Energy and the work it can do are fundamental to our world and they exist in many forms. Harnessing energy through its generation or conversion, transfer and storage, is often accompanied by heat.

The 2019 Digital Manufacturing Challenge emphasizes the thermal management or temperature control of systems, processes or devices that generate, convert, transfer or store energy.

Cross-functional teams are challenged to leverage the design freedom inherent in additive manufacturing in order to simplify or integrate features and functions while simultaneously reducing size, weight and increasing the efficiency of a thermal management system, process or device.

A virtual prototype is to be created comprehending one or more of the seven available additive manufacturing processes.

Contestants must recommend and justify their additive design, process and material selections through their research and cost-benefit/value analysis, and must also include a discussion of all manufacturing considerations in order to achieve the form, function and capability/performance claimed.

Additive manufacturing embraces a considerable variety of materials and processes suitable for directly creating a wide range of 3D models, prototypes, mock-ups, tooling, end-use parts, assemblies and systems/subsystems. The design freedom enabled by additive manufacturing allows the optimization of form, fit and feature/function integration often not possible by other means. Therefore, student designers and engineers are challenged to go beyond the classroom or laboratory and showcase their technical and commercial talents by demonstrating new and creative ways additive manufacturing can add value.

Entries must submitted before 12 a.m. ET Monday, March 4, 2019, to be considered.

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