Dr. Yang received his B. Eng degree and M. Eng degree from Jilin University, China, in 1985 and 1988 respectively, and Ph.D. degree from Nanyang Technological University in 1999, all in Mechanical Engineering. From 1988 to 1995, he had been with the School of Mechanical Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, China, as a lecturer and then the vice dean of the school. From 1998 to 2013, he had been with Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), Singapore, as a research scientist, a senior scientist, and then the manager of the Mechatronics Group. In 2013, he joined the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (CNITECH), Chinese Academy of Sciences, as a professor. He is currently the deputy director of CNITECH and the director of Zhejiang Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment Technology. His research interests cover a broad area of robotics and automation such as precision electromagnetic actuators, compliant mechanisms, parallel-kinematics machines, cable-driven robots, modular robots, and robotic automation systems. He has published over 260 technical papers in referred journals and conference proceedings, authored 3 books, and filed 45 patents. He is a recipient of 2014 R&D 100 Award. He is now serving as an associate editor of the IEEE Access and an editorial board member for the International Journal of Mechanisms and Robotic Systems. He was a technical editor of the IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics from 2008 to 2012. He has also organized a number of international conferences in mechatronics, robotics, and manufacturing automation. 

Abstract: In order to improve productivity and reduce manufacturing cost, many industries are exploring the use of industrial robots to automate those labor-intensive and contact-type manufacturing processes, such as chamfering, deburring, and polishing, which are often encountered in aerospace, marine, and precision engineering industries. However, there still exist technical hurdles for such robotic applications as the current industrial robots are inefficient in continuous tool path teaching, inaccurate to implement off-line programming, and lacking in force control capability. To tackle these technology gaps, a set of advanced robotic technologies developed in our Lab will be presented in this talk, such as sensor-guided intuitive teaching for rapid programming, robot calibration for accuracy enhancement, and hybrid force-motion control for contact-type operations. Such advanced robotic technologies will benefit to the manufacturing industries to reduce the reliance on the skilled workers, increase productivity, and improve quality consistence. In addition to such R&D works, our new efforts towards the development of next generation industrial robots, i.e., the collaborative industrial robot, will be introduced.

Professor JIN Tan, Director of the National Engineering Research Center for high efficiency grinding (NERCHEG), Hunan University (2010-present); Leading research in developing high-efficiency precision and ultra-precision machining technologies and CNC machine tools. Research areas include high speed grinding, ultra-precision grinding, optical machining and metrology; Vice chair of the Chinese Committee for Abrasives Technology (CCAT). Worked as researcher and senior research fellow in Liverpool John Moores University (2000-2001) and the Precision Engineering Centre, Cranfield University (2001-2010), UK.conducting research in high speed grinding, ultra-precision and micro machining, and supervising PhD students. Winner of IMechE Joseph Whitworth Award in 2006.

Introduction for NERCHEG

The National Engineering Research Center for High Efficiency Grinding, founded in 1998 by the approval of the Ministry of Science and Technology, at Hunan University, is a national research platform developing process technologies and CNC machine tools for conducting high efficiency grinding of various materials. One focus of the research is the development of high-speed and ultra high-speed grinding technologies and CNC grinders, with a series of high-speed and ultra high-speed camshaft grinders, crankshaft grinders and cylindrical grinders sold in the market. Current research activities further include optical machining and metrology for making large optics, micro-machining, mixed machining combining 3D laser printing with 5axis milling and grinding; these process technologies are developed into CNC machine tools and supplied to industrial partners and the market.

Abstract: The speech introduces the main features and research progress of the Fluid Jet Polishing process for making ultra-precision optical parts, briefly covering the FJP principle and state of the art developments around this research area. A NC controlled FJP system developed is introduced and the machining stability of the system is tested.  Variables affecting the removal function RF and the material removal rate in FJP process are introduced. Methods to generate randomised toolpath, layer-by-layer surface form correction algorithm, and a simplified method to efficiently remove the rotary symmetric form errors from circular workpiece surfaces are presented. Ultra-precision optical surfaces with form error less than 3nm RMS are produced using the FJP system and process control methods developed in the research.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. FENG Pingfa received his B.S. and M.S. degree from Tsinghua University, China, and received his Ph.D. degree (Dr.-Ing.) from Technical University Berlin, Germany. He is now a professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering of Tsinghua University, and the director of Division of Advanced Manufacturing, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University. His research interests include high Speed and high performance machining technology, rotary ultrasonic precision machining technology, performance analysis and optimization of manufacturing equipments, on-machine verification technology for NC machining accuracy. Prof. Feng has completed or is in charge of more than 20 government projects and industry projects. He has published a research book and more than 200 research papers.

