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Are we a metal 3D part record breaker?
Our MSc students have designed and manufactured what could be the biggest
metal 3D part ever made in one piece.
The huge double-sided spar was made from aerospace-grade aluminium, using the University’s own
WAAM (Wire + Arc Additive Manufacture) process, and is six metres long and a whopping 300kgs. It was
produced to test the capabilities of our new twin-robot 10m 3D printer which is already being upgraded
for the production of titanium parts, making it suitable for the aerospace sector among others.
Additive manufacture, perhaps better known as 3D printing, produces metal parts quicker, cheaper and
more efficiently. In comparison to traditional manufacturing techniques which rely on removing material
through cutting or drilling, the new metal will have the flexibility to be produced with any shape. This
means there will be more opportunity for unique metal designs, less waste and increased value for
money.
Professor Stewart Williams, who heads our additive manufacturing rolling programme of activities
known as WAAMMat, said: “Hundreds of millions of pounds are spent on medium to large-scale
components by the aerospace industry each year. There is great potential for significant cost savings
in terms of reduction in waste and increases in production efficiency if we can transform the way these
parts are manufactured.”
Could we let a
robot
take the strain instead?
A lot of behind-the-scenes maintenance work on our railways requires a high level of attention to
detail, in often dangerous conditions.
The University overcame some other high-calibre proposals earlier this
year to be one of the ‘blue-sky ideas’ chosen to reduce rolling stock
maintenance times and costs while increasing reliability.
We were one of four winning projects selected to share £250,000 by
industry safety and standards organisation RSSB into the feasibility
of using robots and autonomous systems to undertake ‘dangerous,
difficult, dirty and dull’ rolling stock maintenance tasks. This was
under the Application of Robotics & Autonomous Systems to Rolling
Stock Maintenance competition, facilitated by the Rail Research UK
Association.
Professor Tetsuo Tomiyama from our Manufacturing Informatics Centre
is Cranfield’s lead on the ‘cab front cleaning robot’ project together with
Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The project also involves industry
partners Bombardier Transportation, Chiltern Railways and Shadow
Robot Company.
A robot prototype is being developed to demonstrate the ability of
adapting to the cab front surface; it needs to apply the right force to
clean, covering the whole cab front and avoiding obstacles such as
wipers and handles.
Professor Simon Pollard (right) signs the international partnership agreement in Oman.
Forging new relationships in 2016
We are a global university which has developed strong relationships with industrial and academic
organisations from around the world.
Expanding our links in academia and business allows us to collaborate with leading institutions that have similar research interests to
make ground-breaking developments in the future of technology and management.
We have continued to forge new relationships in 2016 with the signing of further memoranda of understanding (MOUs).
•
Beihang University
in Beijing to broaden our previous collaborations to include research into the future of air transport systems.
This was as part of the University’s delegation to China and Singapore in September.
•
Nanyang Technological University
(NTU) and
Nanyang Polytechnic
, both in Singapore, as part of our delegation to Asia. We
have shared interests with NTU in clean energy and environment, engineering, and nanotechnology, and both host Rolls-Royce
University Technology Centres (UTCs). We will collaborate in manufacturing and development and staff/student exchanges with
Nanyang Polytechnic.
•
Universidad Aeronáutica en Querétaro
(UNAQ) in Mexico, which was signed at the Farnborough Airshow in July. UNAQ is a
specialist aerospace university, supported by the Government of the State of Queretaro and the Federal Government of Mexico.
It is focused on training professionals and researchers for the aeronautical sector and, in particular, supporting the growing
aerospace industrial capability in the state.
New partnership launched with Omani
and UK universities
Six dual programmes are being established with a newly-formed university in Oman to build capacity
in technology and management as the country’s economy diversifies.
The masters’ programmes will be delivered by Cranfield colleagues working alongside local academics at the new Muscat University from September
2017. The 10-year project will gradually build expertise within Muscat University as well as equipping professional learners in the region with the
postgraduate skills suited to Oman’s ambitions in infrastructure development, logistics and wider commerce. Research collaborations with Muscat
colleagues are also anticipated.
The new university approached us because of our expertise in air transport, supply chain logistics, energy systems, finance and entrepreneurship. Aston
University are our partners on this project and will be delivering undergraduate education at the university. To minimise the number of trips that people
have to make, and to ensure the most effective use of people’s time when in Oman, the two universities will look to share responsibilities for academic
support and quality assurance (e.g. supporting exam boards).
Professor Simon Pollard, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, was our representative as the international partnership was launched earlier this year in Oman.
This is part of our postgraduate partnership with Aston launched in 2015 which aims to create distinctive higher education opportunities in the business,
management and engineering sectors.
The collaboration includes offering Aston’s students and graduates an Alumni bursary of up to 20% on a wide range of specialist Masters’ degrees,
matching the arrangements for Aston students who continue onto postgraduate study at Aston. There is also a flourishing collaboration on research
opportunities, and plans for shared access to specialist research assets. In addition, Aston has offered access to its Masters in Education for Cranfield
staff holding a Cranfield PG Cert or PG CAP, and the first successful applicant from Cranfield starts the Aston MEd this month.
Like ourselves, Aston also has strong links with business with particular expertise in entrepreneurship and enterprise, working with small and medium-
sized enterprises, and aiding small business growth. It has a strong focus on employability and social mobility and has been a leading university for
graduate employment success for more than 25 years.
Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Peter said: “As two internationally-acclaimed universities with a shared focus on the needs of
business and government, it’s an excellent opportunity for us to play to our strengths on a range of complementary activities.”
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