The UNH John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center serves as a resource for industry; providing information, education, collaborations, and solutions related to advanced manufacturing, materials, and product innovations. Interconnecting manufacturers and the University, the Olson Center provides industry with access to the expertise and resources of the University and students and faculty with access to industrial environments and applications
Collaboration Models
Faculty & Staff Led Projects
These projects are fully conducted by university R&D faculty, staff, and interns. This option involves co-development by the university and industry personnel. Projects frequently have weekly or bi-weekly meetings with industry and industrial researcher space may be allocated at the Olson Center.
Student Integrated Projects
These projects are integrated with university R&D faculty, staff, and students as a part of the University’s core learning environment. These projects usually involve larger scopes of investigation or development with a longer project duration.
Student Led Projects
These projects are completed by university students in a learning structure. Projects conducted using this option tend to require the least industrial resource allocation with respect to budget and internal personnel time.
Recent Collaborations
Many individuals are not able to participate in activities such as hiking, cycling, kayaking, or playing recreational sports. The non-profit organization, Northeast Passage, aims to create an environment where those with disabling conditions can take part in such activities.
Northeast Passage is a UNH-based adaptive sports and recreation program that designs equipment which provides various types of recreational programs including recreational therapy, athlete development and adaptive sports and recreation; all of which can improve the quality of life and health of those with disabling conditions.
In the past couple of years, the Olson Center has collaborated with Northeast Passage on multiple projects. Our engineers and numerous manufacturing resources have been able to bring some of Northeast Passages’ designs to life.
During the 2021/2022 school year, mechanical engineering interns Riley Drew, Collin Edminster and Nate McCarvill worked with Northeast Passage to adapt a remote-controlled trigger system that released the arrow with a push of a separate button off the bow. If a person does not have full dexterity in their arm or hand, then they can use this Bluetooth-powered bow and arrow.
Over the summer of 2022 one of our mechanical engineering interns, Brooke Shepard, worked with Northeast Passage to develop new and innovative equipment. She created new designs and projects at the Olson Center. Brooke also attended trips such as kayaking, biking and many more.
The Olson Center collaborated during the fall of 2022 with Northeast Passage to design and create a trophy called the Homer Cup for their annual sled hockey tournament. Each year, Northeast Passage holds a tournament for individuals with disabilities to participate in this popular winter sport. The winning team’s name will annually be engraved on the trophy. To create the Homer Cup, the Olson Center used the 3-axis CNC Mill and designed the trophy with the software Fusion 360 with the help of interns, Steven Wilson, Yeonji Ha, Josephine Crotty, and intern director, Nathan Daigle. We are excited to see the Homer Cup put to great use and wish the upcoming participants in the Northeast Passage sled hockey tournament good luck!
The Olson Center is excited to continue to work with Northeast Passage in achieving their mission of a barrier-free world for individuals with disabilities.
Written by, Jesse Davis, Class of 2025
Over the summer of 2022, the Olson Center worked on a project for the Terrestrial Ecosystems Analysis Lab which is a part of the Earth Systems Research Center at UNH. Jack Hastings, along with the PI of the lab, Dr. Scott Ollinger, have been working to prototype low-cost light sensors to deploy in forest canopies. They are interested in understanding how light is intercepted and moves through different tree species.
The sensor will measure what specific wavelengths of light are reaching the sensor at different times of the day. Mechanical engineering intern, Seth Chartier, stepped in to build a prototype of the low-cost weatherproof sensor housing using our 3D printer. Eventually, Hastings wants to deploy many sensors in the forest to learn more about the quantity and quality of light received by trees.
Written by, Jesse Davis, class of 2025
In October of 2021, interns Reyer Bliss and Jessie Barker worked in partnership with Rimol Greenhouse Systems. Located in Hooksett, NH, Rimol Greenhouses has specialized in manufacturing various types of greenhouses for nearly 30 years.
In 2021, demand in such innovative and quality greenhouses began to increase, which is when the Olson Center stepped in to reconfigure Rimol’s manufacturing and production line. Over the next eight months, mechanical engineering interns, Reyer (junior) and Jessie (now graduated) worked with owner and founder, Bob Rimol and Sean, head of fabrication, to optimize their raw and processed material storage for efficiency between manufacturing and shipping facilities. In addition to this, Jessie and Reyer helped plan for their electrical and compressed air needs.
Jessie and Reyer drew plans in a program called SketchUp for a concise representation of how the production and organization of Rimol’s manufacturing could be improved. Each month, Jessie and Reyer visited Rimol Greenhouses to measure the amount of storage space available to be transformed into a manufacturing area. They also had the opportunity to have a first-hand look at the ongoing changes that were happening.
The Olson Center successfully conceptualized a solution for Rimol Greenhouses expansion and upgrades, allowing Rimol to continue to manufacture their industry-leading growing structures.
Written by, Jesse Davis, class of 2025
Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) developed a new Pitot-Static Tube Anemometer, a device that measures wind speed on top of MWOBS’ weather station tower. John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Centers' role as a 3rd party collaborator was to evaluate the performance of the anemometer. The center was tasked with data analysis, utilizing a wind tunnel, and benchtop testing. To gather data the machinery used was an oscilloscope, calibration device, and a GE Druck DPI 611 portable pressure calibrator, provided by MWOBS. The Pilot-Static Tube Anemometer is helpful for meteorologists and hikers to gauge the weather and make accurate evaluations on wind speed. The highest recorded speed recorded to date on this model anemometer is 171 miles per hour. Wind speeds as high as 231 miles per hour have been recorded on Mt. Washington’s summit previously. The olson center program manger, Nathan Daigle and interns Alex Charest and Jesse Barker worked on this project.
Written by, Jesse Davis, class of 2025
The Olson Center recently collaborated with LanAir, an incorporation that provides quality, cost efficient solutions to Aerospace customers worldwide. Olson Center interns, Delaney Cox and Josie Crotty spent about three weeks using the center’s compression machine to compare the sheer strength of a pin LanAir created to a sheer pin from an aircraft.
LanAir visited the Olson Center to view the sheer pin testing and discuss the data our interns, Delaney and Josie gathered. This is just one of the many exciting collaborations the Olson Center has had the opportunity to be apart of.
Written by, Jesse Davis, class of 2025
The University of New Hampshire has been heavily involved in the space industry through its use of innovative technology and advanced machinery. UNH’s Olson Center has begun collaborating with a corporation out of Laconia, New Hampshire called Rogue Space to deliver more space capabilities.
Rogue’s mission is to engineer the first generation of orbital robots by designing satellite vehicles and subsystems to provide on-orbit services to satellite operators. The Olson Center is involved in this process by offering our innovative machinery and interns thus helping Rogue give solutions to the New Space Age.
Over the summer, the center created various display models of Rogue satellites using the PRUSA 3D printer. Interns Sarah Souliere, Seth Chartier, Josephine Crotty, Delaney Cox, Ryan Tripp, Jack Penney, Gabrielle Peterson, and program manager, Nathan Daigle worked on this project.
Later in the summer, the Olson Center worked on the fabrication of parts for Rogue’s satellites that will eventually be sent up into space. The parts were made using the center’s 5-axis Mill which intern Riley Drew and program manager, Nathan Daigle worked on. The center worked with UNH’s Space Science Center to vacuum seal the parts which were then given to Rogue for their upcoming launch into space.
The Olson Center is excited about this collaboration and eager to continue working with Rogue Space.
Written by, Jesse Davis, class of 2025
