W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at UTEP

09/17/2026

The W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at UTEP is excited to be at IMTS 2026!

This year, we’re showcasing a collaborative project with the NMSU Department of Industrial Engineering designed to make 3D printing easier: text to printed part.

The idea is to simplify the process of going from a description of a desired part to a physical component by automating the steps in between.

And there’s no better place to demonstrate it than IMTS. As the largest manufacturing technology show in the Western Hemisphere, IMTS 2026 is bringing together 1,788 exhibiting companies across 1.17 million square feet of exhibit space, with attendance on pace to exceed 90,000 people from all 50 states and 113 countries.

We’re also proud to participate in the Smartforce Student Summit, where we have the opportunity to introduce young people to 3D printing, automation, digital manufacturing, and the future of advanced manufacturing.

For our team at the Keck Center, it’s exciting to share our work on such a large stage while helping inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators.

09/08/2026

The W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation has officially kicked off the Fall 2026 semester!

Our semester kickoff is an important opportunity to bring student researchers together and establish a strong foundation for the months ahead. This year’s meeting included team icebreakers, student expectations, safety, resources, and other important information to help our students begin the semester prepared and connected.

Beyond reviewing procedures and expectations, the kickoff gives new and returning students an opportunity to come together as a team before diving into another semester of research and hands-on work.

With everyone aligned and ready to get started, we look forward to another productive semester of learning, collaboration, and innovation in additive manufacturing.

Here’s to a great Fall 2026 semester at the Keck Center!

08/07/2026

Keck Center students and researchers recently had the opportunity to attend and present their research at the 2026 Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) Symposium in Austin, Texas!

Presenting at a technical conference is an important part of the research experience. Our students were able to share their work with the additive manufacturing community, discuss ideas with researchers and professionals, and learn about new developments taking place across the field.

The experience also provided an opportunity to build connections, gain new perspectives, and strengthen the communication skills that are essential for future researchers and engineers.

We’re proud of our students for representing the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation and contributing to the ongoing exchange of ideas in additive manufacturing.

07/02/2026

Dr. Carney and Dr. Medina, along with JP Garcia and Cristian Bañuelos, represented the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at AMPM2026, a major conference focused on metal additive manufacturing.

The team took part in technical presentations, connected with experts across the additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy industries, and helped showcase the Keck Center’s continued role in advancing research, innovation, and hands-on student development.

Proud to see our team contributing to conversations shaping the future of metal AM!

06/16/2026

Keck students are reaching new heights!

Several W.M. Keck Center students are also part of UTEP’s Sun City Summit Rocket Team, a student-run multidisciplinary team that designs, builds, tests, and launches high-powered rockets. The team recently participated in the 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition, hosted by ESRA in Midland, Texas, where student rocketry teams from around the world come together to test their engineering skills on a major stage.

We are incredibly proud to see Keck students applying their creativity, technical knowledge, and hands-on experience beyond the lab and into high-level competitions like IREC.

Way to represent UTEP, engineering, and the Keck Center! ⛏️🚀

05/29/2026

https://www.additivemanufacturing.media/articles/utep-students-win-2026-am-in-steel-competition-with-3d-printed-multi-tool-

A team of students from UTEP have designed and 3D printed the winning metal multi-tool for the third annual AM in Steel competition.

05/12/2026

We were happy to host faculty members from the UTEP Chemistry Department for a visit to the AMAC facility, home to the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation and the Aerospace Center.

The visit was a great opportunity to share our work, showcase the facility, and continue building relationships across departments at the university. In addition to our ongoing connections with industry, government, and engineering partners, we value opportunities to collaborate with faculty and researchers from many different disciplines.

Interdisciplinary partnerships are an important part of advancing research, supporting students, and creating new opportunities for innovation at UTEP.

Thank you to the Chemistry faculty for visiting. We look forward to continuing these conversations and exploring future collaborations.

04/16/2026

At the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation, students are using engineering to solve practical challenges.

Sayuri Komiyama, working under Dr. Frank Medina, played a key role in a project supporting ROTC training and competition preparation.

Her work focused on reverse engineering a critical component. Using a high-precision 3D scanner, she created a digital twin of the original part to ensure accuracy. She then modified the mesh design to incorporate UTEP representation and manufactured 12 identical components using a Prusa XL 3D printer.

Through this project, Sayuri strengthened her understanding of reverse engineering accuracy, material selection, and the importance of choosing the right manufacturing process. She also gained hands-on experience optimizing parameters to achieve consistent, high-quality results.

04/11/2026

🚀 What a moment to witness together!

The Keck Center community recently gathered with family friends and peers from the Aerospace Center and the UTEP Miguel Loya Engineering Department to watch the splashdown of Artemis II—and it was nothing short of inspiring.

Seeing innovation, teamwork, and exploration come to life reminds us why we do what we do every day in the lab. Congratulations to NASA and the entire Artemis team for this incredible achievement!

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04/02/2026

As part of our Internal Keck CAD Contest, participants were challenged to design a 3D printed part for guests and promotional opportunities, something that could be produced efficiently in one color while representing what Keck does best.

Congratulations to Emilio Ceniceros, whose winning design featured a small orange pick with the UTEP logo at the center. Emilio developed the part using DFAM (Design for Additive Manufacturing) principles, creating a design that is practical, recognizable, and aligned with effective additive manufacturing strategies.