MTE5887 - Additive manufacturing of polymeric and functional materials - 2018

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Engineering

Organisational Unit

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Nick Birbilis

Coordinator(s)

Dr Andrey Molotnikov

Unit guides

Offered

Clayton

  • First semester 2018 (On-campus)

Prohibitions

MTE6887

Synopsis

Additive Manufacturing (AM) of polymeric materials is an important manufacturing platform for the fabrication of functional and customisable engineered products. This unit will provide an overview of existing additive manufacturing processes such as 'fused deposition modelling', 'stereolithography', 'polymer jetting' and 'powder bed fusion'. Each of these technologies relies on the appropriate selection of a polymer and the fundamentals of different classes of polymeric materials will be reviewed. Advantages and drawbacks of existing and emerging AM technologies will also be discussed. The unit will also investigate examples of the use of these technologies for the design and fabrication of functional polymeric parts. The students will obtain practical skills in 3D printing of polymers, computer-aided design and processing of polymers for Additive Manufacturing.

Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Recognise and distinguish between the different classes of polymeric materials used for Additive Manufacturing.
  2. Select the adequate Additive Manufacturing process based on the functional requirements of the product.
  3. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of additive manufacturing technologies.
  4. Discuss in detail the factors that affect geometric properties such as minimum wall thickness, minimum feature size and/or minimum space between designed surface of 3D printed part.
  5. Choose appropriate strategy for the orientation of a 3D printed part on the build platform and the generation of the support structure in order to minimise postprocessing activities.
  6. Demonstrate practical skills in 3D printing of polymers.

Assessment

Continuous assessment: 50%

Examination (2 hours): 50%

Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

Workload requirements

2 hours lectures, 1 hour of tutorial and 9 hours of private study per week.

See also Unit timetable information

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Materials science