About the Project
Overview
Industry is embracing the capabilities of additive manufacture and this is set to rise by approximately 15 per cent per year, increasing demand for secondary finishing processes and directly impacting on the need for a hybrid manufacturing vision.
This funded studentship, in collaboration with Renishaw, is an exciting opportunity for you to carry out research that could significantly benefit the UK manufacturing industry. You will contribute to a new vision and rationale for twenty-first-century manufacture that reduces scrap rates, whilst empowering the notion of ‘zero defect’ and ‘first time right’. As part of your project, you will carry out research into
• The design of a hybrid manufacturing platform
• The development of Cartesian and non-Cartesian structures to support the manufacturing platform
• design rules for additive and hybrid manufacture: design for hybrid manufacture (DfM 2.0)
• The generation of a standardised process planning file format for intelligent control of multiple processes using a hybrid manufacturing format (.hmf)
• process planning methods for combined independent process integration
• closed loop manufacture: integration of inspection and metrology technologies directly into the manufacturing process.
You will join our highly ranking Department of Mechanical Engineering, dedicated to carrying out world-leading research and rated as ‘internationally excellent’ in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. You will work alongside researchers with expertise in design and manufacturing and Advanced Machining Processes and Systems (AMPS).
Your project will be undertaken in collaboration with Renishaw, the UK’s sole manufacturer of metal additive layer machines, as well as a secondary industrial partner (Moog, in the first instance).
Background
Products are typically manufactured using a range of disparately organised processes and systems. With the advent of additive manufacture, the need for a range of manufacturing processes is being challenged.
Additive manufacturing, particularly metal additive layer manufacture, provides the ability to create highly complex components; however, the quality of these components is generally poor and so additional finishing processes are required. This can be achieved using a variety of manufacturing processes including laser polishing, laser ablation and CNC machining. Currently, this is undertaken in an ad-hoc manner without precise logical sequencing and with limited understanding or metrics on how and when to add material to given products or part.
With hybrid manufacture there is the distinct possibility to radically change the current face of manufacture, by providing a new logical rationale that can best utilise individual capabilities of independent processes on a single hybrid platform. This will allow parts to be manufactured from zero (additive) or augmented based on existing geometries or from a billet of material.
Entry requirements
You should already have, or expect to obtain, a first class Honours undergraduate degree or MSc distinction in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant subject. You will also need proof of English language ability if you are a non-native English speaker. We accept:
• IELTS 6.5 (at least 6.0 in each of the four components) or
• PTE Academic (62 minimum and no less than 59 in any component).
Candidates should have a good background in design, manufacturing processes, additive manufacturing, CNC machining or systems engineering or other suitable fields. Computer programming skills, together with computer simulation experience and control experience, are desirable. The position will involve computational and laboratory work, particularly for hybrid platform development.
If you are interested in carrying out research in another area of expertise, you can still apply for one of our funded studentships by finding a supervisor from one of our internationally recognised research centres and contacting them with your research proposal. Find out more about our research centres at www.bath.ac.uk/engineering/research/
Funding Notes
This University Research Studentship provides you with funding for three years full time (six years part time) and includes:
• Tuition fees (Home/EU and overseas)
• Annual stipend at 2015/16 rate (Home/EU only)
Award holders may also receive a training support grant of up to £1000 per year of study.