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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/P03280X/1
Title: Tailorable and Adaptive Connected Digital Additive Manufacturing (TACDAM)
Principal Investigator: Garrett, Professor SJ
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Engineering
Organisation: University of Leicester
Scheme: Technology Programme
Starts: 01 January 2017 Ends: 31 December 2018 Value (£): 72,663
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Manufacturing Machine & Plant
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The aim of the project is to create complex designs for heat exchangers by additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing will use metallic powders which are laser sintered. The unused powder can cause issues if it is retained in the manufactured product and compromise the performance of the heat exchangers. Vibration is used to remove the unused powder from the system. In order to design the optimum vibration response of the product to remove this powder it is essential to be able to understand the vibration characteristics of the product and this will be the key role that ASDEC will undertake for the project.

The Advanced Structural Dynamics Evaluation Centre (ASDEC) of the University of Leicester is a unique facility for measuring vibration of complex components and structures by non-contact methods. ASDEC has world leading systems and capability in the measurement, assessment and analysis of vibration. Critically for this project, we have the ability to measure surface vibration in a non-contact and non-distructive manner up to 1MHz. ASDEC combines the combination of a Robovib system, LMS Modal Analysis and Virtual Correlation tools and a portable laser vibrometry system that can be used in the manufacturing environment. The 3D laser vibrometry equipment will allow repeatable measurements to be performed in unparalleled detail and accuracy on the complex structures that will be produced by our project partners. These measurements would be unachievable using other measurement techniques.

Modal analysis of the vibration of the components will be used to optimise the powder shake-out and therefore allow for optimisation of the manufacturing routes. Additive manufacturing is highly attractive as it allows structures and architectures for products that are unachievable by conventional manufacturing routes. In addition to the capability of the ASDEC facility, the key staff have 40 years combined experience in vibration and acoustic engineering and development as well as signal processing and analysis.
Key Findings
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Organisation Website: http://www.le.ac.uk