris will discuss how the limitations of traditional manufacturing methods have been overcome with his talk "Disruptive Design via Additive Manufacturing."

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[ManufacturingAmerica]

Good job. Light weight and flexible material, mother nature has her reasons.

[ashwinpawar]

What are the current innovation in metal 3d printing?

[gcrady]

As more high-end design programs are becoming available to the general public, (for free), , anyone will be able to take advantage of additive manufacturing processes, at an ever growing local basis.  Re-engineering tradition material applications, will lead the way to reducing the cost of custom projects and their design iterations.

[Katinaboxx]

I thought we were going to hear Cam's story...

[jimmyc]

have you seen the AI printed quadcopter? it looks like something nature made

[Kenneth_James]

take this down. its too old. Were so far beyond this metal additive manu

[swmark]

It won't "democratize" manufacturing. Many 3D printers and the materials needed to do the printing will stay out of reach of most people.

What it will do is allow those with access to sit at their computer all day doodling and have a machine do everything for them. For those who don't have access, they'll see their opportunities for advancement through labor decrease even more. More glut for the low paying, part-time service job sector.

[davidsirmons]

"Selelivly...selectively..." Come on, man. They're not big words.