Abstract: Brittle materials, represented by advanced engineering ceramics, optical glass and ceramic matrix composites, play an important role in various fields such as the aerospace, information and life science industries due to their superior properties. Low efficiency and severe damage in mechanical machining of hard and brittle materials greatly restrict their engineering application. Improving the efficiency and reducing the damage in hard and brittle material processing is one of the research hotpots. Known as a novel unconventional machining method, rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM) has been sufficiently proved suitable for hole-manufacturing of hard and brittle materials with improved drilling efficiency. However, the machining induced damage, especially of the hole exit damage is also a severe and unsolved problem which restricts the application of RUM. Moreover, due to neglecting the adverse effect of material removal on the stability of ultrasonic vibration, the processing superiorities of RUM are not always brought into full play. In this report, the damage formation mechanism and control method in RUM of hard and brittle materials & layered composites were mainly studied.

Dr. Xipeng Xu, professor and chancellor of Huaqiao University. He has the memberships of International Committee of Abrasive Technology, China Committee of Abrasive technology (as Deputy Director), and China Engineering Mechanics (as Committee Member).

Prof. Xu has also been awarded: New Century Million Talents (at both the National and Ministry of Education level), New Century Outstanding Talent, National Science & Technology Progress Award (2nd Prize), Young Science and Technology Achievement Award by China Society of Mechanical Engineering, Excellent Project Award by National Natural Science Foundation,

He has coordinated more than 30 projects including Outstanding Youth Fund, 973-project, 863-project, Key Project of Foundation Research, NSFC funds (both major and normal funds), etc.

So far he has published more than 200 SCI-/EI-indexed papers, several books (e.g. Machining of Natural Stone Materials, Frankfurt International Book Fair). His research interests include: Advanced processing technologies and high-performance facilities for high-valued hard/brittle materials/products

Dr. Dragos Axinte is a Professor of Manufacturing Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering. He held two personal NATO Research Fellowships in Italy and Denmark and then moved to UK to carry out research with University of Birmingham and later with University of Nottingham. He was appointed Lecturer in Manufacturing Engineering (2005) and successively promoted to Associate Professor (2007), Reader (2010) and Professor (2011). Professor Axinte is Fellow of Institution of Mechanical Engineer (IMechE), Fellow of International Academy of Production Engineering (FCIRP) and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture.

Professor Axinte research interest is in the main following areas: Innovative Manufacturing Processes, Advanced Machining and Finishing Technologies, Abrasive Waterjet Machining, Monitoring and Optimisation of Manufacturing Processes, Design and Construction of Miniature Machine Tolls, Design of Innovative Tools/Robotics for Aerospace Manufacture, Workpiece Surface Integrity Analysis and Applied Tribology.

Abstract: With the use of more advanced, but difficult-to-cut materials, on ever-more sophisticated products, the need to further develop and utilise the particular capabilities of the energy beam (EB) processing techniques (e.g. abrasive waterjet, pulsed laser ablation, focus ion beam) seem to become a key enabler for high valued-added industries. Although they are of various nature, a set of key communalities can be identified among EB methods when considered as dwell-time dependent processes; this allows the treatment of EB processes under a unitary technology umbrella.

The control of the penetration depth/footprint (e.g. etched kerf), the dwell-time (i.e. scanning speed) and the path of an energy beam is of paramount importance when it comes to the generation of freeform surfaces by this group of processes. To address this goal, the presentation will cover the scientific and engineering aspects related to the following generic approaches into generating freeform surfaces by EB processing:

-          Direct problem: knowing the EB footprint dependence on the dwell-time and given the beam path, predict the needed freeform surface; however, the predicted freeform might present large errors from the desired one since the beam path is not optimised in any way but it just intuitively guessed.

-          Inverse problem: knowing the EB footprint dependence on the dwell-time and the freeform to be achieved, determine the optimized beam path that results in minimal of errors between the predicted and desired freeform surface.

Although the direct problem gives a good understanding of the generation of freeforms by EB processes, it is the inverse one that enables the accurate generation freeform surfaces in a conscious way.

