Custer Speaker Series — Dr. Shanelle Foster
Open to the public, our speaker series is designed for students and community members to hear from professionals on topics that broaden attendees’ understanding of the world and add depth to experiences. It is also an opportunity for our alumni and community members to engage with our students, potential future employees.
“The Benefits of Additive Manufacturing for Development of the Next Generation Electric Machines”
About this talk: We’ve all heard the buzz: “Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is redefining what’s possible – delivering lightweight, customized parts with intricate designs that traditional methods could never achieve.” These technologies are often cited as key drivers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Recent advancements have expanded material options and opened doors to applications in medical, aerospace, and automotive industries. But are we truly on the brink of a paradigm shift – moving from the question of “what can be manufactured” to “what can be imagined and validated”?
In this talk, we will examine the benefits and limitations of various additive manufacturing technologies. The wide range of materials used in electrical machine manufacturing offers an ideal lens to assess the current state of additive manufacturing and its potential for widespread adoption. For critical applications involving magnetic and conductive materials, understanding goes far beyond microstructural properties. We will explore why it is essential for electrical engineers to study these capabilities now – so that additive manufacturing evolves to deliver meaningful societal benefits in the future. This presentation will include insights from past and ongoing research conducted in the Michigan State University Electrical Machines and Power Electronics Research (EMPowER) Laboratory.
About Dr. Foster: Dr. Shanelle N. Foster (Senior Member, IEEE) received B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Michigan State University. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at her alma mater, where she directs the Electrical Machines and Power Electronics Research (EMPowER) Laboratory. Her research interests include analysis, control, reliability, and manufacturability of rotating and linear electrical machines and drives.