GUEST: Dr. Rafiq Ahmad, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta.

TOPIC: In part two of our conversation with Dr. Ahmad, he discusses the research process that has been ongoing at the University of Alberta, which aims to support the Canadian market with a speedy, automated, portable, and affordable large-scale additive manufacturing technology to help protect the environment by using recycled plastics, called LAVA 3D.

 According to Dr. Ahmad, LAVA 3D will be compatible to work with virgin material and multi-material 3D printing, for strength-to-requirements, to support resource-based industries in Canada. The proposed faster rate of polymer additive manufacturing process will support the growing need for mass-production of PPE components during the pandemic, e.g. personal protective respirators.