Apart from detailing on key theoretical aspects on modeling the direct and inverse problem in EB processing, the presentation will explain the engineering challenges in implementing these strategies in real machine tools/systems; example of a comprehensive in-house developed software to address this problem will be presented. Further, examples of algorithm implementations on two scalable EB processing systems (abrasive waterjet , pulsed laser ablation), with analysis on the accuracy of freeforms generated on various target materials are discussed. Concluding remarks will cover possible research directions on geometric modeling of EB processes, their implication on the accuracy of freeform generation and how these could better address the needs of key industrial sectors.

Dr. Chuanzhen Huang is the Professor of Shandong University. He has been awarded as: Cheung Kong Scholar Chair Professor, Recipient of National Outstanding Young Scholar Science Foundation of NSFC, New Century Excellent Talent, The Leading Talent of Tens of Thousands of People Plan. Special Government Specialist, and Outstanding Young Tutor, etc.

He is the Director of Center for Advanced Jet Engineering Technologies, Director of Center for Additive Manufacturing, Director of Key Laboratory of High-efficiency and Clean Mechanical Manufacture, Ministry of Education of China, and Dean of School of Mechanical Engineering at Shandong University. He has had the membership of: the International Abrasive Technology Committee, National Natural Science Foundation Committee (Mechanical Engineering), a vice chairman of the China Cutting tool Association, etc.

His research interests include high-efficiency precision machining technology, development and application of structural ceramic materials, additive manufacturing, and new material processing technology. He has undertaken more than 40 national natural science funds, provincial/ministerial research projects and international cooperative research projects. He has owned more than 30 authorized patents, more than 10 software copyrights, and has published more than 400 papers on SCI indexed journals.

Abstract: The cutting tool materials for high speed machining (HSM) should be characterized by high hardness, high strength and strong wear resistance, high impact toughness, high red-hardness, good chemical stability, strong resistance to thermal shock, and so on. The candidates of cutting tool materials used in HSM cover diamond, PCBN, ceramic, cermet, coated tool, ultra-fine grain carbide, powder metallurgy high-speed steel, and so on. It is well known that the most important cutting tool material is ceramics. To improve the fracture toughness and flexural strength of ceramics is the first objective. As a result, the study is mainly focused on design methodology of ceramic tools including the theoretical modeling, material simulation and design principle. According to the design methodology, several ceramic tools available for HSM, such as ceramic-cemented carbide compact insert, functionally gradient ceramic insert and powder-coated ceramic insert, were successfully developed. Some candidates of typical ceramic tools capable of successfully machining difficult-to-machine materials are being developed, which are low expansion quasi ceramic tool, micro-laminated composite ceramic insert, bio-inspired ceramic tools, nano-tube reinforced ceramic tools, in-situ integration fabricated ceramic tool, and crack self-healing ceramic tool.

Dr. Changhe Li,  professor of Qingdao University of Technology. He has been awarded as: Shandong Taishan scholars special experts, Shandong outstanding inventors and Shandong excellent teachers. He is currently the director of the Key Laboratory of Mechanical Design and Manufacturing of Shandong University, the deputy dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering of Qingdao Technological University, the member of the Youth Science and Technology Committee of the Production Engineering Society of China Mechanical Engineering Society, the member of the abrasive processing committee of China Mechanical Engineering Society, and the China Mechanical Engineering Society. Director of the Whole Processing Committee.

His research interests mainly focus on grinding and precision machining, high-speed ultra-high-speed machining and digital manufacturing.

He has led more than 10 projects funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has published six textbooks, and more than 150 SCI/EI-indexed papers by SCI/EI, two of which have been selected as the ESI paper. He has owned 80 authorized domestic and world patents.

Dr. Qingzhen Bi received the Ph.D. degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2009. He is currently an Associate Professor of School of Mechanical Engineering in Shanghai Jiao Tong University, a Director of Shanghai Engineering Technology Research Center in Special Machine Tool and Manufacturing, a Vice Director of Aerospace Intelligent Machine Tool and Process Joint Research Center established by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Top Numerical Control Technology Co., Ltd. Current research interests include multi-axis machine tool and machining process, intelligent manufacturing and robotics. He has published over 40 refereed journal papers and conference proceedings, 40 patents, and 1 book of Theory and Technique for Five-axis NC Machining of Complex Surface Part. He has won some innovative research projects from National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Science and Technology Major Project of China, National Intelligent Major Project of China. He is leading the project “Mirror Milling Machine Tool Development for Aerospace Large and Thin-wall Skin Part” in values exceeding 100 million RMB, and has developed the first multi-head mirror milling machine tool for huge fuel tank barrel. The machine tool has won the first prize of the National Defense Science and Technology Progress award. He also has won the first prize of the Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award in 2016, China Patent Award in 2016, and Shanghai Outstanding Technical Leader Plan in 2017.

