Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is transforming how industries design, prototype, and produce components. With its ability to enable rapid prototyping and highly customized manufacturing, additive manufacturing can improve existing products and enable the creation of entirely new ones. This course introduces the fundamentals of additive manufacturing with a focus on plastics production. Through visual demonstrations and hands-on experiences, participants will develop the skills to communicate its benefits, evaluate potential use cases, and create effective designs.

• Engineers and R&D professionals exploring rapid prototyping or custom part production.
• Plant maintenance teams seeking efficient solutions for part replacement.
• Technical managers and company leaders evaluating additive manufacturing for operational or strategic advantage.

• Compare the different 3D Printing techniques and identify their strengths and weaknesses
• Identify the key components and underlying principles of Additive Manufacturing processes.
• Identify the latest developments and critical challenges.
• Use a 3D printer to produce a part from 3D model data.
• Select the appropriate AM technology for specific product requirements.

Kristoffer Stokes

Dr. Stokes has developed award winning products and generated commercialized IP in markets ranging from batteries, oil and gas field chemicals, textiles, apparel, composites, and consumer goods. Focusing on textile and plastics consulting, his ideas and advice have helped generate significant new inventions across markets and disciplines.

He has held positions including Global Director of Product Development at Bemis Associates, R&D Manager at Cabot Corporation and Technical Manager of Emerging Technologies at Celgard.

Dr. Stokes holds a PhD in organic chemistry from MIT, as well as BS and MS degrees from Carnegie Mellon University.

He is an inventor with 29 patents and has authored and co-authored numerous articles. 

He is a member of the Polymer Engineering UW-Madison Industrial Advisory Board and teaches in the Polymer Engineering master’s program.

Nicole Zacharia

Dr. Zacharia has a background in materials science, with both a bachelor's degree and a PhD in the subject from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her student days were followed by postdoctoral studies at the University of Toronto, time as an assistant professor in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University, and most recently before joining UW-Madison, time at the University of Akron as an assistant then associate professor of Polymer Engineering.

In addition to teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels, Dr. Zacharia's interests have included research in polyelectrolyte coacervation as well as novel types of surfaces with special wettability, working on various federally and privately funded research projects. She has published over 40 papers in various international materials and chemistry journals. She has been an actively member of the American Chemical Society, including serving on the executive editorial board for one of its journals.