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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/L01534X/1
Title: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing
Principal Investigator: Tuck, Professor CJ
Other Investigators:
Sutcliffe, Professor CJ Wildman, Professor R Harris, Professor RA
Clare, Professor A Dalgarno, Professor KW Hague, Professor RJ
Ashcroft, Professor IA Engstrom, Dr D Goodridge, Professor R
Dickens, Professor P
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
3T Additive Manufacturing Ltd Altair Engineering Ltd AWE
BMW British Engines Limited British Gear Association
Constellium UK Limited Defence Science & Tech Lab DSTL Delcam International plc
Dyson Technology Econolyst Ltd Eltek Semiconductors Ltd
Fabrisonic Fluorocarbon Company GE (General Electric Company)
LPW Technology Ltd (UK) Materialise Ltd Morgan Matroc
MSC Software Ltd PPG Industries Renishaw
Serious Organised Crime Agency SOCA Stryker Orthopaedics TWI Ltd
Department: Faculty of Engineering
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: Centre for Doctoral Training
Starts: 01 April 2014 Ends: 28 March 2024 Value (£): 4,620,623
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Manufacturing Machine & Plant
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
23 Oct 2013 EPSRC CDT 2013 Interviews Panel F Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
Additive Manufacturing (AM) often known by the term three-dimensional printing (3DP) has been acknowledged as a potential manufacturing revolution. AM has many advantages over conventional manufacturing techniques; AM techniques manufacture through the addition of material - rather than traditional machining or moulding methods. AM negates the need for tooling, enabling cost-effective low-volume production in high-wage economies and the design & production of geometries that cannot be made by other means. In addition, the removal of tooling and the potential to grow components and products layer-by-layer means that we can produce more from less in terms of more efficient use of raw materials and energy or by making multifunctional components and products. The proposed Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing has the vision of training the next generation of leaders, scientists and engineers in this diverse and multi-disciplinary field. As AM is so new current training programmes are not aligned with the potential for manufacturing and generally concentrate on the teaching of Rapid Prototyping principles, and whilst this can be useful background knowledge, the skills and requirements of using this concept for manufacturing are very different. This CDT will be training cohorts of students in all of the basic aspects of AM, from design and materials through to processes and the implementation of these systems for manufacturing high value goods and services. The CDT will also offer specialist training on aspects at the forefront of AM research, for example metallic, medical and multi-functional AM considerations. This means that the cohorts graduating from the CDT will have the background knowledge to proliferate throughout industry and the specialist knowledge to become leaders in their fields, broadening out the reach and appeal of AM as a manufacturing technology and embedding this disruptive technology in company thinking. In order to give the cohorts the best view of AM, these students will be taken on study tours in Europe and the USA, the two main research powerhouses of AM, to learn from their international colleagues and see businesses that use AM on a daily basis.

One of the aims of the CDT in AM is to educate and attract students from complementary basic science, whether this be chemistry, physics or biology. This is because AM is a fast moving area. The benefits of having a CDT in AM and coupling with students who have a more fundamental science base are essential to ensure innovation & timeliness to maintain the UK's leading position.

AM is a disruptive technology to a number of industrial sectors, yet the CDTs industrial supporters, who represent a breadth of industrial end-users, welcome this disruption as the potential business benefits are significant. Growing on this industry foresight, the CDT will work in key markets with our supporters to ensure that AM is positioned to provide a real and lasting contribution & impact to UK manufacturing and provide economic stability and growth. This contribution will provide societal benefits to UK citizens through the generation of wealth and employment from high value manufacturing activities in the UK.

Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
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Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk