Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT) was established under the University’s Act 2012 by the Government of Kenya in December 2012. It is a Public University that focuses exclusively on Technology. It is the successor of Kimathi University College of Technology (KUCT), a constituent college if Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), that was established in 2007. The University offers a wide range of programmes both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level in various Schools and Institutes.

Supervision: Prof. Eng Jean B. BYIRINGIRO, Mr. Peterson Nyaga

Summary:

Additive manufacturing (AM), one of the cornerstones of Industry 4.0, has recently gained popularity. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is a part of AM, operating at the heart of the new technology. The growing competitiveness has prompted considerable changes in the product development process for corporations and their designers. The topic of unit cost in AM remains inconclusive. While some authors have found that the relationship between production quantity and unit cost is absent in AM, others recent studies have argued that the average unit cost in AM depends on the manufactured quantity. Currently, 3 | P a g e the unit cost of AM can be higher than traditional methods, as most applications that have been reported use AM to produce small-scale products. This remains an obstacle to realizing the full potential of AM technology, as it can overshadow the potential positive benefits of increasing AM. This internship aimed at democratizing 3D printing and making technology available to individual entrepreneurs or the public. In addition, it will address the need for knowledge to achieve behavioral changes, arguing that an inexperienced 3D printing user would produce significant waste, use more material, and require longer printing times.

Internship Project:

• Designing and Fabrication of a 3D Printer and an application using advanced sustainable technologies

Eligibility:

•  Minimum SMSCP Level 1
•  Minimum Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electronic & Computer Engineering, Control Engineering and Instrumentation, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering

Tasks and Responsibilities:

•  Design for manufacturing and maintainability
•  Finite Element Analysis
•  Fabrication and Mechanical Metalworks
•  PCB Design
•  Embedded Systems Programming
•  Networking (IoT)
•  Development of G-Codes for additive manufacturing
•  Application Development
•  3D-Printer integration (Integrators)
•  Compliance with relevant standards
•  Prognostics and Health Management of Industrial Assets
•  Use of sustainable technologies
•  Documentation

Benefits to Students:

•  Possibility of Masters Scholarship
•  KShs 30,000
•  Full-time access to Siemens Centre facilities
•  EBK Registration Support