Princeton and FAU extend their collaboration

members of the School of Advanced Optical Technology at FAU and their supervisors
Summer school at Princeton University: members of the School of Advanced Optical Technology at FAU and their supervisors. (Image: Sheila Gunning)

Both universities intend to collaborate on additive manufacturing research

September 25, 2017

Princeton University and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) intend to collaborate in researching future aspects of laser materials processing. The Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM) and the School of Advanced Optical Technologies (SAOT) at FAU have started a series of joint summer schools where junior researchers of both institutions can exchange information on their work and put forward ideas on future collaborative projects. The kick-off event was a visit to Princeton by the scientists from Erlangen. For the next summer school in May 2018, FAU will be welcoming 12 young scientists from their partner university to Franconia.

In the first exchange, four teams of researchers from PRISM and SAOT took part in a start-up contest and developed ideas for start-ups in the field of additive manufacturing, currently one of the most hotly debated aspects of laser materials processing. Several ideas emerged that were particularly commercially relevant while two collaborative projects were initiated.

The SAOT Simulation Group will consider laser-welding glass and how to simulate internal stresses in the process. These findings will support the experimental design of the process in Princeton. In the second project, samples melted using lasers at FAU will be investigated in Princeton using special analytical equipment. The results should provide valuable insights into the microstructure of the materials which will then help the researchers in Erlangen to produce better quality samples.

‘The summer schools are an excellent opportunity for sharing research ideas and launching new projects. We are looking forward to welcoming researchers from Princeton and we are certain that working together will lead to excellent results,’ says Prof. Dr. Michael Schmidt, SAOT coordinator.’

Further information:

Prof. Dr. Michael Schmidt
Phone: +49 9131 85 23456
michael.schmidt@fau.de