America Makes makes big impression on visitor

YOUNGSTOWN

T.J. McCue knew about America Makes; he knew people who had talked about the creation of the facility, yet he was still surprised and impressed by what he saw on his visit Tuesday.

McCue, who writes about 3-D technology, came to America Makes as part of his 3DRV project that focuses on looking at how 3-D manufacturing technology is being blended into industry. The 3-D manufacturing process builds products by adding material to create an item, as opposed to standard manufacturing, which makes items by cutting away from larger pieces of material. There is minimal waste in 3-D manufacturing.

“This is like a 3-D shop on steroids,” he said of America Makes. “Even Ford doesn’t have the diversity in its equipment.”

McCue said he expected America Makes to be more of a bureaucratic location, not somewhere where a lot of projects were being done.

Read more of his observations in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.