Stratum Team
The Stratum Team is a graduate research group dedicated to advancing additive manufacturing technologies. Our work emphasizes Arc - Directed Energy Deposition (DED) of metal alloys and large-format polymer printing. By integrating both additive and subtractive processes, we push the boundaries of metal and polymer fabrication, driving innovation at the cutting edge of manufacturing research.
The name "stratum" is derived from the Latin "stratus", and means a layer or bed artificially made. The Stratum Team uses cutting-edge technology to research additive manufacturing techniques, which involves layering a material in complex arrangements to form parts which could not have been formed by traditional subtractive manufacturing means.
Arc-Directed Energy Deposition (Arc-DED)
A wire-fed metal AM process that uses an electric arc as the heat source. It deposits large volumes of material quickly, making it ideal for structural parts. Our research focuses on MIG welding-based deposition, robotic manipulation, and controlling microstructure during deposition to make high-performance alloys viable in this high-rate process.
Large-Format Polymer Printing
Uses thermoplastic extrusion to produce lightweight, structural parts at meter scale. Our work explores toolpath design, thermal behavior, and structural performance to extend its use in aerospace, tooling, and rapid prototyping applications.
Additive Manufacturing (AM)
The process of building parts layer by layer directly from digital models (3D printing). Unlike traditional subtractive methods, AM enables complex geometries, reduced waste, and on-demand production in metals, polymers, and composites.