Additive Manufacturing
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
The research proposed for this PhD study is in the field of Additive Manufacturing. Although additive manufacturing has been around for a reasonable period of time - often agreed to be since the 1960s - modern efforts to commercialise the technology have allowed significant development in both capability and range of application. That said, industry still encounters several problems that motivate in-depth academic research in this area. The use of additive manufacturing has several key benefits over classical manufacturing techniques such as casting, machining and manual working. As set-out in, these societal benefits include:
- Bespoke products with improved functionality to increase a population's quality of life;
- Improved manufacturing sustainability from reduced process wastage;
- A streamlined supply chain caused by greater flexibility in production volumes.
However, the materials science and process control aspects of the technology, as well as numerous more novel challenges, need to be overcome before wide-spread adaptation is observed. Initial research suggestions within the field have been chosen to target three areas:
1. Enhanced functionality;
2. Reduce material usage;
3. Production time reductions.
Progress in these three fundamental areas will drive the continued adoption of additive manufacturing across a broad spectrum of engineering industries.
- Bespoke products with improved functionality to increase a population's quality of life;
- Improved manufacturing sustainability from reduced process wastage;
- A streamlined supply chain caused by greater flexibility in production volumes.
However, the materials science and process control aspects of the technology, as well as numerous more novel challenges, need to be overcome before wide-spread adaptation is observed. Initial research suggestions within the field have been chosen to target three areas:
1. Enhanced functionality;
2. Reduce material usage;
3. Production time reductions.
Progress in these three fundamental areas will drive the continued adoption of additive manufacturing across a broad spectrum of engineering industries.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jason Yon (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Harry Felton (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509619/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 2120263 | Studentship | EP/N509619/1 | 10/09/2018 | 09/03/2022 | Harry Felton |
| EP/R513179/1 | 01/10/2018 | 30/09/2023 | |||
| 2120263 | Studentship | EP/R513179/1 | 10/09/2018 | 09/03/2022 | Harry Felton |
| Description | The work has demonstrated that it is possible to emulate the mass properties of a product in a 3D printed equivalent prototype using highly automated means. This allows earlier, cheaper representation of product feel as part of the design process, which should lead to improved consumer experiences. Secondary work has demonstrated that 3D printing is a viable means for fabrication of microfluidic devices (using normal, consumer machines). This may allow for cheaper, more rapid production of devices for rapid healthcare diagnostics and research. |
| Exploitation Route | The work has applications in both the design industry and for hobbyists who may want to change the feel of products/prototypes. The secondary work has potential applications in clinical healthcare, schools and other settings. |
| Sectors | Education,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Other |
| URL | https://dmf-lab.co.uk/harry-felton/ |
| Title | Negligible-cost microfluidic device fabrication using 3D-printed interconnecting channel scaffolds |
| Description | Data supporting the journal paper - Negligible-cost microfluidic device fabrication using 3D-printed interconnecting channel scaffolds - published in PLOS ONE. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset is used in a soon to be published journal publication demonstrating the ability to manufacture negligible-cost microfluidic devices using 3D printers and commonly-available apparatus. |
| URL | https://data.bris.ac.uk/data/dataset/34ac9q8m7ulgl2msiaiyfbv3zu/ |
| Description | CREATE Education AM Panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Roughly 50 secondary school aged students attended a panel event where myself and others introduced themselves, their work and talked about additive manufacturing and engineering. Questions were then taken regarding our career path and future plans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | DEVELOP3D Article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | DEVELOP3D covered the work from this PhD (investigating mass property representation in 3D printed prototypes) and others from the host lab. The magazine has been encouraged by the response and is planning follow up pieces. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Secondary School Engineering Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk about engineering as a career and educational path, trying to demonstrate that there is no "average" engineer and that there is no "average" engineering job. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Various media coverage of paper |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Significant media coverage of the work looking at negligible cost microfluidic device scaffolds. Media organisations include the IMechE, 3D Printing Industry and others. Several readers have since contacted us for opportunities to work with us. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |