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31st October 2024
Valdis Krumins, Senior Project Engineer (Design) at the Design and Prototyping group of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), has been working with the FEMM Hub team and recently had the privilege of participating in a knowledge exchange visit at the SENAI Institute of Innovation in Manufacturing and Laser Systems in Joinville, Brazil. SENAI is the largest research centre network in Latin America, like TWI and the Catapult centres in the UK.
During his visit, Valdis learned about several innovative practices at SENAI:
Blending stainless steel and copper in the additive manufacturing process.
Utilizing Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) for machining threads and holes.
Best practices of implicit modelling.
Rapid reverse engineering for swift delivery of replacement components and assemblies.
3D printing sand moulds for the metal casting process.
Integrating self-supportive channels in "Blown Powder" Laser Directed Energy Deposition (DED) additively manufactured components.
Learned that integrated self-supporting conformal channels are the most actively used novelty within additively manufactured components.
To find out more about SENAI's innovative work please visit: [SENAI Institute of Innovation in Manufacturing and Laser Systems] https://institutos.sc.senai.br/unidades/laser/
Valdis also had the opportunity to share some of the practices from the AMRC:
Taught alternative methods of creating digital geometry.
Shared his experience in Designing for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM).
Presented his progress on the Generative AI Channel CAD tool development, learning about the active need for making the design process of integrating self-supporting conformal channels more accessible.
To discover what we do at the AMRC please visit: [AMRC Design and Prototyping Group] https://www.amrc.co.uk/capabilities/design-and-prototyping
In addition to SENAI, Valdis visited several industry leaders:
Volvo in Curitiba
https://www.volvogroup.com/en/about-us/organization/our-production-facilities/curitiba-plant.html
Discussed existing Volvo electric lorries and buses, focusing on the future needs for electric motors.
Explored challenges and developments in DC charging network infrastructure.
Bosch in Curitiba
https://www.bosch.com.br/nossa-empresa/bosch-no-brasil/curitiba/
Learned about their Remanufacturing (Reman) sustainability program, where all usable components of a broken assembly are refurbished and reused—promoting sustainability and reducing waste.
To learn more about Reman please visit: [Bosch Remanufacturing] https://www.boschrexroth.com/en/dc/remanufacturing-giving-electric-drives-a-second-life/
Tupy in Joinville
https://www.tupy.com.br/en/sobre-a-tupy/
Gained insights into innovative ways of sand core manufacturing for metal casting manufacturing processes.
Valdis is grateful to everyone at SENAI, Volvo, Bosch, and Tupy for their hospitality and for sharing their valuable expertise. This experience has been immensely beneficial, and the insights gained will be invaluable for ongoing and future projects at the AMRC.
Valdis would also like to extend his sincere thanks to the Future Electric Machines Manufacturing Hub (FEMM Hub) for their support and collaboration in advancing electric machine technologies.
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