MEng Aerospace Engineering / Course details

Manufacturing engineering companies are vital for our modern economy due to their capability to generate high economic value products and jobs.  The role of a manufacturing engineer is crucial and requires advanced skills in order to analyse and improve complex integrated manufacturing systems.  The module focuses on providing a holistic understanding of the main manufacturing processes by which materials (metals and plastics) can be processed into different products in the most effective, sustainable and efficient way. The module also provides students with a deep knowledge on the techniques required for process/technology selection based on product’s specifications. 

The main goal of this unit is to provide students with the appropriate set of skills in order to design a product and select the most adequate manufacturing technologies to transform raw materials (mainly plastics and metals) into a tradable product based on economic, functional and sustainable aspects. In particular, the unit aims for students to acquire knowledge and develop specific understanding of the most relevant manufacturing processes including Additive Manufacturing (AM), Metal Casting, Injection Moulding, Forming and Welding. 

Additive Manufacturing (AM): Introduction to the principles and applications of AM. Description of the general advantages and limitations of AM. Introduction to the different AM processes, namely Extrusion Based, Vat Photopolymerization, Powder Bed Fusion and Binder Jetting. Application of Cost Estimation model for AM parts. 

Casting processes:Fundamentals of metal casting processes; Description of different processes and equipment; Design, materials and economics of casting. Powder Metallurgy

Polymer processing:Introduction to polymers: Classification and applications of thermoplastics and thermoset polymers. Fundamentals of Injection moulding processes: Principles, applications, process parameters, injection cycle, main defects and troubleshooting. 

Metal forming processes: Introduction to metal forming processes; Fundamentals of metal extrusion and deep drawing. Description of main applications, equipment, characteristics, forces, process defects.

Joining processes: Introduction to the fundamentals of Welding processes. Description of welding principles and main applications.

Additive Manufacturing Laboratory: The aim of this laboratory is to provide students with a hands-on approach in terms of the design and manufacturing of customized components using Additive Manufacturing processes, in particular Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). In a one hour session, students will be able to physically reproduce their previously generated CAD models, taking into account both design and processing parameters. This will help consolidating theoretical principles delivered during the lectures and provide students with a unique set of skills in terms advanced manufacturing for industrial purposes (e.g. automotive, aerospace, medical, etc). 

Other - Online quiz

Feedback to online quiz provided 1 day after the test

Feedback provided in tutorial sessions when students are in small groups