The machining research group has some of the best equipped machining laboratories in the UK, containing a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment:
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MHP CNC Turning Centre
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Matsuura FX-5 20,000 rpm high-speed machining centre
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Matsuura LX-1 60,000 rpm linear motor high-speed machining centre
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Bridgeport FGC1000 flexible grinding centre (creep feed)
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Faemat 40,000, 45,000, 60,000 and 120,000 rpm high speed spindles
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Charmilles Robofil 200 5-axis CNC EDWM and Camtek PEPS software
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Charmilles Roboform 200 4-axis die sink EDM
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Agie Vertex EDWM micro-wire unit (20 µm wire)
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Agie Compact 1 Micro die sink unit (holes down to 10µm diameter)
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Electrical discharge texturing (EDT) equipment
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Electrical discharge grinding equipment
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Kerry ultrasonic drilling units
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Delcam PowerShape and PowerMill CAD/CAM software
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DEA co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs)
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Taylor Hobson 3D Form Talysurf and four other contact and non-contact 3D units
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Mitutoyo microhardness measuring equipment
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Rigaku Strainflex X-ray diffraction unit for residual stress analysis
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Kistler force measuring transducers including a rotating dynamometer
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Commercial FE modelling software
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Comprehensive specimen preparation facilities
The Machining Research Group comprises Permanent Academics, Research Fellows, Technicians and Research Students. Over the last ten years, the group has received substantial funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), TCD, Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and leading world class manufacturing companies including Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Alcan, Sandvik Coromant, Element Six, etc.
