IO-5 - Polymer and 3D Printing Technology and Applications

Content developed by ESTIA (ECOLE SUPERIEURE DES TECHNOLOGIES INDUSTRIELLES AVANCEES) France

Students will evaluate current and emerging rapid manufacturing and prototyping technologies for polymer based processes and thereby develop a critical understanding of how these processes can be employed and exploited by product developers and manufacturers. In depth study of process parameters and process characteristics will also inform students abilities to control and manipulate the process for competitive advantage.

Methods and approaches

This module aims to develop knowledge in:

• Understanding of process parameters necessary for the manufacturing of polymer based ALM components and to understand future developments in advanced manufacturing technologies;
• Understanding of the design processes and methodologies that are required for manufacturing using advanced ALM processes and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations;
• Order to analyse case study data in order to select and apply advanced processing both to manufacture and finish parts taking account of a range of commercial and industrial constraints.

Competences to be developed by students

The module will present students with the available tools and competences associated with the classification of materials such as but not exclusively:

• Use and application of ALM based processes;
• Parameter change and effect;
• The design and use of supporting structures if needed and how they should be adopted;
• Accuracy, surface finish, and integrity of product manufactured and possible failure modes from individual processes.

Innovation

Project work will be the central pillar of the module. Industrially relevant case study material will be used to emulate real life components and failure modes to stimulate the investigative practices needed to understand the type of failure mode together with the necessary redesign needed in order to prevent the recurrence of the quality issue being investigated. Innovative delivery methods will be developed for the case study project where the virtual learning platform can be exploited and investigation can be on going in multiple locations and the results shared and disseminated in a European distributed group environment.

Impact

Open educational practice available for replication potentially in all engineering HE institutions in Europe.

Transferability potential

The intention is that this module and its content will be used for the Masters award and in addition can be used as a standalone module for CPD, upskilling and platform for industry to develop new materials for product manufacture associated with ALM processes.