Daniel G. Sanders, FSME, FASM started his career in industry as a machinist in 1977, which led him to become an accomplished tool & die maker. Since then, he studied for multiple engineering degrees, all while working full-time concurrently at Boeing for a total of 42 years. He completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the U.W. (2008).
As a Senior Technical Fellow for Boeing Research & Technology, he worked to develop innovative manufacturing & materials technologies for aerospace products using methods such as friction stir welding, laser welding, superplastic forming, diffusion bonding, castings, linear friction welding, machine design, applied robotics, surface finishing, shot peening, testing of new titanium alloys and the advancement of several emerging additive manufacturing (AM) processes.
At Sugino Machine Ltd, he is working with a team of manufacturing machine tool development experts to create a new line of equipment that is an alternative to conventional shot peening. Sugino is currently testing new CNC surface finishing machines for additive manufactured metal parts, all based on harnessing water cavitation methodology found in nature (e.g. the colorful mantis shrimp's "weapon of choice") and applying it for automated industrial processing. Water is not only a renewable resource, but it is also the cleanest and most abundant natural solvent on Earth.
Dr. Sanders is a strong advocate of lifelong learning and is currently very active as an affiliate professor for the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Washington (U.W.). He currently serves as one of SME’s volunteers in support of ABET accredited manufacturing programs. As a hobby, Dr. Sanders enjoys tunneling in his hard rock gold mines located in the Cascade Mountain Range of Washington State. He also serves as a volunteer firefighter & rescue officer for the Kittitas County Fire District #7.