Advanced Manufacturing Edits

Virginia Tech: A Fully Integrated One-Stop Shop

With unmatched breadth across disciplines — and state-of-the-art equipment to match — our faculty and researchers are reshaping how things are made. From engineering to chemistry to architecture to physics, our researchers accelerate innovation in three primary focus areas, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, smart manufacturing.

Launching VT MADE—Virginia Tech’s New Hub for Manufacturing Innovation

VT MADE is where the future of manufacturing begins. Its mission is to revolutionize the field through the interdisciplinary convergence of Virginia Tech’s strengths in advanced materials, computational design, manufacturing technologies, data analytics, and cyber-infrastructure.

Through collaboration with industry and government, VT MADE is committed to shaping the next generation of manufacturing—and preparing the workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry.

Areas where researchers consistently collaborate

Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing

Focuses on advancing additive manufacturing processes, materials, and design methods, and their integration with traditional manufacturing processes to create more efficient and flexible production systems.

Advanced Materials

Explores the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of next-generation materials with enhanced properties. We seek to achieve breakthroughs in material performance, sustainability, and manufacturability through exploration of the interplay between processing techniques, material structure, and resulting properties.

Data-Driven Design and Intelligence

Harnesses AI, machine learning, and big data analytics to drive advancements in computational materials design, smart manufacturing, and design optimization. We are focused in leveraging data to enhance decision-making processes and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of advanced manufacturing systems, their materials, and their products.

Digital Integration and Connectivity

Focuses on creating smart, interconnected systems that streamline operations and facilitate real-time communication between machines, systems, and stakeholders. We seek advancements in wireless technologies to enable real-time communication, cyber-physical security to ensure robust and resilient systems, and the implementation of digital twins to enhance simulation, monitoring, and optimization capabilities.

Human-Machine Interaction

Investigates the interface between humans and machines, fostering seamless collaboration through user-centered design, augmented interfaces (AR/VR/XR), and human-robot interactions to enhance productivity and synergy in manufacturing environments.

Robotics and Autonomy

Advances robotic systems and autonomous technologies to enhance precision, scalability, agility, and efficiency in manufacturing.

Manufacturing Systems and Supply Chains

Focuses on advancing manufacturing processes and supply chain operations, including production flow, logistics, and quality control. We aim to enhance performance, resilience, and sustainability across the entire manufacturing ecosystem.

Workforce Development, Outreach and Industrial Engagement

Prioritizes developing the next generation of manufacturing professionals, fostering industry-academia partnerships, and promoting awareness of advancements in manufacturing.

World-Class Labs and Facilities

We have access to nearly every 3D printing modality at Virginia Tech, enabling fabrication of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Leveraging our industrial-scale, research-ready additive manufacturing systems and pioneering work in materials and process development, we empower manufacturing leaders to redefine what’s possible.

Pinar Acar

Associate professor, mechanical engineering

Multiscale modeling, optimization, uncertainty quantification for metallic material design

Advanced Materials, Smart Manufacturing

https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/acar-pinar.html

Michael Bartlett

Associate professor, mechanical engineering

Multi-functional smart and responsive soft composites

Advanced Materials

https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/bartlett-michael.html

Michael Bortner

Associate professor, chemical engineering

Polymer composite processing; rheology; extrusion-based AM

Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials

https://che.vt.edu/people/faculty/Bortner.html

Jie Chen

Assistant professor, mechanical engineering

Metallurgy and foundry processing

https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/chen-jie.html

Alan Druschitz

Associate professor of practice, materials science and engineering

Metallurgy and foundry processing

https://mse.vt.edu/faculty-staff/Faculty/druschitz.html

Yao Fu

Associate professor, aerospace and ocean engineering

Metal AM fracture and corrosion behavior

Additive Manufacturing

https://www.aoe.vt.edu/people/faculty/fu.html

Ran Jin

Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering

Sensing, modeling, and process optimization based on high definition profile data",

Smart Manufacturing

https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/jin.html

Blake Johnson

Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering

Bio-printing; bio-sensing; in-situ monitoring (AI/ML)

