Our Manufacturing Laboratory allows students – such as those on one of our Engineering degree courses – to develop and test their skills in various cutting, milling and moulding techniques. The equipment in the Manufacturing Laboratory is also used by our materials engineering researchers as part of their project work.
Equipment
The Manufacturing Laboratory includes
- A mini injection moulding machine for teaching and practice. Injection moulding is a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting molten material into a mould. It can be performed with a range of materials, for example metal, glass and plastic.
- A water jet cutter, which allows you to cut a range of materials using water, or a combination of water and abrasive mineral granules, delivered at ultra high pressure (approximately 60,000 psi, or 414 MPa). The mixture of water and an abrasive is typically used to cut hard materials such as metal or granite, while water-only cutting is often used for softer materials such as wood or rubber.
- A wire electro-discharge machine that cuts highly accurately by applying rapid bursts of current to materials between two electrodes
- A five-axis milling machine, operated by our specialist technical staff, that cuts and shapes materials in five directions simultaneously to produce very complex whole objects or components
Where to find us
Manufacturing Laboratory
Anglesea Building
Anglesea Rd
ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú
PO1 3DJ