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The Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
at the University of Calgary hosted a successful Industry
Day, June 26. More than 100 participants from mechanical and
manufacturing companies, the National Research Council, the
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the University
of Calgary participated in the event. It included technical
presentations and a tour of research facilities in the Faculty
of Engineering.
The event was sponsored by Business Development Bank of Canada,
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the European
Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology, National
Research Council-Industrial Research Assistance Program, Polytec
PI and the University of Calgary. It focused on state-of-the-art
eesearch and design infrastructure for multidisciplinary research
and on representative research projects.
Six research areas and facilities were
presented:
1. Applied Mechanics and Biomechanics. Biomedical
research labs were toured in the new Calgary Centre for Innovative
Technology which exhibited a six-degrees-of-freedom robot
for joint kinematics and kinetics research. Also shown were
high-resolution computed tomography for accurate geometric
measurement of biological and engineering materials (i.e.,
bone, aluminum foam, concrete); and three-dimensional optical
scanning used for scoliosis research and development of customized
braces - with potential for reverse engineering applications.
2. Design and Product Realization. Presentations and
exhibits in this area focused on advanced methods and means
needed for competitive design and product realization. An
example is the integrated design and fabrication of medical
devices. The tour of Product Realization Laboratory featured
a unique rapid prototyping machine (FDM Titan) for validation
of complex objects. It uses computer generated CAD files and
produces highly accurate prototypes (details down to 0.005
of an inch) out of ABS or polycarbonate plastics.
3. Energy Systems and the Environment. A presentation
of research activities in this field, with emphasis on combustion
and fuels research, was followed by a tour of laboratories
involved with optical diagnostics for thermal and fluid dynamics
systems, and with the validation of the next generation of
computational fluid dynamic models.
4. Materials and Manufacturing. Presentations by the
manufacturing systems group illustrated the breadth of this
research area, which spans automation, control and MEMS, mechatronics,
design and biomechanics. The key issues being investigated
by faculty in this area include: understanding and modeling
the whole manufacturing enterprise; strategic/business issues
such as competitiveness, productivity, performance; integrated,
effective, efficient operations, with such qualities as lean
manufacturing, and industrial automation/control); manufacturing
planning and control; and modeling and analysis tools for
system design and process improvement.
5. Mechatronics, Systems Dynamics and Vibrations.
Technical presentations and the tour of facilities focused
on interdisciplinary nature of mechatronic systems, also known
as "smart products," on non-invasive monitoring
and diagnostic methods for complex thermo-electro-mechanical
systems, and on Internet-enabled teleoperated monitoring.
6. Microsystems, Automation, and Robotics. Experimental
setups in three laboratories illustrated research activities
on microelectromechanical systems, ultra-precision engineering,
telepresence and advanced controls.
MORE INFO
On the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering
Visit www.eng.ucalgary.ca/mechanical/index.html
Contact Dr. Peihua Gu, P.Eng.
Tel. (403) 220-7163
E-mail gu@enme.ucalgary.ca
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