Niechen Chen, Ph.D.

Education

• Ph.D. Industrial Engineering, Iowa State University, 2018
• M.S. Industrial Engineering, Iowa State University, 2015
• B.Eng. Material Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, 2013

Research Interests

• Manufacturing process automation
• Hybrid manufacturing systems (Additive/Subtractive Manufacturing)
• CAD/CAM (Computational geometry, Design for Manufacturability)
• Digital manufacturing
• AI/ML in manufacturing process planning

Professional Associations and Honors

• Outstanding Young Researcher Award, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Northern Illinois University, 2024
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)

Selected Publications

• Kakaraparthi, S., Chen, N. “A multi-material additive manufacturing virtual prototyping method for design to improve part strength.” Int J Adv Manuf Technol 127, 1505–1516 (2023).
• Kakaraparthi, S., Tatara, R., Chen, N., “A new boundary interlock geometry design pattern to strengthen FDM part multi-material interface.” Manufacturing Letters. 33, 664-669.
• Chen, N., "An evolutionary neural network approach to machining process planning: A proof of concept." Procedia Manufacturing 53 (2021): 690-696.
• Chen, N., and Frank, M.C. “Design for Manufacturing: Geometric Manufacturability Evaluation for Five-Axis Milling”. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, published August 2021, Vol 143.
• Chen, N., and Frank, M.C. "Process planning for hybrid additive and subtractive manufacturing to integrate machining and directed energy deposition." Procedia Manufacturing 34 (2019): 205-213.
• Chen, N., and Frank, M.C. “Automated post machining process planning for a new hybrid manufacturing method of additive manufacturing and rapid machining” Rapid Prototyping Journal, Volume 24, Issue 7. 2018
• Eldakroury, M., Chen, N., and Frank, M.C. “A New Method for Locating Candidate Substrates for Multi Axis Hybrid Manufacturing Systems” Rapid Prototyping Journal, Volume 24, Issue 3. 2018

Work Experience

• Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Northern Illinois University (2018-present)