This project has been part funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2014 – 2020. The equipment is free of charge to Staffordshire businesses participating the SAMPID programme.
3D metal printer/Metal printer for simulating manufacturing principles in aero/motor sport
3D metal printing facility will be split into two parts:
Part 1 will be a complete system including printing, washing/debinding and furnace/sintering. 3D metal printing will be based on extrusion technology and will be able to print from a minimum of two varying materials.
Part 2 will be an additional printer unit only, based on fused filament fabrication or a similar process (i.e. not a laser-based system). Will be able to print from a minimum of two varying materials.
The 3D metal printing facility will be used by students, staff and companies to demonstrate the capabilities of 3D metal printing technology and to explore the manufacture of novel engineering components.
Robotic Arm
Robot arm facility will consist of two parts:
Part 1 will be a smaller complete educational/training robot cell to include robot arm, controller and associated software.
Part 2 will be a full scale (human-sized), wall mounted industrial robot cell, to include robot arm, controller and associated software.
The robot arm facility will be used by students, staff and companies to demonstrate the capabilities of advanced robot arm technology for the manufacture of novel engineering components.
Plastic electronics spin coating system
Spin coating is the procedure used to deposit uniform thin films onto a flat base (e.g. made of plastic). Usually a small amount of coating is applied to the centre of the base, which will either be spinning at low speed or stationary. The base will then be rotated at high speed in order to spread the coating material by centrifugal force. Rotation continues until the desired thickness of the film is achieved as the liquid spins off the edge. The coating material is usually of a volatile nature and so simultaneously evaporates while spinning. The higher the angular speed of the spinning the thinner the film. Thickness also depends on viscosity and concentration of the coating. The process is widely used in microfabrication (the process of fabricating miniature structures).
Probe station
Probe stations are often used in academic research on electronics and materials science.
They are used to physically acquire signals from the internal nodes of a semi-conductor device. They utilise manipulators which allow precise positioning of thin needles on the surface of a semi-conductor device. If the device is being electronically stimulated, the signal is acquired by the mechanical probe and displayed on an oscilloscope or SMU (source measure unit).
There are both passive and active probes – passive usually consist of a thin tungsten needle, while active utilise a FET (field-effect transistor) device on the probe tip in order to reduce loading on the circuit.
Inspection camera system with stand
Functions like a camera, microscope or telescope, allowing you to observe areas that are too cramped, too far away or completely out of reach. They usually attach to a flexible shaft and have LED lights to illuminate the work area. They will then transmit a video feed that allows you to see a close-up, real-time view of the area you are wishing to inspect. This is particularly useful for exploring the intricate workings of a machine without having to dismantle it.
Automation 5PLC and HMI systems with software development tools
PLCs (programmable logic controllers) are industrial digital computers, specifically designed to operate reliably in harsh usage environments (e.g. strong vibrations, wet or dusty conditions). They are adapted for the control of manufacturing processes such as assembly lines or robotic devices, or any activity that requires high reliability, ease of programming and process fault diagnosis.
HMI (human-machine interface) systems provide the controls by which a user operates a machine, system or instrument. They encompass all the elements a person will touch, see, hear or use to perform control functions and receive feedback on those actions.