Yun Bai

Yun earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with summa cum laude from Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly the University of Missouri-Rolla). At Missouri S&T he gained his research experience with Additive Manufacturing by participating undergraduate research programs, during which he worked with a Direct Metal Deposition system. He studied and characterized the residual stress developed in printed metals and later developed a visualized simulation program for laser-aided metal deposition processes. He was sold on the values and potential of Additive Manufacturing and decided to pursue a graduate degree and get more involved in Additive Manufacturing research.

Yun joined the DREAMS lab in August 2013 to pursue a direct path Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, advised and mentored by Dr. Chris Williams. His main research focus was to investigate Additive Manufacturing of metals via Binder Jetting. Through the support of NSF CAREER awarded to Dr. Chris Williams, he established the Binder Jetting manufacturing process of copper cellular structures, a material that is challenging to make in many Additive Manufacturing systems. The goal of his doctoral research is to develop a fundamental understanding of Binder Jetting and advance the technology by optimizing the process, expanding the material portfolios and identifying new technological improvement opportunities. To achieve this goal, he has developed a solid background in material science and technology, and persistently utilize his expertise in powder processing, inkjet printing and nanotechnology to push the technology forward. Currently, his research effort is to develop a novel ink for Binder Jetting of metals.

Having witnessed the growth of Additive Manufacturing, he has become an advocate of the technology and an enthusiastic researcher. While working in the DREAMS lab, Yun has an opportunity to work with a broad range of AM systems (FDM, SLA, SLS, etc.). He also has a passion in teaching, which involves him in some outreach, education, and student mentoring activities.

Yun earned his Ph.D. in 2018 and left the lab to work for Desktop Metal.