Introduction to the FrED Factory
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec), one of the largest universities in Latin America, have been collaborating for over a decade to develop innovative academic and research initiatives. Their primary focus has been on nanoscience and nanotechnology, with a recent emphasis on design and smart manufacturing. This collaboration has now expanded to include undergraduate education, with seven Tec undergrads working alongside their peers at MIT in the FrED Factory.
What is the FrED Factory?
The FrED Factory is an "in-the-lab" teaching and learning factory where students and researchers can engage firsthand in the transition from prototype development to small-scale production. According to Brian Anthony, MIT.nano associate director and principal research scientist in the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, "The FrED Factory serves as a factory-like education platform for manufacturing scale-up." The product of the FrED Factory is FrED kits, which are tabletop manufacturing kits that produce fiber and teach smart manufacturing principles.
Collaboration Between MIT and Tec
The FrED factory was originally built by a group of MIT graduate students in 2022 as their thesis project. They adapted and scaled the original design of the device into something that could be manufactured into multiple units at a substantially lower cost. The resulting computer-aided design files were shared with Tec de Monterrey for use by faculty and students. Since launching the FrED curriculum at Tec in 2022, MIT has co-hosted two courses led by Tec faculty. New this academic year, undergraduate Tec students are participating in FrED Factory research immersions, where they engage in collaborative FrED projects at MIT and then return to Tec to implement their knowledge.
Student Projects in the FrED Factory
The Tec undergrads are divided into groups working on specific projects, including the development of an Education 4.0 Framework for FrED, Immersive Technology (AR) for Manufacturing Operations, Gamifying Advanced Manufacturing Education in FrED Factory, and Immersive Cognitive Factory Twins. Sergio Siller Lobo, a Tec student, is working on the development of the education framework for FrED. He and other students are revising the code to make the interface more student-friendly and enable students to learn while working with the devices.
Benefits of the FrED Factory
The FrED Factory provides an environment where students can experiment with machines and learn from their failures. According to Russel Bradley, a PhD student in MechE supervised by Anthony, "The process of designing and manufacturing FrEDs is an educational experience in itself." The FrED factory gives students the valuable opportunity to get to know what a factory is like and experience an industry environment without having to go off campus. The data gained from the workstations will be used to teach different topics about manufacturing, including the benefits and drawbacks of automation versus manual labor.
Conclusion
The collaboration between MIT and Tec in the FrED Factory is a unique and innovative approach to undergraduate education. By working together, students and researchers from both institutions can gain valuable insights into the complexities of scaling manufacturing operations and develop new ways to teach manufacturing principles. The FrED Factory is a game-changer in the field of education, providing students with hands-on experience and practical knowledge that will prepare them for the challenges of the industry. As the project continues to grow and expand, it is likely to have a significant impact on the way manufacturing education is approached in the future.
