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Educating the way the PM world works
Educating the way the PM world works The professional powder metallurgy associations round the world are taking an increasing interest in creating educational opportunities for members as the industry expands. The US Metal Powder Industries Federation has taken a lead in the past 40 years, while also establishing itself as a leader in setting internationally recognised standards for PM. Peter Johnson, the MPIF's Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs says that although with early inhibitions overcome and an increasingly successful programme, more needs to be done in this vital area... s the trade association representing the North American PM industry, the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) has promoted PM education for many years with international outreach. The MPIF sponsors courses and seminars as a continuing educational effort and cooperates with colleges and universities.
A
Our role in continuing education goes back to the early 196os when we began sponsoring seminars on compacting/tooling and sintering. In 1965 MPIF held the first Basic Powder Metallurgy Short Course at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. It is the longest running educational event we have sponsored. The course gives a quick overview of the PM process to new employees and non-technical people. Covering metal powder production to designing and producing PM parts, it is updated annually and continues to draw participants. During the 194os and ~95os many considered powder metallurgy a "secret" process. Few details were revealed about the intricacies of manufacturing PM parts. Competition was fierce, which inhibited practitioners from sharing
10
January2003
Peter Iohnson
information. They feared that revealing details about the process would cause economic harm. Because of this negative undercurrent, the MPIF faced opposition initiating courses and seminars. A large PM parts fabricator, no longer in business, actually resigned from the federation in protest over our early educational efforts. However, the industry matured and realised that there were really very few secrets and providing more technical information to end-users encouraged the growth of PM. Through its courses, seminars and annual technical conference, the MPIF
serves a broad audience. The MPIF has built its seminar effort up to more than 15 programmes sponsored annually covering subjects such as compacting/tooling, preventive maintenance, metallography, gear technology, lean manufacturing, sinterhardening, PM electronic applications, process modelling, hot isostatic pressing and functionally graded materials. MPIF seminars are aimed at a broad spectrum of targets, educating industry professionals, shop floor workers and current and potential end-users of PM parts and products. In an average year, more than 5o0 people attend courses, seminars and mini-conferences. The Professional Development Committee of the MPIF Technical Board monitors courses and seminars. Chaired by Thomas Pelletiers of Latitude Manufacturing Technologies, Inc., the committee is made up of the following industry professionals: Ronald E Arble, Metal Powder Components; lan Donaldson, GKN Sinter Metals - Worcester; Robert Frasier, Cloyes Gear & Products, Inc.; Brian M Greever, Drever Co.; James R. Groark, Metal Improvement Co.; Prabhat Kumar, H.C. Starck, Inc.;
metal-powder.net
ne
The MPIF's ronge of publicotion$ ore well known os repositories of voluoble source rnoterio! ond reference on irnportont issues such os stondords.
DeepakS Madan, FW Winter, Inc.& Co.; Kenneth H Moyer, Magna-Tech P/M Labs; JamesJ Oakes, AIIdyne Powder Technologies; James W Sears, Laser Powder Processes; John Sweet, FMS Corporation; Rajiv Tandon, Carpenter Engineered Products; R. K. Viswanadham, Sandvik Smith Inc.; and William F Jandeska Jr., GM Global Powertrain Group. The committee evaluates existing educational programmes and suggests new topics. In addition, the MPIF's annual international conference or] powder metallurgy and particulate materials is a super-educational event featuring hundreds of technical papers. All of these programmes help to advance the technology of powder metallurgy by sharing the latest developments and trends. Knowledge powers industry growth. The better-educated
metal-powder.net
employees are at all levels, the more they can contribute to a company's success and, ultimately, the success of the entire industry.