Abstract: We have developed the mirror milling system that has the moving support device in the part backside to suppress vibration. The moving support also integrated the ultrasonic sensor for wall thickness. The technology implements real-time wall-thickness measurement and cutting depth compensation to guarantee the wall thickness. Due to the large-size and ultrathin-wall properties of the skin parts, cutting vibration usually decreases the wall-thickness accuracy and even destroys the stable ultrasonic measurement. For mirror skin parts, an essential demand of non-scratching is required, which limits the application of the traditional sliding support. A novel moving fluid support is proposed to simultaneously suppress vibration and avoid scratching the skin surface. The fluid support is designed to act high pressure liquid on the cutting areas to provide sufficient supporting effect. The dynamic model of the fluid support is established and further examined. It shows that the fluid support mainly provides the damping effect to suppress vibration. By real-time controlling the parameters of supporting and fluid pressure, the cutting vibration is effectively suppressed. Experiment results show that the proposed moving fluid support stabilizes the real-time thickness measurement and has been applied in the mirror milling of ultrathin mirror skin parts.

Dr. Yingguang Li, born in 1976, professor of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, elected as Cheung Kong Scholar Chair Professor in 2017. He is the Associate Editor of the Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture (SCI), a Visiting Professor of Cranfield University (UK). He has been awarded the “New Century Excellent Talent” of the Ministry of Education. He is nominated as the future research leaders (i.e., second level) in the “333 High Level Talents” program of Jiangsu Province, and was awarded Jiangsu Province’s Outstanding Youth Fund. He is the Editorial Board Member of several international academic journals and the Scientific Program Committee Member of many international conferences. His research interests mainly focus on intelligent numerical machining driven by his dynamic machining feature theory, including new technology and equipment development, and the curing process of aircraft structural parts of composite materials using microwave technology. He directed more than 10 projects funded by the Major project jointly funded with National Natural Science Foundation of China and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, General project of National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the National Science and Technology Major Project of China. He published more than 100 academic papers, of which more than 40 are published on SCI indexed international journals. He was invited to give Keynote Speeches at the International Conference on Manufacturing Research (ICMR 2013), Cranfield University (UK), International Conference on Digital Enterprise Technology (DET 2014), Fraunhofer IAO (Germany), International Conference on CAD and Applications (CAD&A 2015), University of Greenwich (UK), and Sino-German Advanced NC Machining Technology Forum, Chengdu (China). He edited and co-edited 3 Special Issues of International Journals. As the first author he has registered more than 50 national patents. He was awarded by the Second Prize of 2016 Chinese National Award for Technological Invention as the person-in-charge.

After completing in 2001 his Master Degree at the University of Manchester (Institute of Science and Technology), Dr. Beaucamp worked in the ultra-precision optics industry for 10 years, during which time he gained experience in state-of-the-art optical fabrication technics by collaborating with a number of world-renowned companies across Europe, the USA and Asia.

In 2012, Dr. Beaucamp completed a Ph.D. in ultra-precision finishing under the supervision of Prof. Namba at Chubu University, Japan, followed by a post-doctor position funded by the Japanese Society of Promotion of Science (JSPS) in the fabrication of hard X-ray aspheric mirrors.

Since 2015, Dr. Beaucamp joined the Dept. of Micro-Engineering at Kyoto University, where he now works as Jr. Associate Professor specialized in the field of super-fine finishing technology. His research covers in-house development of novel processes such as ultrasonic cavitation assisted fluid jet polishing (UCJet) and shape adaptive grinding (SAG), as well as related aspects of ultra-precision CNC polishing such as control systems, and dedicated CAM software for polishing applications.

Abstract: 

Polishing processes differ fundamentally from cutting and grinding processes, as material removal from a polishing pad has a dependency with time as well as geometrical position. This dependency was first described by Preston’s law, which associates removal rate with pad pressure and velocity. Therefore, the vast majority of CAM packages targeted at precision machining by CNC apparatus are not well suited to drive machinery dedicated to super-fine polishing of ultra-precision surfaces.

