Manufacturing (ECM3154)
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Module status - Active
Module description status - Inactive
Credits - 15
College code - EMP
Academic year - 2014/5
Module staff
- Professor Christopher Smith (C.W.Smith@exeter.ac.uk) - Convenor
Duration (weeks) - term 1
11
Duration (weeks) - term 2
0
Duration (weeks) - term 3
0
Number students taking module (anticipated)
13
Module description
Fabrication of advanced materials and robotics are elements of the manufacture of the technology we use in our daily lives, such as aeroplanes and cars, so understanding these processes is vital to a mechanical or material engineers' training.
This module offers an advanced investigation of materials, applications and high-tech manufacturing systems; focussing mainly on composite laminates and robotics. You will learn to design a composite; using, for example, carbon fibres, to get the required properties. Furthermore, you will analyse aspects of robotics, from how this technology functions, to use of robots for industrial purposes.
Completing this module enables you to explain in detail how manufacturers create many advanced technology products, and how advanced manufacturing systems work. Finally, the module provides ideal preparation for pursuing a career in manufacturing or materials processing.
Module aims
This module is designed to give you examples of current practice in advanced manufacturing, concentrating on the technical issues and applications of the technologies. It is also intended to provide you with experience in considering the interrelationship between materials, applications, sustainability and the environment, and manufacturing technologies, and in the theoretical analysis of manufacturing processes. This is relevant to you if you are aiming for a manufacturing industrially related project and if you wish to pursue a career in manufacturing or materials processing.
This module covers Specific Learning Outcomes in Engineering, which apply to accredited programmes at Bachelors/MEng/Masters level. These contribute to the educational requirements for CEng registration (as defined under the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence – UK-SPEC).
This module correlates to references U1 - U3, E1 - E3, D1, D2, D4. These references are indices of the specific learning outcomes expected of Bachelors/MEng/Masters candidates set out in UK-SPEC, codified with reference to systems used by professional accrediting institutions. A full list of the standards can be found on the Engineering Council's website, at http://www.engc.org.uk
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. understand the uses of rapid prototyping(RP), robotics, lasers, and HERF, EDM, and water jet technologies in an industrial context;
- 2. select an appropriate RP solution for a given manufacturing application, manipulate matrices and perform complex coordinate transformations in robotics;
- 3. calculate fundamental laser power requirements for welding and cutting, and calculate water jet operating parameters;
- 4. comprehend the basics of composite manufacturing technologies;
- 5. apply classical laminate theories;
- 6. utilise fundamental mathematical tools and theories implicit in the application of robots, lasers, HERF technologies, water jet machining, and composites in manufacturing;
- 7. appreciate how new manufacturing processes and materials affect the environment.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 8. demonstrate, given a typically limited background knowledge, enhanced ability to analyse manufacturing processes;
- 9. show, by studying examples and case studies, an increased awareness of manufacturing technological requirements;
- 10. exhibit a significant ability in determining the theoretical operating parameter values for a range of technologies;
- 11. reveal enhanced awareness of the impact of manufacturing technologies on the environment.
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 12. illustrate a significant advance in your ability to seek out information and to learn independently;
- 13. exemplify an increased awareness of manufacturing technological requirements;
- 14. evidence a significant ability in determining the theoretical operating parameter values for a range of technologies.
Syllabus plan
- robotics: applications, types, consideration of working envelopes, performance: speed, accuracy and repeatability;
- structural design considerations, transmissions systems, encoding and encoders: moire fringe theory , Fresnel diffraction, scale/index grating gap calculation;
- co-ordinate transformations, rotational matrices and translational movement combined, derivation of forward kinematics;
- end effectors and tooling;
- determination of gripper forces;
- rapid prototyping: systems and applications, CAD and building systems, stereo lithography and Beer-Lambert's law, performance considerations, topical developments, sustainability;
- lasers: applications in manufacturing with particular emphasis on welding, cutting and alignment;
- power calculation for spot welding, continuous welding, and cutting;
- laser gauging and size determination;
- determination of power requirements;
- advanced composites: laminate design, classical laminate theory, large size composite manufacture, mould design and effects in properties, resin transfer moulding, hybrid composites, adhesives;
- economic and sustainability drivers for composite use;
- composites in manufacturing - a case study;
- powder technology: description of powder processing methods and comparison with alternative manufacturing processes.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 125 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 20 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 5 | Tutorials |
| Guided independent study | 125 | Guided Independent Study |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 75 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exam closed book | 75 | 2 hours | All | None |
| Coursework dissertation | 10 | 10 sides A4 | All | Written |
| Coursework test 1 | 5 | Maximum 1hour | All | Written |
| Coursework test 2 | 10 | Maximum 1hour | All | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| All above | Written exam (100%) | All | August Ref/Def period |
Re-assessment notes
If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.
If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk
Module ECTS
7.5
Module pre-requisites
ECM2103
Module co-requisites
ECM3160
NQF level (module)
3 (NQF level 6)
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
19/11/2012
Last revision date
21/03/2012
Key words search
Composite; laminate; classical laminate theory; powder metallurgy; manufacturing; sustainability; design; composite materials.