SEMINAR: UK expert talks on Additive Manufacturing

Dr Paul Colegrove of Cranfield University in the UK will present a seminar on Additive Manufacturing today at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales.

Additive manufacture (also referred to as Rapid Prototyping, Near Net and Direct Manufacturing) is a technique for converting CAD data into a solid three dimensional object.

The Welding Research Group at Cranfield University pioneered a version of this technique using offline programming and robotic weld metal deposition in the early 1990s.

Its feasibility was established for the manufacture of complex components for aero engines in high temperature nickel alloys.

Considerable interest is currently being shown in the use of similar techniques as an alternative to forging and extensive machining for the fabrication of titanium alloy parts for aircraft.

Dr Colegrove will describe the activities in this area and the current status of the research at Cranfield.

Dr Paul Colegrove’s main research interest is welding and the modelling of welding processes.

Beginning as lecturer in Welding Engineering at Cranfield University with a focus on projects on Stress Engineering, Friction Stir, Laser and Arc Welding, he is now the course director of the Welding Engineering MSc course.

SEMINAR: Nanostructures via Thermal Spray

A seminar on Nanostructures via Thermal Spray: Processing, Properties and Modelling will be held on 12 May at DSTO by the Defence Materials Technology Centre and AVD DSTO.

Professor Chris Berndt, Professor of Surface Science and Interface Engineering, will present the seminar from 11.00am to 12.00pm at David Warren Auditorium, Building 22, DSTO, Fishermans Bend.

Prof Berndt is an active DMTC contributor and an internationally recognised authority in his field.

“The concept of producing nanostructured materials via thermal spray processes, although intuitive, is neither routine nor reliable. There are many technical challenges necessary to transition the science to an engineering reality,” Prof Berndt said.

“Some strategies to overcome these barriers will be presented from the viewpoint of integrating more fully the materials science into the materials engineering so that manufacturing processes can be consistent and of statistical relevancy.”

Inquiries: Viktor Verijenko, DMTC Education and Operations Manager, viktor.verijenko@dmtc.com.au

WORKSHOPS: Next generation manufacturing innovations in titanium processing

Titanium alloys are now playing an increasing role in the aerospace industry and in particular the defence because of their superior properties such as high strength, lightweight and corrosion resistance. 

The Defence Materials Technology Centre has secured the kind support of Enterprise Connect’s Defence Industry Innovation Centre and the CSIRO to run one-day workshops with the aim of providing the latest developments in titanium research, technology and processing in Australia and overseas in order to assist SMEs in the defence sector improve their productivity, competitiveness and efficiency. 

Sessions will focus on titanium machining technology, benchmarking and hybrid machining, additive and joining technology.

A range of academic, research and industry speakers have been invited to present at the workshop.  These include: BAE Systems, SECO Tools, Sutton Tools, Millatec, RMIT University, DMTC, CSIRO, University of Wollongong, CAST CRC and Swinburne University of Technology.

Where and When?

MELBOURNE: Tuesday 1 June
Ian Wark Laboratories
Main Conference Room
Bayview Avenue,
Clayton VIC 3168
9:30am – 5pm

BRISBANE: Thursday 10 June
QMI Solutions
Training Rooms A/B
33 McKechnie Drive
Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113
9:30am – 5pm

WOLLONGONG: Tuesday 15 June
University of Wollongong
Innovation Campus
iC Central – Ocean Room
Squires Way, Fairy Meadow
9:30am – 5pm

ADELAIDE: Tuesday 22 June
Mawson Lakes Hotel and Conference centre
10 Main St,
Mawson Lakes SA 5095
9:30am – 5pm

Who Should Attend?

  • Manufacturing Engineers and Managers
  • Process/R&D Engineers
  • Applications Engineers
  • Maintenance Supervisors
  • Precision Parts Specialists 

Registration fee: NIL

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, contact : Prof Milan Brandt workshop coordinator at Milan.brandt@rmit.edu.au or Dr Viktor Verijenko at viktor.verijenko@dmtc.com.au

TO REGISTER, please phone Bronwynne McPherson on (03) 9214 4447 or email bronwynne.mcpherson@dmtc.com.au


JSF Conference held for industry and researchers

The Fourth Australian JSF Advanced Technology & Innovation Conference will be held from the 3rd to the 5th of May 2010.

The conference will interest members from industry and research sectors who have a generic interest in the potential development and exploitation of new and advanced Australian technology that may have potential application to JSF. It is also a forum for industry and researchers to identify shortcomings and new capabilities required to present a more competitive package of opportunities.

The Conference is to be formally opened by The Hon. Greg Combet AM MP, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science.

The first two days will be held at Hilton On The Park, Melbourne, in a formal conference format focused on advanced technology relevant to JSF.

The third day, Wednesday 5 May, will be sponsored by the Victoria Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development, and will be in the form of Industry Technology Workshops that address specialist industry areas and how best to provide a focus for JSF activities at the national level.

In an invitation to interested parties, Air Vice-Marshal J.P.Harvey, Program Manager for New Air Combat Capability, said the Conference aimed to build on the success of the three earlier Conferences and the strong ongoing support from Australian industry and R&D organisations.

“This year we plan to build on our theme of ‘Advanced technology for a future JSF’ to extend to ‘From ore in the Ground to Parts on the Aeroplane’.

“A key objective of the Australian Government in joining the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Project is to achieve a significant involvement by Australian industry and research organisations throughout the production life of the JSF Program.

“To that end, and with the objective of better positioning Australian industry and research organisations to be able to engage in the JSF Follow-On Development and Sustainment programs, the New Air Combat Capability (NACC) Project has been working to identify a national R&D base which we believe will be needed to support long term involvement in future JSF development activities.

“The Australian JSF Advanced Technology and Innovation Conference is a key part of this initiative.” The Conference will encompass national and international perspectives and include advanced technology presentations from Australian industry, universities and other R&D organisations.

Registrations: secure online registration facilities at www.jsfconference.gov.au

Further information: www.jsfconference.gov.au

French materials experts to share insights

Two esteemed materials scientists from France will deliver a seminar to DMTC participants on 1 March 2010 in Melbourne as part of the company’s Education Program.

The seminar is entitled ‘Carbon fibre, carbon nanofibre and diamond reinforced copper and copper alloyed composites: elaboration, physical properties and applications’.

It will be delivered by Dr Jean-François Silvain, Institute de Chimie de la Matiere Condensee de Bordeaux (ICMCB) and Professor Jean-Marc Heintz, Director of ENSCBP at the University of Bordeaux.

DMTC participants and associate members are encouraged to attend the seminar, to be held at 3:30pm in the Seminar Room on Level 3, Building 170, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Melbourne.