SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES (SUMAN)

15 projects within the three arenas are running in close soproduction with industries. The profile engages 10 professors, 6 senior researchers and 5 experienced engineers, a vibrant academic environment that includes national and international exchange, participation in research networks, seminars, undergraduate and graduate education.

STRONG LINK TO EDUCATION

A strong link to education has also been created during the first three years of the profile. The infrastructure of modern equipment used in the project and associated personnel provides an in Sweden unique laboratory environment for university engineering courses.

Project members teach and further develop a number of courses in mechanical engineering (i.e. materials engineering, robotics, simulation, production). Several new courses have already been added in the education programs as a direct spin-off from the research activities, examples here are Simulation-based Production, Robot Simulation, Simulation-based Manufacturing.

The senior researchers have supervised a number of thesis projects at the BSc and MSc levels. A number of PhD students, funded by other sources, are directly linked to the profile and been engaged in experimental and modeling work closely related to the research conducted within the profile. Course modules at the PhD level have also been developed.

The infrastructure concerning equipment is on a high level, examples of new equipment the last year is CMT welding, equipment for robotized deburring and suspension plasma spray equipment that enables spraying of nanostructured ceramics.

EXAMPLES OF TECHNICAL RESULTS 

New control methods within welding utilizing camera-based sensors. The fusion welding process involves several complex physical phenomena, and the cooperation between the automation group and the welding research group has resulted in new knowledge for monitoring. This has shown to be promising for monitoring the process stability, and possibly make control actions for increased stability.

New thermal barrier coating systems. The goal in this project is to develop low  conductive and long-life thermal barrier coatings. The developed coatings have showed very promising thermal and functional performances. The thermal conductivity is half of the state-of-art used today in industry and the life-time is two times longer. Our partner (Siemens) is now running engine tests and coating qualification procedures in order to implement the coating industrially.

The arc-modelling project made an important break-through when a solution for the  modelling of the areas close to the welding electrode and base material could be achieved. Verification experiments were carried out at ESAB with satisfying results.