Renishaw metrology laboratory

This facility provides state of the art measurement systems for teaching and research activities. It is based upon a long-standing collaboration between the School and Renishaw who provided and continue to support a suite of their world leading measurement equipment.

Co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) equipment

Industrial scale CMM fitted with a Renishaw controller and REVO-2 multi-axis measuring head and probe system. This includes an SFP2 surface finish measurement system supporting single solution measurement capabilities.

Two off Equator 300 flexible gauging systems and fixturing kits provide advanced flexible measurement capability within a user-friendly and robust package.

Multiple licences for MODUS software and support for the REVO and Equator applications enable the migration of measurement applications from the CMM onto the Equators.

Machine tool performance verification

QC20-W wireless ball-bar system for measuring a CNC machine tool's positioning performance to recognised international standards.

Machine tool probing, workpiece and tool setting systems linked to CNC Reporter to provide real-time process monitoring capabilities.

Enabled research

The CMM functions underpin ongoing research in the co-located Additive Layer and Condition Monitoring Laboratories. This includes current and recently completed PhD projects:

• Theocharis Alexopoulos: Process Design and Supervision: a next generation simulation approach to digitalised manufacturing.
• Jacob Hill: Optimisation of Tool Life through Novel Data Acquisition and Decision Making Techniques. Jointly funded by EPSRC and Renishaw iCASE award.
• Paul O’Regan: Process Capability Management for Additive Manufacturing. Jointly funded by EPSRC and Renishaw iCASE award.
• Zinah Ahmed: An integrated approach to tool life management.

Supported teaching

Access to this system has introduced advanced CMM technology to students at all levels. They can be configured according to the needs of the application making them ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research projects.

Every Mechanical Engineering undergraduate and masters student has undertaken work within this environment during their studies.