Workshops
UNI Foundry 4.0 and Metal Casting Center host a variety of workshops throughout the year. Registration for current workshops and links to previous sessions can be found below.
METAL Bootcamp Workshop
Register to attend the University of Northern Iowa's Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning METAL Bootcamp held on 10/05/26 - 10/08/26! The METAL program aims to reverse the decline of the U.S. casting and forging workforce while inspiring a new generation of metallurgical professionals. Guided by industry leaders and academic experts, participants gain first hand exposure to metal casting and forging and discover real pathways to rewarding careers.
METAL bootcamps offer an unparalleled opportunity to dive deep into the world of casting. METAL boot camps hosted on college campuses are designed to ignite a passion for forging and casting in the next generation of innovators and builders.
The University of Northern Iowa Metal Casting Center is excited to host the four-day METAL bootcamps in the newly renovated Applied Engineering Building.
Earn your METAL Bootcamp Level 1 digital credential (Credly) certification by completing the prerequisite 8.5 hour at-your-own-pace online training and then attending the 4-day hands-on on campus experience.
Participants must complete the 8.5 hour online at-your own pace component before attending the in person METAL bootcamp. Register for the free online workshop and complete the METAL Level 1 digital credential (Credly) online workshop before the first day of the on-campus session.
Online Component Curriculum:
- Introduction to Metalcasting and Metalcasting Processes
- Metallurgy and Heat Treatment
- Nonferrous Metals and Alloys (Aluminum and Copper Based Alloys)
- Cast Irons and Steels
- Introduction to Casting Design and Modeling
- Additive Manufacturing (3-D Printing) Techniques for Casting
- Introduction to Forging and Rolling Processes
- Melting Processes
- Introduction to Post Processing
- Introduction to Mechanical Properties & Testing
- Careers in METAL
The free on-campus portion of METAL Bootcamp on 10/05/26 - 10/08/26 and run daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm in the Applied Engineering Building on the University of Northern Iowa campus. Lunch is provided daily and parking passes are available upon request.
In-Person Bootcamp Curriculum:
- Casting Design: Solidification Modeling / Flow Modeling
- Mold Making / Preparation Processes and Mold Materials
- Metallurgy & Heat Treatment: Casting, Forging, Rolling
- Aluminum Casting
- Casting Silicon Brass
- Post Processing
Participants must agree to the acknowledgements and participant standards of behavior within the registration in order to participate.
METAL Bootcamp is open to participants aged 14+. A parent or legal guardian must complete the registration form on behalf of participants who are under age 18 on the first day of camp.
The program is FREE of charge, but spaces are limited. We ask that you register only if you can attend all 4 days.
Any participants traveling to attend will need to arrange their own housing.
Questions about this event should be directed to: mcc-info@uni.edu.
Sign up for the METAL Bootcamp by completing the following steps:
Register for a face-to-face 4-day Bootcamp to secure your spot.
Open Bootcamps:
Register for the required online component workshop and complete this before the first day of your in person bootcamp.
Sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) and supported by the Department of Defense, METAL aims to empower individuals and engage them in the field of metallurgy.
Previous Workshops
Additive Manufacturing for Investment Casting Workshop Series
This workshop series offers a comprehensive understanding of additive manufacturing techniques and their application in the investment casting process. Beginning with an exploration of basic concepts, participants progress to specialized topics like FFF, SKA/DLA pattern printing, wax and PMMA materials, and gating and rigging practices. View this workshop on YouTube through the links below.
Workshop Series includes:
- Session 1: Introduction to Additive Manufacturing for Investment Casting
- Session 2: FFF and SLA/DLA Pattern Printing for Investment Casting
- Session 3: Wax and PMMA Pattern Printing for Investment Casting
- Session 4: Designing Castings for use with Additive Manufacturing
Robotic CAD to Path Programming for Casting Finishing Workshop Series
This workshop series offered practical lessons on utilizing offline programming for robotic arms. These lessons included instruction on creating a variety of robot programs using industrial robots to finish a cast metal part. View this workshop on YouTube through the links below.
Workshop Series includes:
- Session 1: Offline Robot Cell and Part Setup
- Session 2: Intro to Offline Programs
- Session 3: Part to Process Operations
- Session 4: Process to Part Operations
Development of Real-Time Process Sensors for Use in Metal Casting Equipment Workshop Series
Participants learned about the Internet of Things (IoT) and explored its possibilities. This workshop covered the skills needed to build process sensors and how to display the results on a desktop using a web browser. View this workshop on YouTube through the links below.
Workshop Series includes:
- Session 1: Getting started with a Raspberry Pi
- Session 2: Installing MQTT to facilitate data acquisition
- Session 3: Developing flows with Node-RED
- Session 4: Expanding with Arduino-based microcontrollers
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Workshop Series
Our Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) 8-part workshop series gave participants knowledge on constructing cost-effective IoT solutions to monitor industrial environments using accessible components and open-source software.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Workshop Series includes:
- Introduction to IIoT and Commonly Used Hardware Platform
- IoT Wireless Communication Overview
- Introduction to Python Programming
- Commonly used Sensors and Sensor Interface
- Implementation of a Flash Web Server for Simple IoT Applications
- Publish/Subscribe Protocol MQTT Implementation for IoT Applications
- Utilization of a Database in Cloud for IoT Applications
- Integration of Plotly Dash for Data Visualization
ABB Robotic Education Series
View our video series with UNI professors Julie Zhe Xhang and Rukmini Srikant as they demonstrate the capabilities of the ABB Trainer Robot.
Workshop Series includes: