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Chemnitz University of Technology Hosted and Trained Young Scientists in the Field of Micromachining

On April 10, 2018, the 7th MICROMAN project meeting was held at Chemnitz University of Technology, hosted by the Professorship of Micromanufacturing Technology. During the meeting, research and development results of the European Innovative Training Network MICROMAN were presented. Prof. Dr. Andreas Schubert, head of the Professorship of Micromanufacturing Technology, explains: “One goal of MICROMAN is the training of researchers involved in the network to make them qualified engineers for future industries.”

Thirteen researchers from seven European institutes and universities presented their results of recent research activities in micro manufacturing technologies, which are related to the fields of micro electrochemical machining, plasma-electrolytic polishing, micro injection molding, precision grinding, micro laser machining and micro electrical discharge machining as well as inline metrology of micro manufactured parts. During the meeting, the successful collaboration of the Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) along with the successful delivery of work package reports to the coordinators of the European Commission were discussed. Finally, the project coordinators from Technical University of Denmark (DTU) presented their management and coordination outcome with reference to the actual meeting as well as to the last meeting at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (BE) and with a look ahead to the next meeting at the University of Strathclyde (UK).

For the ESRs, the meeting was followed by a training workshop on Micro Electrochemical Machining and Plasma Electrolytic Polishing. “The workshop included theoretical lectures on electrochemical machining processes for precision and micro manufacturing as well as on the simulation of electrochemical processes. The theoretical knowledge was expanded in hands-on simulations. Furthermore, the knowledge was applied in practical lab courses on Jet-Electrochemical Machining (Jet-ECM), Pulsed Electrochemical Machining (PECM) and Plasma-electrolytic Polishing (PeP).” explains PD Dr. Matthias Hackert-Oschätzchen, Chief Engineer for Research of the Professorship of Micromanufacturing Technology of Chemnitz University of Technology.

In the interactive workshop on multi-physics simulation, the ESRs learned about the principles of FEM-simulations of the ablating processes through assignments given at the Professorship Micromanufacturing Technology. “Multi-physical simulations are a useful tool in modern engineering. They allow you to look directly into the process itself and can give the necessary information to understand the process. The workshop provided the first necessary practical knowledge about approaches to multifunctional modelling,” says Igor Danilov, one of the ESRs of the MICROMAN project.

From April 12 to 13, 2018, experimental workshops were organized by the Professorship of Micromanufacturing Technology and held in the laboratories of the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology, one of the industrial partners of the project. “The workshops offered the opportunity to gain detailed insights into the principles and characteristics of the innovative micromanufacturing processes and to derive process-specific parameters through precise microstructuring,” clarifies André Martin, head of the “Ablating Technologies and Manufacturing Equipment” teaching and research group of the Professorship of Micromanufacturing Technology. “Hands-on workshops provided a deeper understanding of electrochemical processes and plasma-electrolytic polishing after getting familiar with them in the theoretical lecture session,” says Matin Yahyavi, another ESR of the MICROMAN project.

What is MICROMAN?

The MICROMAN project unites 13 ESRs in a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN) funded by the European Union within the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation funded under grant no. 674801. The project’s aim is the production of zero-defect products on a microscopic scale by applying proper process monitoring techniques and integration of suitable inline metrology systems. Further information can be found at the MICROMAN website (http://www.microman.mek.dtu.dk/)

Chemnitz University of Technology is one of eight research institutes involved in the project and two of the 13 ESRs are employed at the Professorship of Micromanufacturing Technology. The two ESRs of Chemnitz University of Technology conduct their research on Jet-ECM and PeP. Jet-ECM is an innovative electrochemical machining process, in which a micro nozzle is applied as a tool cathode. Due to its flexibility along with the characteristic advantages of electrochemical machining, Jet-ECM is a promising micro manufacturing technique. PeP, on the other hand, is an innovative polishing technology offering the opportunity to polish workpieces with complicated structures to low roughness with high gloss. Chemnitz University of Technology is considered a leading research institute in both fields.

(Author: André Martin/Translation: Sarah Wilson)

Matthias Fejes
18.05.2018

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