School of Chemical Engineering

Manufacturing and characterization of advanced materials group

Professor Han Huang is a world leading expert in machining, manufacturing and materials mechanics and has a wealth of experience in materials properties characterization in micro and nano scale.

He is currently leading a diverse and strong research team of 8 PhD students and 4 postdoctoral fellows; the research programmes of the team are largely concerned with manufacturing and characterization of advanced materials.

The group has recently established a new AM Laboratory, which houses a DTM2500 Plus SLS, a desktop Sharebot SLS system and a customised SLM (selective laser melting) system for studying laser melting of metal and ceramic powders. The group also has a world-class laboratory that are dedicated to materials preparation, mechanical testing and surface characterization.

Facilities

  1. Hysitron Nanomechanical Testing Instrument (Triboindenter)
  2. Polytech Laser Doppler Vibrometer (MSA-400)
  3. Bruker Surface Profiling System (DektakXT)
  4. Olympus LEXT OLS 4000 3D Confocal Laser Microscope
  1. DTM Sinterstation 2500 Plus Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) System
  2. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) System
  3. OKAMOTO Ultra Precision Profile Grinder (UPZ315Li)
  4. Other facilities

7. OKAMOTO Ultra Precision Profile Grinder (UPZ315Li)

OKAMOTO Ultra Precision Profile Grinder (UPZ315Li)Ultra-precise high speed grinding allows for the efficient material-removal of a new class of emerging materials previously considered too brittle to machine. These include advanced ceramics, composites, and thin-film multilayers. The first installation of its kind in Australia; the UPZ315Li provides 0.1 µm precision numerical control in X, Y and Z axes whilst outputting a maximum spindle speed of 20,000 RPM.

A 100 meter/min table speed allows for greater material removal rates, made possible through an advanced lubrication system. Comprehensive grinding force analysis is facilitated by a Kistler 9257B Dynamometer, providing high-resolution measurement of force applied to the work piece in X, Y and Z axes.