3D Printing for Lighting News

Contact: N. Narendran
narenn2@rpi.edu or (518) 276-7176

Rensselaer students present research at 3D printing for lighting conference

August 24, 2023
Lighting Research Center | Troy, New York

Two students from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute were invited by the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer to present their undergraduate research at the 3D Printing for Lighting conference, which was held this week as part of SPIE Optics + Photonics 2023 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Hunter Heath, who is studying electrical and electronics engineering, presented "Impact of ink deposition and trace path variations on 3D-printed antenna performance." This research, co-authored with recently graduated Ph.D. student Akila Udage, LRC director of research Professor Nadarajah Narendran, Ph.D., and RPI student Max Destil, explored the integration and characterization of 3D-printed antennas for lighting products.

Amatullah Kose, who graduated from RPI's architecture program this past May, presented "Insulation properties of material for 3D-printed interior building panels." This research, co-authored with Dr. Narendran and LRC senior research scientist Jean Paul Freyssinier, investigated the insulative properties of 3D printing materials and 3D-printed architectural elements. Ms. Kose will be continuing on to the master's program in lighting at the LRC this fall.

The SPIE 3D Printing for Lighting conference is the first conference to explore the opportunities and challenges of 3D printing for the lighting industry. The conference's objective was to set the stage for discussions about the future of 3D printing for lighting components and systems through nearly 30 research and state-of-the-technology presentations, as well as discussion and networking events.

Over the course of two days, experts from both lighting and 3D printing/additive manufacturing presented technology overviews, experiences, and detailed research regarding 3D printing methods, materials, and testing for lighting systems and optical, electronic, and thermomechanical components.

Professor Nadarajah Narendran, Ph.D., director of research at Rensselaer’s LRC and a SPIE Fellow, initiated this conference to help bring awareness about the potential benefits of 3D printing of lighting and its ability to transform the lighting industry. “Hosting this event with SPIE helped us to engage an audience of lighting and 3D printing industry professionals who have a shared interest in 3D printing of lighting components and systems. Our students did a fantastic job with presenting their research and adding insight to the conference forums,” he said.