USI's CARED assists Frontier-Kemper in showcasing product line

Frontier-Kemper Constructors, Inc. (FKCI), a leader in underground and heavy civil construction, recently partnered with USI's Center for Applied Research and Economic Development (CARED) and the Applied Engineering Center to create a three-dimensional, scaled model of their FKC-Lake Shore division's 20-ton Service Hoist. Printed in the fall of 2014, the model will give Frontier-Kemper customers a hands-on experience at trade shows across the country.

Frontier-Kemper is well known for engineering and constructing deep shafts and tunnels. The company, active since the early 1900's, built railways in North Dakota and have since built a reputation for providing quality tunnels, shafts and mining systems throughout America.

Due to the incredible size of FKC-Lake Shore equipment, it is a challenge to represent pieces through photographs. Using a 3D printer in USI's Applied Engineering Center, the company was able to print a visually appealing model (at 1/24 scale) that could easily be transported to trade shows around the country.

Under the supervision of David Ellert, USI instructor in engineering, Alexander Flick, a student engineering technician in the Applied Engineering Center, printed a series of 3D models for Frontier-Kemper, creating a five-piece replica of a Service Hoisting System used to transport people or objects from the bottom to the top of a mine shaft and vice versa. Each piece of the model was printed separately on a Fortus 400mc 3D printer using a common plastic called Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. The print job took 13 days, running nonstop, to create each layer of the model.

Once printed, the hoist model was painted by Frontier-Kemper and will be displayed at the American Exploration and Mining Association's annual trade show in December in Reno, Nevada. The company says the use of cutting-edge 3D technology will set them apart from other show competitors.