3D Printing Lab
Research Field
Dr. Chinmai Bhat is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT), Taiwan. He specializes in additive manufacturing, with research spanning bioinspired cellular structures, lattice design, multi-material 3D printing, ceramic AM, and the integration of AI/ML with advanced manufacturing processes.
Dr. Bhat earned his Ph.D. in Additive Manufacturing from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech), where he graduated with a perfect GPA (4.30/4.30). His doctoral work on tessellation-based lattice structures has led to multiple high-impact publications and several granted patents in the United States and Taiwan. Prior to his Ph.D., he completed an M.Tech in Materials Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK, Surathkal), India, and a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Basaveshwar Engineering College, Karnataka, India.
He has held research roles at premier institutions, including the High Value Biomaterials Research and Commercialization Center (Taiwan), the Taiwan High-Speed 3D Printing Research Center, and the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), DRDO, Hyderabad, India. His contributions have earned him recognitions such as the 2023 Outstanding Researcher Award and honorary membership in the Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society.
He is currently involved in a project aimed at developing dual-material thermal management systems for semiconductors and power electronics. In this project, he works on the design and optimization of lattice-based cooling channels to enhance heat transfer performance. His work also includes machine learning-driven optimization of ceramic slurries, co-printing/co-sintering strategies for ceramics, and CFD-experimental validation of lattice-based heat sinks. Apart from that, he has also been involved in the research on post-amputation support through lightweight custom implants.
Website: https://chinmai-vadiraj-bhat-cywm4mq.gamma.site/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=G7xb18MAAAAJ&hl=en
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chinmai-Bhat-2/publications
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57224465509
Our laboratory specializes in three-dimensional printing technologies, including vat photopolymerization, material extrusion, and laser powder bed fusion. These technologies are applied in the digital dental technology industry, metal forming industry, automotive metal components industry, and aerospace components industry. Research topics encompass the development of customized 3D printers integrating opto-mechanics, metamaterial design, virtual and reality processing, and functional gradient materials such as "ceramic/ceramic" and "ceramic/metal." Additionally, we explore innovative metal forming techniques, such as servo stamping technology and metal micro forming technology. The 21st century is poised for significant advancements in smart manufacturing, innovative medical technology, and aerospace components. We welcome students with an interest in these areas to join our laboratory and grow together.
本研究室專攻光聚合固化成型法、材料擠出成型法、雷射粉末床熔融成型法之三維列印技術，應用於數位牙醫科技產業、金屬成型產業、汽車金屬零組件產業與航太零組件產業。研究主題涵蓋整合光機電開發客製化三維列印機、超材料設計、虛實加工、功能梯度材料如『陶瓷/陶瓷，陶瓷/金屬』以及『創新金屬成形技術：伺服沖壓技術與金屬微成形技術』等領域。21世紀將是智慧製造、創新醫療技術與航太元件大躍進的世紀，歡迎有興趣的同學加入本實驗室一起成長。
Current ongoing research topics:
- Ceramic Additive Manufacturing of Multi-Material Thermal Management System.
- Digital Twin-Driven Additive Manufacturing of SiC-Reinforced SKD-61 Dies with Lattice Cooling Channels for High-Performance Hot Forming.
- AI-Based Smart Post-Amputation Support Through Lightweight Implants.
- Tessellation and Termination Strategies of Lattice Structures.
- Bronze Award for Best Research Paper at the Taiwan Society of Precision Engineering (TSPE) National Conference.
- 2023 Outstanding Researcher Award at TTS, Taiwan.
- Honorary membership of ‘The Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society’ in 2023 at NTUST, Taiwan.
- Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (2020 - 2023)
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (Taiwan Tech), Taipei, Taiwan
Dissertation: Additive Manufacturing Enabled Tessellation and Nesting Strategies of Lattice Structures For Tunable Structural and Functional Properties - M.Tech in Materials Engineering (2017 - 2019)
National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, India
Thesis: Numerical Simulation of Laser Shock Peening (LSP)—Approaches and Analysis - B.E. in Mechanical Engineering (2012 - 2016)
Basaveshwar Engineering College (Autonomous), Bagalkot, Karnataka, India
Project: Design and Development of a Coconut Shell Separator
Job Description
This project focuses on the fabrication of scandium-doped AlN thin films using the custom-built ceramic 3D printer. Aluminum Nitride (AIN), known for its high thermal conductivity applications, is often used in power electronics and 3rd generation semiconductors for heat sinking application. The small percentage of scandium doping would enhance the piezoelectric effect in the 3D printed components. The work involves developing a slurry and optimizing its composition, followed by 3D printing in the form of a thin layer. After successful printing, the sintering parameters need to be investigated to obtain the deployable thin film. and a novel deposition and patterning strategy to enable free-standing ScAlN thin films with enhanced piezoelectric performance. The project aims to eliminate conventional substrate constraints, enabling lightweight, flexible, and high-performance piezoelectric devices for MEMS, sensors, and energy harvesting applications.
Key responsibilities of the intern would be:
- Learn to operate the customized ceramic 3D printer.
- Formulate the slurry consisting of an optimized percentage of AIN, Sc, resin, and photoinitiator.
- Finding out the appropriate process parameters for printing the thin films.
- Microstructural and phase characterization along with the evaluation of piezoelectric, electrical, and mechanical properties.
Duration of Internship: 60 - 90 days
Preferred Intern Educational Level
PhD in Mechanical/Materials/Ceramic Engineering
MS in Mechanical/Materials/Ceramic Engineering
Skill sets or Qualities
Materials Testing, Materials Characterization, Additive Manufacturing, Basic knowledge of ceramics and oxides,
Job Description
The intern will be carrying out the research on the L-PBF process to fabricate metal matrix composites. The MMC comprises SKD-61 metal, which is known for the fabrication of dies. Along with the SKD-61, a small concentration of ceramic particles such as aluminum nitride (AlN) and/or hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) will be added to enhance the heat-carrying capacity. The intern will be tasked to find out the appropriate ratio of metal-to-ceramic powders that would fabricate the samples without any defects or abnormalities. Once the composition is optimized, the intern will fabricate some lattice structures with flowing channels to prove the efficacy of the metal matrix composites in thermal management applications.
Duration of the internship: 60 - 90 days
The intern will be given the opportunity to enroll in the MS/PhD program in the lab upon availability, provided the performance meets the lab's requirements.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
MS/M.Tech in Mechanical/Materials Engineering
PhD in Mechanical/Materials Engineering
Skill sets or Qualities
Knowledge of the laser powder-bed fusion process
Basic skills in alloying and numerical simulation
Materials characterization and testing