Design of Advanced Control Systems for Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing is making tremendous strides in transforming the manufacturing landscape. While there now exist many new technologies for performing additive manufacturing there remain significant challenges in reducing part cost, part rejection rates and overall part quality. A big part of the work that remains to be done is in better understanding the relationship between processing parameters and resulting properties. In this project we will work specifically on advancing the state of the art in process control for a specific form of additive manufacturing, selective electron beam melting (SEBM). Working with our partner CANMORA Tech. we will develop, for the first time in a commercial SEBM system, a closed loop control system that will allow for synchronized control of the electron beam and the mechanical build table. The added flexibility provided by this novel control system will move us towards improved processing strategies, lower costs and reduced waste.

Faculty Supervisor:

Chad Sinclair

Student:

Kirubakarann Srenevasan;Randy Yuwono

Partner:

CANMORA Tech

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of British Columbia