Texas A&M at Qatar partners with United Nations to host workshop.
DOHA, Qatar -- Texas A&M University at Qatar, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and ESCWA Technology Centre (ETC), hosted a two-day Rapid Prototyping Workshop for technology managers from across the region involved in engineering design and prototyping.
Rapid prototyping, also known as 3D printing or Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM), is the fabrication of components from computer design to an actual part or piece. It uses 3D, computer-aided design files to drive the computer-controlled fabrication of parts. Unlike traditional machining methods, which cut away from a rough mold to achieve the desired complex shape, DDM creates the shape precisely and instantly, using additive fabrication.
The workshop included sessions and live demonstrations on electronic prototyping, preparing a prototyping job, metal printing, integrated manufacturing systems, plastic printing and rapid prototyping capabilities.
Dr. Eyad Masad, assistant dean for research and graduate studies, said, "The goal of this workshop is to increase the expertise in rapid prototyping in the region, as this topic has significant importance in manufacturing and in various areas of engineering. Texas A&M at Qatar has unique equipment in rapid prototyping that was used for training in this workshop."
ETC found difficulty in many ESCWA countries with transforming primitive prototypes of science and engineering research outcomes or ideas into professional prototypes that are more informative, useful for production, commercial, affordable and may lead to licensing or commercialization. Addressing this concern, ESCWA and Texas A&M at Qatar say this workshop has improved the prototyping skills of participants from across the Middle East.
Dr. Srinath Iyengar, manager of research instrumentation at the University, commented on this, saying, "Texas A&M at Qatar has been utilizing its state-of-the-art rapid prototyping facilities as an integral part of its education and research activities over the past several years and has developed significant expertise in plastics, metals and electronics prototyping. Hence, the aim of this workshop was to share some of this developed expertise with technology managers from various ESCWA member countries and train them on practical and useful aspects of modern rapid prototyping technologies."
Yasser Al-Hamidi, mechanical engineering laboratory manager and a workshop instructor, said rapid prototyping is useful because it enables engineers to create a real part quickly using one digital file. "This also applies to any changes or improvements to a design," Al-Hamidi added. "With rapid prototyping, the entire manufacturing line doesn't need to be retooled for any small change or new requirement."
About Texas A&M University at Qatar
Texas A&M University, recognized as having one of the premier engineering programs in the world, has offered undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering at Qatar Foundation's Education City campus since 2003, and graduate courses in chemical engineering since fall 2011. Two hundred engineers have graduated from Texas A&M at Qatar since 2007. In addition to engineering courses, Texas A&M at Qatar provides classes in science, mathematics, liberal arts and the humanities. All four of the engineering programs offered at Texas A&M at Qatar are accredited by ABET. The curricula offered at Texas A&M at Qatar are materially identical to those offered at the main campus in College Station, Texas, and courses are taught in English in a co-educational setting. The reputation for excellence is the same, as is the commitment to equip engineers to lead the next generation of engineering advancement. Faculty from around the world are attracted to Texas A&M at Qatar to provide this educational experience and to participate in research activities now valued at over $135 million, and that address issues important to the State of Qatar. Visit www.qatar.tamu.edu.
For information contact:
Elisabeth Kent
Texas A&M University at Qatar
elisabeth.kent@qatar.tamu.edu
+974.4423.0291
+974.6686.0428
© Press Release 2012
