The Faces beyond Our Research

#IamDAP: Max Voshage

Since the foundation of the DAP Chair in 2016, Max has been on board as a research associate. He has been part of the Aachen 3D printing ecosystem since 2010 and is particularly active in the field of Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). In his dissertation, he is working on the processing of zinc-magnesium alloys using LPBF. The overall goal is the fabrication of bioresorbable and patient-specific implants. Since 2018 he is group leader of the Advanced Processes group.

Is there a specific application example for your research?

One application example is large-area bone defects. They are often caused by tumors. In this case, entire bone areas have to be removed and then filled up again. In the future, the investigated zinc-magnesium implants can play a major role in this filling. Furthermore, permanent bone implants, as they are currently used, also have their limits especially when used for children in the growth years: they may have to be regularly adjusted in complex operations. In addition to the accuracy of fit and the stability of additively manufactured implants, the focus, in this use case, is particularly on the resorbing factor of the implant, since the patient-specific design supports self-healing of the bone enormously.

That sounds like pioneering research for implantology and surgery!
In winter you are drawn to the snow on the slopes, you like skiing. I hope there have been no bone injuries for you yet! Do you have a favorite slope or ski resort?

Given the distance from Aachen to the mountains, I’m happy about any opportunity to get into the snow – I’m not picky about the location. It should be said, however, that neither the indoor ski slope in Landgraaf nor the one in Neuss can replace the fresh powder on the slopes and the crackling under the shoes in the snow. So far, I luckily haven’t broken anything on vacation.

Fortunately,…!
That would certainly have gotten in the way of your other passion: You’ve recently finished repairing an old Schwalbe. How did you get to this?

I bought the Schwalbe from my first salary in 2016. The orange beauty has always served me well in the “mountainous” Aachen, until the splined shaft broke…not even Additive Manufacturing could help and the engine had to be overhauled. The repair went on and on for a few years and the orange Schwalbe in front of the RCDPP building became a popular influencer motif at the RWTH campus. The repair was eventually put into professional hands and with another month’s salary, the good piece is now better than ever.