In this lecture, we will review some important kinematic concepts and principles of virtual pivot based machines, and explain their unique advantages in ultra-precision polishing. Methods for identification and calibration of such machines will be described, both from a kinematic and dynamic point of view. Development over the past 4 years of a dedicated CAM software for ultra-precision polishing of freeform surfaces, based on Preston’s law and integrating kinematic and dynamic compensation, will also be reported. The underlying concepts of forward and inverse problem in time dependent machining will be expanded upon, and a number of showcase studies in optical, medical, and consumer applications will finally be demonstrated.

Prof. Xiaogang Yang received his BEng in Mechanical Engineering (1982) and MSc in Engineering Thermal physics (1984) from Northeastern University. During 1985-1990, he worked as an assistant lecturer and lecturer at Northeastern University. In 1990, he came to the University of Bath and then the University of Birmingham as a visiting researcher, specialising at computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In 1992, he pursued his PhD study at the School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, and was awarded a PhD in Chemical Engineering for the research on dynamical modelling and simulation of two-phase flow in 1996.

In November 1995, Dr. Yang joined the Interdisciplinary Centre for Materials Processing, University of Birmingham, as a post-doctoral research fellow to work on EPSRC funded projects of filling systeHms for castings and advanced filling systems for castings. His main contributions include demonstrating the necessity of using off-set pouring basins for reduction of downflowing liquid metal turbulence and proposing the vortex flow runner filling system. In 2000, he moved to the University of Paisley (now the University of West Scotland) and took up a lectureship position at the Department of Mechanical Engineering. During his time at Paisley, Dr Yang made significant contributions to the systematic demonstration of effect of liquid metal flow behaviour in filling on the final mechanical strength of castings. He also made contributions to different CFD modelling methods including discrete vortex method, smooth particle dynamics and multiphase flow dynamic modelling.

In 2004, Dr. Yang joined the North East Wales Institute, University of Wales (now Glyndŵr University) as a Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in the Engineering Department and was subsequently promoted to Reader in Aero/Mechanical Engineering in 2007. At Glyndŵr, Dr Yang continued his research in various areas in addition to his commitment to intensive teaching activities and administration duties as programme leader of MSc programmes in aeronautical engineering, mechanical engineering and manufacturing. He established strong research collaboration links with many researchers working in similar research areas. He is the founder and Editor-in-chief of International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation (IJESMS) and reviewer for more than 25 prestigious international journals.

In 2013, Professor Yang was appointed as a chair and Professor of Energy Technologies at International Doctoral Innovation Centre (IDIC), the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China (UNNC). Currently, he is head of department of mechanical, materials and manufacturing engineering, UNNC. Professor Yang has a very wide research interests on various research areas including multiphase flow CFD, turbulence modelling, reactive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing and chemical reaction engineering.

Abstract: Reasonably quantitative description of the interaction between the turbulence eddies and bubble groups is crucial for the prediction of the bubble size distribution in bubble columns when adopting the population balance model (PBM) as estimation of the heat and mass transfer across the interfaces between bubbles and carrier liquid will be significantly affected. Most currently adopted breakage kernels focus on the shear turbulence in the liquid phase and model the kinetic energy contained in the arrival eddies to hit the bubbles by using the classical single-phase turbulence Kolmogorov -5/3 scaling law. For bubble columns, eddies that hit the bubbles and cause the bubble breakage are those mainly generated by bubble induced turbulence. The present work focuses on the influence of κ-3 scaling of the bubble induced turbulence energy spectrum on the bubble breakage due to the eddy-bubble collision in bubble columns. A modified breakage model accounting for the bubble induced turbulence was proposed. The proposed breakage model accounts for the mean turbulent velocity of eddies under the influence of bubble induced turbulence, and the characteristic wave number/length scale that corresponds to the bubble induced turbulence. The simulation results compared with the experimental data have clearly demonstrated that the modified breakage model effectively describes bubble breakage events under the influence of bubble induced turbulence in bubble columns. It was revealed that the interaction of bubbles with the bubble induced turbulence eddies dominates the turbulence generated in in bubble column flows.

