Tim Simpson’s AM Training, Design and Innovation Journey
3D printed replica from Doob-3D made from Tim’s “digital twin” which was created using full-body 3D imaging technology.
While TBGA ADDvisor® Tim Simpson is winding down one role with AM Magazine, he’s taking on a new adventure as co-host of AM Radio. This is the Tim we know – a jack of all trades – enlightening the AM community with training, design and innovation expertise. He specializes in design for additive manufacturing, and has helped train and educate more than 1500 industry practitioners to realize AM’s unique value proposition in aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, defense, energy, medical, oil and gas and space industries.
This past October, Tim received the Design Theory and Methodology Award from the Design Engineering Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He was recognized for his contributions to the field of product family and product platform design, which involves the design and development of a group of products based on a common product platform to improve manufacturing operations.
For the past six years, he has written a monthly column in both Modern Machine Shop (MMS) magazine and Additive Manufacturing Media with the last article appearing this year under the title, “AM's Progress: How Far Additive Manufacturing Has Come in 6 Years.” As they say, all good things must come to an end, and so it is for his column, not so much for additive manufacturing! In the article, Tim reflects on how additive manufacturing has progressed since he began his column six years ago.
Today, he is instrumental in TBGA Training and is co-host of AM Radio with Stephanie Hendrixson of Additive Manufacturing Media. In the latest episode, Scaling Additive Manufacturing Means Scaling its Workforce, Tim and Stephanie discuss education options for AM, training within companies and in-demand skills.
Watch for him on more episodes of AM Radio podcast and be sure to meet him in person as he leads the Design for Additive Manufacturing track at Formnext Forum Austin this August.
Dr. Tim Simpson has more than 25 years of experience teaching students, designers and engineers about 3D printing and AM. He is Co-Director of Penn State’s Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D). Tim has been at the leading edge of the recent wave of AM innovation and industry adoption. He has extensive experience with powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition and non-destructive inspection technologies. He specializes in design for additive manufacturing, and he has helped train and educate more than 1500 industry practitioners to realize AM’s unique value proposition in aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, defense, energy, medical, oil and gas and space industries. Tim was on the founding team of America Makes and spearheads multiple workforce, education and outreach efforts at all levels across the country. For six years, Tim was a monthly contributor to an AM column in Modern Machine Shop and Additive Manufacturing Media. He currently is the Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design and Manufacturing at Penn State and a co-host of AM Radio.
Tim Simpson’s Accomplishments
Additive Manufacturing Media / Modern Machine Shop 6-year Columnist
Developed and delivered new AM curriculum customers in aerospace, defense, oil and gas, maritime and space industries
Co-authored Springer book chapter summarizing the state of Additive Manufacturing Training & Education with John Barnes
Invited speaker for the 2022 Additive Manufacturing Conference at IMTS
Headline speaker for new 3D Printing Workshop for Job Shops at 2022 IMTS
Invited speaker for the 2022 MITRE Advanced Manufacturing Trust Showcase
Invited speaker for Engineering Week at L3 Harris Corporation
Invited speaker for Innovation Week at Volvo Trucks
Invited keynote speaker for Manufacturing Summit