Additive Manufacturing, Smart Manufacturing

https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/johnson.html

Erik Komendera

Assistant professor, mechanical engineering

Autonomous assembly and construction; field robotics

Smart Manufacturing

https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/komendera-erik.html

Zhenyu (James) Kong

Ralph H. Bogle Professor, industrial and systems engineering

Smart and digitally twinned additive manufacturing through modeling, monitoring, machine learning, machine control, and metallurgy

Smart Manufacturing

https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/kong.html

Andrea L’afflitto

Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering

Lightweight robotics; control theory

Smart Manufacturing

https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/l'afflitto.html

Bart Raeymaekers

Professor, mechanical engineering

Metal AM tribology; composite AM processes

Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials

https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/raeymaekers-bart.html

Prahalada Rao

Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering

In-situ process monitoring; metal AM process simulation

Additive Manufacturing, Smart Manufacturing

https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/rao.html

Sourav Saha

Assistant professor, aerospace and ocean engineering

Mechanistic computational intelligence; metal fatigue; multiscale simulation

Additive Manufacturing, Smart Manufacturing

https://www.aoe.vt.edu/people/faculty/sourav-saha.html

Carolina Tallon

Assistant professor, materials science and engineering

Ultra-high temperature ceramics; colloidal processing

Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials

https://mse.vt.edu/faculty-staff/Faculty/tallon.html

Christopher Williams

L.S. Randolph Professor, mechanical engineering

Additive manufacturing processes, materials, and process-structure-property relationships

https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/williams-christopher.html

Hang Yu

Associate professor, materials science and engineering

Additive friction stir; alloy design

Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials

https://mse.vt.edu/faculty-staff/Faculty/yu.html

DREAMS Lab

Additive manufacturing processes, materials, and process-structure-property relationships

Advanced Materials

Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials

https://dreams.mii.vt.edu/

Laboratory for Advanced Manufacturing Processes and Sensing (LAMPS)

Smart and digitally twinned additive manufacturing through modeling, monitoring, machine learning, machine control, and metallurgy

Data-driven Design and Intelligence

Additive Manufacturing, Smart Manufacturing

https://lamps.ise.vt.edu/

Manufacturing and Tribology Laboratory

Tribology and surface engineering and processing and manufacturing of engineered materials

Advanced Materials

https://bartraeymaekers.a2hosted.com/drupal-7.38/?q=Home

Yu Rsearch Group

Additive friction stir deposition, with a focus on fundamental processing science and AI-enabled smart manufacturing

Manufacturing Systems

Additive Manufacturing, Smart Manufacturing

Tallon Research Lab

Materials science, engineering, and manufacturing of ceramics

Additive + Hybrid

Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials

https://yu.mse.vt.edu/

Soft Materials and Structures Lab

Biomimetic advanced materials with novel combinations of mechanical and functional properties

Additive + Hybrid

Advanced Materials

https://bartlett.me.vt.edu/

Materials for High-Temperature and Corrosive Environment Laboratory

New material systems and processing conditions for application in high-temperature and/or corrosive environments

Data-driven Design and Intelligence

Advanced Materials

Kroehling Advanced Materials Foundry

Research and hands-on teaching for the metal casting industries

Workforce Development

Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials, Smart Manufacturing

https://mm2designlab.wordpress.com/

Polymer Composite and Materials Lab

Advanced manufacturing and flow behavior of polymers and polymer composites

Additive + Hybrid

Advanced Materials

https://www.bortnerlab.com/

Advanced Biomanufacturing and Biosensing Laboratory

High-performance and smart biosensing to drive emerging technologies and advanced processes

Smart Manufacturing

https://biomanufacturinggroup.com/

ASTRO Lab

Multi-scale modeling for advanced materials, with focus on design

Advanced Materials

https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/astrolab/home

IMMPACT Lab

Computational intelligence for advanced materials and manufacturing systems

Additive + Hybrid

Advanced Materials, Smart Manufacturing

https://www.souravsaha.net/

SEAD Lab

Machine learning for engineering analysis and design, with focus on PSPP relationships