Academic Relationships The MPIF also maintains close ties with American universities offering courses in powder metallurgy and/or particulate materials as set out in Table t. Unfortunately the mix of schools offering PM courses has changed over the years based on research and development funding and the interest of individual professors who have a personal interest in powder metallurgy. Leading engineering schools such as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University all had thriving PM educational programmes
During the 194os and 195os many considered PM a 'secret' process. Few details were revealed and fierce competition inhibited information sharing. There was opposition to the MPIF's educational efforts and one large PM manufacturer 'went so far as to resign from the federation in protest. But the industry matured and realised that there were really very few secrets and providing more technical information to end-users encouraged the growth of PM that faded away when key professors retired or left the school for another academic post or industry. For example, Fritz V Lenel established the PM laboratory at RPI as a leading PM school. He guided more than 50 students in masters and doctoral programmes who achieved prominent careers and contributed much to the technology. He studied the understanding of mechanisms of liquid-phase sintering, solid-state sintering and dispersion strengthening. When he retired, Randall M German walked into the PM limelight at RPI but Leftto establish the highly regarded Center for Innovative Sintered Products (ClSP) at Pennsylvania State University. He has attracted significant research funding and graduated about 7o masters
January 2oo3 MI~~ 1 1-
Conferences and seminars are Important for information transfer, training and raising valuable revenue for the Federation.
and PhD students since 1991 (See Metal Powder Report; Newsview, April 2002). However, many engineering students entering universities are not that motivated to study powder metallurgy or materials science. Computers, information technology, chemical engineering, nanotechnology and biomedical engineering offer more attractive opportunities. The PM industry needs to place more emphasis on academic research, internships and co-op programs to stimulate the interest of students. Investing in chaired professorships could sustain a university's long-term interest in PM.
!2
January2003
Professor Alan Lawley of Drexel University has established himself as a leading powder metallurgist since joining the faculty in 1966. He has worked in numerous areas of PM including thermal spraying, plasma atomisation of tool steels, refractory metals, metal matrix composites, and fragmentation of tungsten alloys. Since 197o he has graduated 25 students receiving masters degrees in PM and 15 PhD students. The MPIF has maintained relationships with many PM schools over the years, providing free literature to students and publishing academic papers in technical meeting proceedings and in the
International Journal of Powder Metallurgy. The MPIF Industry Development Board is investigating setting up a PM internship programme for students at industry companies. In addition, the MPIF and the Center for Powder Metallurgy Technology (CPMT) have offered scholarships for students to attend the annual technical conference. The Clayton Family Scholarship provides funds for studies in Powder Metallurgy and Axe[ Madsen Scholarship programme. In 2002 11 students from eight schools received funds to attend the World Congress on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials in Orlando, Florida. The MPIF will sponsor a number a courses and seminars in 2003 and sponsor the 2003 International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials (PM2TEC2oo3), June 8-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. For programme and registration information visit www.mpif.org.
metal-powder.net
A
Our role in continuing education goes back to the early 196os when we began sponsoring seminars on compacting/tooling and sintering. In 1965 MPIF held the first Basic Powder Metallurgy Short Course at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. It is the longest running educational event we have sponsored. The course gives a quick overview of the PM process to new employees and non-technical people. Covering metal powder production to designing and producing PM parts, it is updated annually and continues to draw participants. During the 194os and ~95os many considered powder metallurgy a "secret" process. Few details were revealed about the intricacies of manufacturing PM parts. Competition was fierce, which inhibited practitioners from sharing
10
January2003
Peter Iohnson
information. They feared that revealing details about the process would cause economic harm. Because of this negative undercurrent, the MPIF faced opposition initiating courses and seminars. A large PM parts fabricator, no longer in business, actually resigned from the federation in protest over our early educational efforts. However, the industry matured and realised that there were really very few secrets and providing more technical information to end-users encouraged the growth of PM. Through its courses, seminars and annual technical conference, the MPIF
serves a broad audience. The MPIF has built its seminar effort up to more than 15 programmes sponsored annually covering subjects such as compacting/tooling, preventive maintenance, metallography, gear technology, lean manufacturing, sinterhardening, PM electronic applications, process modelling, hot isostatic pressing and functionally graded materials. MPIF seminars are aimed at a broad spectrum of targets, educating industry professionals, shop floor workers and current and potential end-users of PM parts and products. In an average year, more than 5o0 people attend courses, seminars and mini-conferences. The Professional Development Committee of the MPIF Technical Board monitors courses and seminars. Chaired by Thomas Pelletiers of Latitude Manufacturing Technologies, Inc., the committee is made up of the following industry professionals: Ronald E Arble, Metal Powder Components; lan Donaldson, GKN Sinter Metals - Worcester; Robert Frasier, Cloyes Gear & Products, Inc.; Brian M Greever, Drever Co.; James R. Groark, Metal Improvement Co.; Prabhat Kumar, H.C. Starck, Inc.;
metal-powder.net
ne
The MPIF's ronge of publicotion$ ore well known os repositories of voluoble source rnoterio! ond reference on irnportont issues such os stondords.
