Cambridge & Cranfield Doctoral Training Centre in Ultra Precision

Lead Research Organisation: University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering

Abstract

The dramatic changes in global manufacturing have greatly increased the demand from UK companies for skilled
employees and new operational practices that will deliver internationally leading business positions. The UK is considered
to be very strong both in scientific research and in the invention of innovative products within emerging sectors. This
conclusion is supported by the fact the UK is a significant net exporter of intellectual property, ranking behind only USA and
Japan. The potential of the UK's innovation capacity to create new high-end manufacturing jobs is therefore significant.
Maximising this wealth generation opportunity within the UK will however depend on the creation of a new breed of skilled
personnel that will deliver next generation innovative production systems. Without relevant research training, production research, r&d infrastructure, and an effective technology supply chain, there will be a limit to the UK's direct employment
growth from its innovation capacity, leading to constant migration of UK wealth creation potential into overseas economies.
Many emerging sectors and next generation products will demand large-scale ultra precision (nanometre-level tolerance)
complex components. Such products include: 1) Next generation displays (flexible or large-scale), activated and animated
wall coverings, 3D displays, intelligent packaging and innovative clothing ; 2) Plastic electronic devices supporting a range
of low cost consumer products from food packaging to hand held devices; 3) Low cost photovoltaics, energy management
and energy harvesting devices; and 4) Logistics, defence and security technologies through RFID and infrared systems.
The EPSRC Centre in Ultra Precision is largely founded on the support of SMEs. It is widely acknowledged that
manufacturing employment growth in developed manufacturing economies will stem from SMEs and emerging sectors .
The supply of highly trained ultra precision engineers to UK manufacturing operations is therefore critically important in
order to deliver benefit from any new technologies that arise from the industrial or academic research base within the
EPSRC Centre in Ultra Precision.

Planned Impact

The major beneficiaries of the research outputs from the Doctoral Training Centre in Ultra Precision (DTC-UP) include UK
manufacturing companies (especially SMEs), the University partners, including the two primary universities, and the wider
UK universities engaged in Ultra Precision research, in addition to society in general. Benefits will be realised in terms of:-
increased economic activity in the field of UP through spin-out companies, licensed technology outputs, and the realisation
of new products made possible with the application of UP manufacturing capabilities; greater knowledge of and a wider
appreciation of the technical capabilities of UP systems; the provision of highly trained PhD level personnel for UK industry
to spearhead new ultra precision competencies; and the creation of new products for the market based on UP competencies and technologies, which have the potential for significant societal impacts in areas such as health-care,
transport, energy generation, and communications.
The importance of ultra precision manufacturing to the UK economy and the key issues and barriers to economic success
are highlighted in the main proposal which demonstrate the central role of ultra precision manufacturing technology in
ensuring economic growth. Many emerging sectors and next generation products will demand ultra precise components
(nanometre, and sub-micron-level tolerance). To date semiconductor systems, and microsystems (optical, mechanical, or
electrical) use complex expensive process steps in their production. Such extensive process chains are needed to create
even initial pre-production prototypes. This issue has become a significant barrier to SME's realising their innovative
products requiring UP. We aim to develop ultra precision manufacturing technologies that will offer precision capabilities,
with a reduced level of capital investment compared to traditional semiconductor fabrication routes. These include:- wide
area roll-to-roll printing of electronic devices, optical films, and structured surfaces; novel micro machining technologies for
the production of 3-dmensional components such as micro-mechanical elements, injection mould tools, and microembossing
tools.; direct writing and accretion of nanoscale features of materials for low cost prototyping of micro and nano
systems.
Manufacturing success requires not only the generation of new knowledge, it also requires people with the ability to invent
and innovate. The education and research training of the DTC-UP will be developed in partnership with the new EPSRC
centre for Ultra Precision, a wide range of industrial collaborators, and other UK universities working in the field of UP. This
leading educational centre will respond to both the industrial need of UK companies, and the educational development
strategies of UK universities, in developing the people with the technical capabilities necessary to move from the inventive
steps to innovation platforms, thereby increasing the potential for wealth creation in the UK. We ensure that UK
manufacturing can meet the future technical and business challenges needed to compete globally. The potential of the
UK's innovation capacity to create new high-end manufacturing jobs is significant. Maximising this wealth generation
opportunity within the UK will however depend on successfully realising next generation innovative production systems.
Without relevant production research, r&d infrastructure, and an effective technology supply chain, there will be a limit to
the UK's direct employment growth from its innovation capacity, leading to a constant migration of UK wealth creation
potential into overseas economies. DTC-UP will develop a significant number of highly trained manufacturing engineers
who will be essential to provide the leadership necessary to drive UK high value manufacturing forward and provide the
vision for future prosperity.

Publications

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