Manufacturing

Integrated Manufacturing combines classical topics in design, controls and materials processing with newer research techniques in Internet- based CAD/CAM, rapid-prototyping, intelligent agents, computer graphics, micro-fabrication, artificial intelligence, and sensors.

Our research facilities are distributed throughout several laboratories, and are staffed and directed by up to nine faculty members. Ongoing collaborations with our colleagues in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) and the Haas School of Business continue to be a vital part of our program.

The Integrated Design and Manufacturing Laboratory's CyberCut project has developed a network manufacturing service that provides quick turn-around prototyping of parts design and fabrication on the Internet. In addition, the Laboratory is exploring the impact of the Internet and E-commerce on manufacturing.

Ongoing research related to precision manufacturing takes place in the Laboratory for Manufacturing Automation (LMA). Using an Internet-based agent interaction, research results are routinely incorporated into CyberCut's front-end and other CAD systems. One group is investigating phenomena related to the modeling, prediction, and simulation of burr formation in metal cutting operations. This work is highly valued by the LMA's Industrial Consortium, which is funded by more than six major affiliates.

Faculty members involved in Manufacturing are D. Dornfeld, H. Kazerooni, K. Komvopoulos, S. McMains, A. Pisano, M. Tomizuka, P. Wright and Xiang Zhang.

Research Areas

• Internet-based design and manufacturing
  
• Feature-based computer aided design
  
• Simulation and modeling of basic processes using classical analysis tools from heat-transfer, plasticity, and materials science
  
• Design of flexible manufacturing systems
  
• Open architecture manufacturing systems
  
• Robotic design with special emphasis on manufacturing
  
• Sensor based precision machining
  
• High-speed/high accuracy machining
  
• Adaptive control of machining process
  
• Diagnostic software for manufacturing analysis
  
• Rapid prototyping with solid free form fabrication

Research Facilities

• Computer aided process planning environments
  
• Educational flexible manufacturing system
  
• Matsuura CNC machining center
  
• Haas CNC machining center, retrofitted with an open architecture controller
  
• Multiple spindle drilling system
  
• Dynamometers, vibrations, AE sensors, and other related signal/data
  acquisition and processing and instrumentation devices
  
• Extensive mechanical shops including other CNC machines and a CNC
  electro-discharge machine
  
• Extensive electrical shops for instrumentation, central hardware and sensor system fabrication support
  
• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) machine
  
• Single-point diamond turning and fly-milling
  
• Chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP)
  
• Abrasive machining