COURSE PURPOSE: The Special Technologies Course provides students with the basic knowledge to navigate unconventional manufacturing processes. Specifically, the course allows students to acquire knowledge of transformation processes with advanced technologies, such as laser, electron and ion beam processes, electro-erosion, chemical and electrochemical processes. It is, therefore, a complementary course to Mechanical Technology which, on the other hand, teaches about the traditional transformation processes of metallic materials only. The Special Technologies Course also includes elements relating to powder metallurgy processes. It also provides the knowledge base on rapid prototyping technologies. Finally, it provides the rudiments of so-called "green" technologies and initial indications on the aspects concerning safety in production processes.
DETAILED COURSE CONTENT: Powder metallurgy and ceramic/glass manufacturing processes. General information on metal powders, production processes and properties. Powder pressing process. Sintering processes. Sintered reworking processes. Processing of glass and ceramics. Recall of the main technological properties of ceramic and glass materials. Conventional manufacturing processes for ceramic materials. Chemical vapor deposition. DIMOX processes. Reaction bonding. Sol-Gel technologies. Forming processes of ceramic materials for powder metallurgy techniques. Unconventional manufacturing processes. Classification of unconventional manufacturing processes. Abrasive jet processing. Water jet processing. Water jet and abrasive processing. Ultrasonic processing. Chemical and photochemical processes. Electrochemical processing. Electrochemical grinding. Wire and sinker EDM. E-beam processing. Laser beam processing. Plasma processing. Advanced machining processes. “Net shape” and “Near Net Shape” machining (rapid prototyping). Microfabrication technologies. Nanotechnologies and applications. Manufacturing of semi-conductor devices. “Green” production technologies. Sustainability of industrial processes. Aspects relating to the safety of production processes.
DETAILED COURSE CONTENT: Powder metallurgy and ceramic/glass manufacturing processes. General information on metal powders, production processes and properties. Powder pressing process. Sintering processes. Sintered reworking processes. Processing of glass and ceramics. Recall of the main technological properties of ceramic and glass materials. Conventional manufacturing processes for ceramic materials. Chemical vapor deposition. DIMOX processes. Reaction bonding. Sol-Gel technologies. Forming processes of ceramic materials for powder metallurgy techniques. Unconventional manufacturing processes. Classification of unconventional manufacturing processes. Abrasive jet processing. Water jet processing. Water jet and abrasive processing. Ultrasonic processing. Chemical and photochemical processes. Electrochemical processing. Electrochemical grinding. Wire and sinker EDM. E-beam processing. Laser beam processing. Plasma processing. Advanced machining processes. “Net shape” and “Near Net Shape” machining (rapid prototyping). Microfabrication technologies. Nanotechnologies and applications. Manufacturing of semi-conductor devices. “Green” production technologies. Sustainability of industrial processes. Aspects relating to the safety of production processes.