Brunel University London

<p>Brunel is an internationally renowned university at the leading edge of global research. An emphasis on collaborative and applied research provides a focus on creating socio-economic impact and commercial benefits - from bringing new products to market and developing the latest science and technology to offering innovative solutions for complex business problems. Brunel is located close to Heathrow airport, London</p>
<p>Brunel researchers and experts cover five strategic challenge areas:</p>
<ol>
<li>Health: planetary health, human health and wellbeing across the bio-life science and medical science</li>
<li>Communities: global, secure and connected communities, including cultural, economic, and social science</li>
<li>Digital: digital futures, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data</li>
<li>Sustainability: clean energy, sustainable growth, circular and bio economies</li>
<li>Manufacturing: mechanics, smart manufacturing and materials innovation</li>
</ol>
<p>World leading experts, research strength and R&amp;D facilities are available: </p>
<p><a href="http://www.brunel.ac.uk/bcast">Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.brunel.ac.uk/etc">Experimental Techniques Centre</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-directory">All research groups</a></p>
<p>A dedicated team of professionals in the Research Support &amp; Development Office (RSDO) at Brunel ensures that legal, contractual and Intellectual Property issues are fully managed in an agile fashion and that the relationship between Brunel academics and their counterparts within collaborating companies is supported. Funded collaborative research opportunities are constantly sourced by RSDO and partner companies are welcome to contact Brunel if an opportunity fits their expertise and objectives. </p>


<h1 id="background">Background</h1>
<p>Smart chucks and smart collets are essential important for high throughput, high precision manufacturing particularly in the context of Industry 4.0. In modern advanced manufacturing, there is an ever-increasing demand and high value manufacturing trend for high precision machining of freeform surfaced optics, devices and components using diamond tools and/or micro features and micro holes in a highly productive manner. Smart chucks and smart collets can play as the enabling smart fixtures/tools for substantially improving the machining/operation efficiency and quality simultaneously, and also working in a highly competitive smart automation manner.</p>
<h1 id="technology-overview">Technology Overview</h1>
<p>This project presents the innovative design and development of two types of smart fixtures/tools, i.e. a Smart chuck <img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.in-part.com/technologies/figures/Bo4Yyn90SJgkyvAmQpRw_brunel1.png" alt="(Figure 1)" /> incorporated with concentricity and a range of variations in workpiece diameters for ultraprecision diamond turning purpose; and a Smart collet <img src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets.in-part.com/technologies/figures/RqDCKhrCS82LeZBjeLpZ_brunel-2.png" alt="(Figure 2)" /> (based on smart flexure design) applicable to high speed micro milling/drilling. </p>
<h3 id="-further-detail-"><strong>Further Detail</strong></h3>
<p>Technical details on the Smart chuck can be found in the following research paper: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-020-05990-8">Khaghani, A., Cheng, K. Investigation on an innovative approach for clamping contact lens mould inserts in ultraprecision machining using an adaptive precision chuck and its application perspectives. <em>Int J Adv Manuf Technol</em> <strong>111,</strong> 839–850 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-020-05990-8 </a></p>
<h1 id="benefits">Benefits</h1>
<p>Smart chucks and smart collets can lead to the unique manufacturing advantages and benefits, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Enabling the high-throughput precision machining</li>
<li>Acting as the smart fixtures for swift and accurate changeover of workpieces and tools</li>
<li>Reducing the centrifugal forces and thus improving the component surface finish</li>
<li>Reducing the centrifugal forces and thus maximizing the cutting performance</li>
<li>Acting as the smart fixtures and tools for better working with the high precision machining system and the machining performance </li>
</ul>
<h1 id="applications">Applications</h1>
<ul>
<li>High-throughput high precision diamond turning and applications</li>
<li>Precision fixtures manufacture</li>
<li>High-throughput diamond turning of miniature devices, optics and components</li>
<li>Smart diamond turning of freeform surfaced components and devices</li>
<li>High-throughput micro milling</li>
<li>High-throughput micro drilling</li>
<li>High-throughput PCB drilling </li>
</ul>
<h1 id="opportunity">Opportunity</h1>
<p>Brunel University is actively searching for a partner to further develop this technology with a view to commercialisation. Additionally, Brunel is looking for consultants. </p>