DeepakS Madan, FW Winter, Inc.& Co.; Kenneth H Moyer, Magna-Tech P/M Labs; JamesJ Oakes, AIIdyne Powder Technologies; James W Sears, Laser Powder Processes; John Sweet, FMS Corporation; Rajiv Tandon, Carpenter Engineered Products; R. K. Viswanadham, Sandvik Smith Inc.; and William F Jandeska Jr., GM Global Powertrain Group. The committee evaluates existing educational programmes and suggests new topics. In addition, the MPIF's annual international conference or] powder metallurgy and particulate materials is a super-educational event featuring hundreds of technical papers. All of these programmes help to advance the technology of powder metallurgy by sharing the latest developments and trends. Knowledge powers industry growth. The better-educated
metal-powder.net
employees are at all levels, the more they can contribute to a company's success and, ultimately, the success of the entire industry.
Academic Relationships The MPIF also maintains close ties with American universities offering courses in powder metallurgy and/or particulate materials as set out in Table t. Unfortunately the mix of schools offering PM courses has changed over the years based on research and development funding and the interest of individual professors who have a personal interest in powder metallurgy. Leading engineering schools such as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University all had thriving PM educational programmes
During the 194os and 195os many considered PM a 'secret' process. Few details were revealed and fierce competition inhibited information sharing. There was opposition to the MPIF's educational efforts and one large PM manufacturer 'went so far as to resign from the federation in protest. But the industry matured and realised that there were really very few secrets and providing more technical information to end-users encouraged the growth of PM that faded away when key professors retired or left the school for another academic post or industry. For example, Fritz V Lenel established the PM laboratory at RPI as a leading PM school. He guided more than 50 students in masters and doctoral programmes who achieved prominent careers and contributed much to the technology. He studied the understanding of mechanisms of liquid-phase sintering, solid-state sintering and dispersion strengthening. When he retired, Randall M German walked into the PM limelight at RPI but Leftto establish the highly regarded Center for Innovative Sintered Products (ClSP) at Pennsylvania State University. He has attracted significant research funding and graduated about 7o masters
January 2oo3 MI~~ 1 1-
Conferences and seminars are Important for information transfer, training and raising valuable revenue for the Federation.
and PhD students since 1991 (See Metal Powder Report; Newsview, April 2002). However, many engineering students entering universities are not that motivated to study powder metallurgy or materials science. Computers, information technology, chemical engineering, nanotechnology and biomedical engineering offer more attractive opportunities. The PM industry needs to place more emphasis on academic research, internships and co-op programs to stimulate the interest of students. Investing in chaired professorships could sustain a university's long-term interest in PM.
!2
January2003
Professor Alan Lawley of Drexel University has established himself as a leading powder metallurgist since joining the faculty in 1966. He has worked in numerous areas of PM including thermal spraying, plasma atomisation of tool steels, refractory metals, metal matrix composites, and fragmentation of tungsten alloys. Since 197o he has graduated 25 students receiving masters degrees in PM and 15 PhD students. The MPIF has maintained relationships with many PM schools over the years, providing free literature to students and publishing academic papers in technical meeting proceedings and in the
International Journal of Powder Metallurgy. The MPIF Industry Development Board is investigating setting up a PM internship programme for students at industry companies. In addition, the MPIF and the Center for Powder Metallurgy Technology (CPMT) have offered scholarships for students to attend the annual technical conference. The Clayton Family Scholarship provides funds for studies in Powder Metallurgy and Axe[ Madsen Scholarship programme. In 2002 11 students from eight schools received funds to attend the World Congress on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials in Orlando, Florida. The MPIF will sponsor a number a courses and seminars in 2003 and sponsor the 2003 International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials (PM2TEC2oo3), June 8-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. For programme and registration information visit www.mpif.org.
metal-powder.net