Advanced Materials

Smart Manufacturing

https://seadlab.com/

SMART Lab

AI-based cyber-physical smart manufacturing with real-time sensing and closed loop control

Digital Integration and Connectivity

Smart Manufacturing

https://www.smartlab-vt.com/

Advanced Control Systems Lab

Designing control systems for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles and lightweight robots

Data-driven Design and Intelligence

Smart Manufacturing

https://www.ise.vt.edu/research/labs/advanced-control-systems-lab.html

Field and Space Experimental Robotics Laboratory

Advanced robotics for collaborative assembly and autonomous servicing and repair.

Smart Manufacturing

https://faser.me.vt.edu/

Learning Factory

Instructional space featuring Industry 4.0 testbeds for hands-on student education

Workforce Development

Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials, Smart Manufacturing

https://faser.me.vt.edu/

Harris Manufacturing Lab

Hands-on instructional lab space to train students in manufacturing processes

Smart Manufacturing

https://www.ise.vt.edu/research/labs/Learning-Factory.html

Data Science and Visualization Lab

Data fusion in smart manufacturing and integration of smart design operations and services

Human-Machine Interaction

Smart Manufacturing

https://wordpress.cs.vt.edu/infovis/

Delta WASP 2040

Ceramic

Material Extrusion

Formlabs Form 4; Custom VPP systems

Ceramic

Vat Photopolymerization

Tvasta SIRA RC

Concrete

Material Extrusion

nScrypt 3dn-300

Conductive Links

Material Extrusion

Optomec Aerosol Jet

Conductive Links

Material Jetting

SLM 280

Metals

Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Xact Metal XM200G

Metals

Laser Powder Bed Fusion

DMS 2-Cubed Hybrid

Metals

Wire-arc Directed Energy Deposition (hybrid; multi-axis)

DMS 1-Cubed Hybrid

Metals

Wire-arc Directed Energy Deposition (hybrid; multi-axis)

Robotic Multi-axis wire-arc DED

Metals

Wire-arc Directed Energy Deposition (hybrid; multi-axis)

Meltio Engine + 5-axis HAAS VF3 CNC

Metals

Laser Wire Directed Energy Deposition (hybrid + multi-axis)

MELD L3 (discrete feed)

Metals

Additive Friction Stir Deposition

MELD L3 (continuous feed)

Metals

Additive Friction Stir Deposition

ExOne Innovent +

Metals

Binder Jetting

Single crystal fabrication - Bridgman solidification furnace

Metals

Binder Jetting

Metal Machining - AccuteX wire EDM

Metals

Binder Jetting

EOS Integra P450

Polymers

Polymer Powder Bed Fusion

Prodways ProMaker P2000 HT

Polymers

Polymer Powder Bed Fusion

Stratasys Fortus 400mc

Polymers

Material Extrusion (Filament)

AON3D M2

Polymers

Material Extrusion (Filament)

Markforged Mark Two

Polymers

Material Extrusion (Filament)

Multi-axis Robot + Dyze Typhoon

Polymers

Material Extrusion (Filament)

3D Systems EXT 800 Titan Pellet

Polymers

Material Extrusion (Pellet)

Multi-axis Robot + Strangpresse Model 30

Polymers

Material Extrusion (Pellet)

Custom multi-tool and 2-component extrusion systems

Polymers

Material Extrusion (Thermoset)

Asiga Max X

Polymers

Vat Photopolymerization

Formlabs Form 4+

Polymers

Vat Photopolymerization

Custom VPP systems

Polymers

Vat Photopolymerization

The New Core of Engineering Education

Through our Manufacturing Spine, every engineering student engages directly with the technologies shaping tomorrow’s industry.

Virginia Tech is redefining how engineers are educated. By embedding hands-on manufacturing experiences into foundational courses, we ensure that every student, regardless of major, develops practical skills alongside technical knowledge. This integrated, interdisciplinary approach gives students early exposure to technologies like additive manufacturing, robotics, data analytics, and AI.

Study Advanced Manufacturing at VT