Advance laser cutting system for electrical steel sheets

*This is a KESS 2 East scholarship opportunity. Please note the eligibility information in the advert text or contact the team for further information.*

Here is an exciting opportunity to study a precise laser cutting technology which could lead to entirely new approaches in laser material processing.
The selected candidate will apply their analytical skills and ambition to develop advance laser cutting system for electrical steel sheets. This PhD project, will allow the student to develop transferable knowledge and skills in this most exciting and active field of Photonics research.

This Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship (KESS) project will be held in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science at the University of South Wales. KESS is a programme funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) awarded by the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) in the Welsh Government. The project will focus on advanced laser cutting system design. This will help to increase the applications of electrical steels in high efficient motors, generators and transformers and therefore will help to increase energy efficiency. The method developed in this project for processing multiple electrical steels are expected to be useful for processing other metal sheets.

The project is backed by Cogent Power (part of Tata Steel), a world-leading electrical steel manufacturer.

Programme of research:

Electrical steel sheets are required to cut into different sizes for manufacturing electrical motors, generators and transformers. Traditionally stamping method for cutting the steel sheets uses dies, which are time-consuming and expensive to make and can wear off with use. Compared with stamping method, laser-cutting method can change the cutting size and shape by programming and has the potential to process multiple sheets at a time. However, the speed of laser cutting method to process a single sheet is slower than that of stamping method because moving laser head require time.
This project is to design and build an advance laser cutting system to drastically increase the speed of laser cutting.

Studentship:
The studentship will cover the fees for a full-time PhD programme and pay a stipend of circa £14k p.a. There is also around £9k project support costs available for consumables, travel, minor equipment, training (including the KESS Grad School) and conference attendance.

The position is available from 1st April 2019.

Eligibility of Student:
To be eligible to hold a KESS studentship, you must:
• have a home address in East Wales area (details below)* at the time of registration.
• have the right to take up paid work in the East Wales area* on completion of the scholarship.
• be classified by the University as ‘home’ or ‘EU’ for tuition fees purposes according to the University’s guidelines.
• satisfy University of South Wales’s admissions criteria: see below, qualifications and experience and application process

* East Wales area covers: Vale of Glamorgan / Cardiff / Newport / Monmouthshire / Powys / Wrexham / Flintshire

Qualifications and experience:
Eligible applicants will:

• Have a good first degree (2i or higher) in Optics/Optical Engineering, Optoelectronics, Physics, or Electronics Engineering (or similar) with high level of optical content;
• Have some exposure to or knowledge of optical system design, electronic, mechanical design and electrical steels would be a distinct advantage
• Have computer literacy and familiarity with one or more of COMSOL, Zemax, Matlab, Labview and Solidwork are desirable.
• Be organized with excellent communication skills
• Possess a reasonable understanding of Physics, Optics or electronics
• Be highly self-motivated, with capacity to learn and develop Optical system simulation, design and implementation techniques
• Have well-developed and positively collaborative interpersonal skills
• Have an ability to deliver technical reports and communicate findings
• Be willing to travel and work in industrial settings

Application Process:

To download an application package, please visit: http://gro.southwales.ac.uk/studentships/KESSII/participant/

For any queries on eligibility, please contact: KESS Team at Research and Innovation Services, University of South Wales: [Email Address Removed] Tel: 01443 482578

For informal enquiries or further programme information, please contact: Dr Jungang Huang ([Email Address Removed]).

Closing date for applications: 27th January 2019