Dr. Frank Liou, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Missouri S&T, recently received an award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) for a paper he co-authored.

The paper, “A Rapid Manufacturing Process for High Performance Precision Metal Parts,” was selected for the 2009 Dick Aubin Distinguished Paper Award by the SME Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing Community. Liou co-authored the paper with Mary Kinsella, Ph.D., chief of metals processing for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Liou received the award at the Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing 2009 Conference in Schaumburg, Ill., on May 12.

The paper discusses applications of a hybrid metal manufacturing system which combines the best traits of additive manufacturing processes and conventional machining operations. The hybrid system can directly produce finished metal products or parts for high-performance applications that withstand high stress or high temperature.