Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence

05/15/2026

CDME students are contributing to the development of emerging AI tools that could transform how augmented reality (AR) work constructions are created and deployed in manufacturing.

Through hands-on testing in real-world scenarios, students in the AIMS Division evaluated a new AI “companion” integrated into AR software, providing critical feedback to improve how complex assembly processes are translated into step-by-step digital workflows.

🔗 Read more:

Students test tool to help small manufacturers reduce the time required to build advanced AR workflows

05/07/2026

As graduation nears, the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence is proud to recognize six outstanding graduating students whose contributions have left an impact on the center!

Through hands-on, industry-driven projects, these students applied classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, advancing work in additive manufacturing, materials, medical devices, aerospace and cybersecurity.

Congratulations to all our graduating students! 🎓🎉

🔗 Read their stories:

Reflection on their time at CDME

05/01/2026

Congratulations to the student team of Henry Trowbridge, Ian Zalcberg and Ryan Schley for winning 3 awards, including the top prize, at CyberRECon 2026, a research competition hosted by the U.S. Cyber Command! 🏆

They took home the top prize, Commander's Cup, for best overall research, plus the Analyst and Best Student Poster Expo Awards. This marks the second year in a row that students from CDME won the Analyst Award!

The team developed a machine-learning and NLP-based framework to attribute ransomware attacks, with a focus on protecting defense-critical infrastructure such as water and wastewater systems. Their work analyzed real-world ransom notes to identify linguistic patterns that help connect attacks to specific threat actors.

Research team wins Commander's Cup for best overall research project

04/16/2026

High school students from the Linworth Experimental Program recently got to take part in a special METAL boot camp! 🔥🔨

In a week at CDME, students learned about advanced manufacturing and metallurgy through hands-on use of real metalcasting and forging equipment. They worked with green sand, 3D-printed sand and foam patterns to create brass and aluminum pieces.

At the end of the week, each student went home with four pieces they cast themselves: a mug, a METAL emblem , an anvil and a custom-designed part.

Read more about their experience:

Linworth Experiential Program students participate in metalcasting boot camp

04/14/2026

🔥 New METAL Boot Camp dates are here!

Build practical skills in metalcasting and forging through hands‑on experience free of charge. Participants gain exposure to key concepts and techniques, including casting design and modeling, mold preparation, heat treatment, post‑processing and more!

🔗 Learn more and register: https://cdme.osu.edu/metal

03/11/2026

CDME is partnering with MIT to transform how the next generation of manufacturing professionals learn and are trained. The Technologist Advanced Manufacturing Program (TechAMP) is a 12-month certificate curriculum that equips workers with essential manufacturing skills through both in-person and online training.

CDME is leading the development of immersive, interactive simulations that help learners practice real manufacturing concepts in safe, data‑rich digital environments. These 3D tools, designed by CDME research scientist Erik Verlage and a talented team of student research assistants, bring manufacturing process control, systems thinking, and operations management to life.

Through game‑based learning and hands-on virtual labs, participants build critical skills that translate directly to the factory floor, boosting efficiency, problem‑solving, and confidence.

Learn more about the TechAMP program: https://go.osu.edu/techamp

Below is an example of a simulation that participants will go through:

03/06/2026

Foundries still rely heavily on operator skill, and critical pour variables often go unmeasured, leading to inconsistent casting quality. CDME’s Materials and Process Division is leading an initiative to modernize foundry operations and bring digital process control to existing systems.

Funded by MxD, CDME is developing Melt Sense, a sensor‑based system that delivers real-time data and immediate operator feedback. By alerting teams when parameters fall outside acceptable ranges, Melt Sense helps ensure optimal pours and improve casting quality.

Learn more:

MxD-funded retrofit aims to improve casting quality and support metal casting modernization

03/02/2026

Happy ⭐ The M4 Division recently supported a complex two‑day surgical procedure by producing precise anatomic models for a patient with a large pelvic tumor.

The team created a full-scale pelvis model to help multiple surgical teams plan their approach and a sterilizable hemi‑pelvis model of the affected side for surgeons to reference directly in the operating room.

This collaborative effort supported six specialties, surgical oncology, orthopedics, plastics, neurosurgery, urology and vascular surgery.

02/19/2026

Cyber threats affect organizations of every size, and small businesses are often the most vulnerable. CDME's free, self‑paced online cybersecurity course is designed specifically for non‑technical audiences across all industries.

What the course covers:

• Essential cybersecurity concepts every small business should understand

• Common risks that frequently surprise business owners

• Foundational knowledge required for CMMC

Join CDME for an In‑Person Learning Session on February 24 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

🔗 Register here:

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02/13/2026

The M4 Division are using patients’ tumor imaging to create exact 3D printed models to improve the ability to remove cancer completely. In a recent study the team showed that 92% of surgeries that used a 3D model had complete tumor removal, compared to 74% without it.

NBC4 recently stopped by the lab to chat with M4 Division Faculty Director Kyle VanKoevering and some of our undergraduate students!

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A new study from The James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State is showing promising results for improving precise tumor removal in complex cancer patient…

02/10/2026

CDME has welcomed Carol Stillman as director of the M4 Division 👏 Stillman brings 20+ years of leadership in strategic planning and medical device product development.

The M4 Division is working to drive medical device innovation, support clinician needs through development of anatomic models and offer hands‑on experiences for the next generation of engineers.

Carol Stillman brings extensive medical device experience to CDME