Laser post-processing of metal additively manufactured parts

"This is a PhD research project in Physics. Additively manufactured ('3D printed') metal parts can require significant post-build finishing effort to remove the necessary supports and clean up any remaining marks. This craft based process requires a fair degree of skill and is a source of manufacturing variation, which is incompatible with medical and aerospace applications. This PhD will examine the use of laser processes to perform automated post-build finishing of AM parts. Building on work undertaken within the High Power Laser Applications research group in laser ablation and polishing, topics will include: approaches to support removal & support surface clean up; the best laser(s) for the work; laser beam delivery and positioning machine configuration; design rules for supports to facilitate automated clean up.

This project is supported by Renishaw plc, a major UK manufacturing company whose product range includes 'powder bed' additive manufacturing machines, which "3D print" parts by the so-called Selective Laser Melting (SLM) process. The project will link closely to the company, and it is expected that the student will spend short periods working at one or more of Remishaw's sites.
"