Par Kermani is a recent communications graduate of Weber State University.
CLEARFIELD — Engineering students at Weber State University and other universities across the state are pushing the boundaries of what students can achieve in real-world learning environments."I'm actually seeing what I'm learning being applied into the actual field," said Ethan Earnshaw, a mechanical engineering student at Weber State University's Miller Advanced Research and Solutions center.
Since beginning his internship at the MARS center last May, Earnshaw has developed many interests through his hands-on experience in composite manufacturing — a process that enables the facility to design and manufacture strong, lightweight parts for aerospace and defense.Weber State has a unique opportunity to be one of the only institutions to implement such a program, using partnerships with leaders in the aerospace industry in northern Utah, such as Hill Air Force Base and Northrop Grumman."For a company to invest in new technology like this, it's too expensive, not just from the fact you have to buy the equipment and develop processes, but then you have to qualify and replace what's currently in place," said MARS Executive Director Benjamin Garcia. "By taking that capability now, the MARS Center is allowing companies to make that transition a lot faster."One example of the parts produced at the MARS Center is an ongoing collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. It specializes in pharmaceutical manufacturing in space, and the MARS center can 3D-print the heat shields necessary for reentry into Earth's atmosphere.Earnshaw is currently testing the strength of the carbon fiber used in the 3D-printed parts."We're just seeing how different carbon fibers handle in different scenarios, like a room temperature test. We're going to put it in a furnace and raise the temperature to see how it compares from normal room temperature to high extreme temperatures," he said.In addition to student-led projects, a unique feature of the MARS facility is its vertical integration and the capabilities it delivers. A student working at the center can see a product from start to finish.For one senior project, this means directly addressing sustainability: Three engineering students are now working to challenge established industry norms by utilizing recycled plastic materials for large-scale 3D printing."We partnered with a plastic recycler in Salt Lake that is supplying us with a material that's kno
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