UTPN plans to create specialized manufacturing lab in partnership with NMSU

JUAREZ – The Universidad Tecnológica Paso del Norte (UTPN) in Ciudad Juarez will seek a collaboration with New Mexico State University (NMSU) for the creation of a specialized additive manufacturing laboratory that can be incorporated into the subjects of all its educational programs.

The short-term project would allow NMSU students to design and prototype products for industry. Also, the university would look for qualified NMSU personnel to provide training to Juarez professors in the operation of equipment such as 3D printing machines, among others.

Due to the above, administrative and teaching staff of the local university traveled to NMSU in Las Cruces, New Mexico to learn about the equipment and variety of 3D printing machines they have in their workshop.

Ulises Martínez Contreras, rector of UTPN, indicated that Delia Valles, professor of the Industrial Engineering Department at NMSU, and liaison with Mexican institutions, guided them on a tour of the laboratory of that institution.

The rector explained that additive manufacturing is a method of manufacturing items on the fly, with a digital model, and in this context, he said, the intention is to train students, so it seeks to generate an operating scheme similar to that of NMSU.

“Another of the intentions is that prototypes can be made, both student projects, as well as local industry; if an entrepreneur or industry brings an idea for a new product, having a prototype at hand helps a lot in the conception of a quick product,” he said.

The next step after this visit to NMSU, is to make a preliminary project and seek the necessary funds to start with the first stage, which consists of acquiring the required equipment, and implementing training by the U.S. university, on the operation of the machines.

Source: MEXICONOW Staff