Dr. Jun Cai has been a professor and vice dean in the School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation at Beihang University since 2014. He was awarded National Excellent Doctoral Dissertations in Year 2007, and received the Outstanding Youth Foundation of Natural Science Foundation of China in Year 2013. He received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Beihang University (BUAA), China, in 2004. Prior to this, he received his Bachelor (1997) and Master (2000) degrees, both in mechanical engineering from Tianjin Polytechnic University. His research interests include micro/nano fabrication technology based on microorganism templates, bionic engineering, functional materials, et al. He has published over 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including over 40 SCIE papers, and hold over 10 China and US patents.

Abstract: Microorganism naturally displays an astonishing variety of sophisticated nanostructures that are difficult to obtain even with the most technologically advanced synthetic methodologies, so they are used directly as templates for the synthesis and organization of inorganic nanostructures into well-defined architectures of technological significance, which is named “biotemplating” method for nano particle/ structure fabrication. In this presentation, two main methods of biotemplating will be discussed. The first method utilizes the outer standard shape of microorganism to fabricate functional particles by different deposition technique, which is called an extracellular deposition method. The second method is to use the internal space of microorganism to fabricate well-dispersed nano particle aggregation，which is called intracellular deposition method. The main techniques and process of the microorganism templated micro/nano fabrication carried out by our group will be introduced, and their potential applications in functional materials, catalysts and biochips will also be discussed. 

Dr. Adam Clare, Li Dak Sum Chair Professor in Additive Manufacturing, Faculty of Science and Engineering, UNNC.  He currently have editorial roles with the Journal of Materials Processing Technology (subject editor), Precision Engineering (associate editor) and International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture (reviewing committee).His research focuses on the use of non-traditional manufacturing methods to arrive at net shape while inducing favorable material properties and generating new surfaces on engineering components. He is particularly interested in developing new manufacturing methods and materials for use in the high value manufacturing sectors including aerospace and biomedical engineering. In these competitive markets product differentiation is often directly linked to additional functionality or performance. Through the development of new manufacturing technologies and materials we endeavor to deliver this.

He currently leads a team of 15 researchers and PhD students who are addressing a range of research challenges. Within the team we have several disciplines working together to address these complex challenges. Our activities stretch across fundamental research and more applied industrially funded activities. To date we have produced over 50 peer reviewed technical papers and presented our work at numerous international conferences.

Abstract: High integrity engineering applications will not permit the incorporation of many defects observed in current class powder bed fabrication systems. Therefore, there are limitations as to which engineering context this manufacturing method may be used. Ex-situ methods of inspection and verification will always be necessary for quality control but, current commercial techniques can undermine the business case for using additive manufacturing. Undertaking in process geometrical measurements, condition monitoring and intra layer integrity evaluation are therefore key aspects for pushing additive manufacturing forward and assuring that parts are of the required quality.

The advancement of new instruments also allows for the inspection of additional facets of the additive manufacturing process such a re-coater performance, crystal grain size, orientation and raster scan efficacy. The ability to identify early warning signs of failure is critical in order to pause a failing or failed build to save expensive raw materials and machine time.

Beyond identification of defects, next generation machine tools will be able to propose and execute repair strategies to some classifications of defects once observed. This will represent a step change in machine tool technology and will serve to open numerous applications for additive manufacturing.

This talk will highlight efforts made at developing underpinning technologies to enhance the capability of next generation machine tools.

Dong GAO is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Vice Dean of the Graduate School of Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. He was born on October 24, 1970. He received the BSc degree in 1993 and PhD degree in 1999 in Mechanical Engineering, both from Harbin Institute of Technology. From April 1997 to April 1999, he was a Research Assistant in the Department of Manufacturing Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. From September 2001 to May 2005, he worked as a Research Associate in Prof. W.B. Lee’s Research Group in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In 2005, he re-joined the Harbin Institute of Technology, China, as an Associate Professor, and was then promoted to a Professor in 2007.

Professor GAO is a Standing member and Vice director of the Northeast Branch of Chinese Society of Cutting and Advanced Manufacturing Technology and a Senior Member of Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineering. His current research interests include Cutting Theory of Difficult to Process Materials, Error Compensation Technology of Machine Tool and Sustainable Manufacturing. Prof. GAO has published 30 papers in international journals and conferences, and more than 30 papers in domestic journals and conferences in China. He has been granted more than 10 research projects from National Science Foundation of China, industrial enterprises, etc.