Additive Manufacturing Research Group (AMRG)

The Additive Manufacturing Research Group AMRG (formerly known as the Rapid Manufacturing Research Group) is the world’s leading research group in the field of additive manufacturing.  All research activity is centred on using additive manufacturing techniques to produce end use parts in both Polymers and Metals for a range of different applications (aerospace, automotive, consumer, sports, medical, etc).

Additive Manufacturing, the main focus of the Group, is an emerging technique that involves the use of layer manufacturing techniques to produce final parts directly without the need for tooling.  This topic consists of the processes and materials, design aspects and also the management and supply chain issues.

More information about this group can be found via the following link;

www.lboro.ac.uk/amrg

Current research

• Professor Phill Dickens: Work concentrates on the processes and materials for future Additive Manufacturing systems so that complex parts can be produced in a range of materials.  Some of the materials will be functionally graded.

• Professor Richard Hague: Principally investigating the Design for Additive Manufacture issues coupled with a comprehensive materials testing programme.  Also working on micro level design optimisation for Additive Manufactured textures and textiles.  A new area of work is also exploring additive manufacturing of Selective Laser Melting of (metallic) components for low-carbon manufacturing.

• Dr Russ Harris: Specialising in the medical application of Additive Manufacturing technologies, and Smart Material structures.  Incorporating: design, production technologies, materials & application.  Research portfolio includes implantation and external devices for facial reconstruction, tissue engineering scaffolds, surgery training and simulation, novel composites and Smart Material structures, embedded devices and systems, and Ultrasonic Consolidation.  Also investigating inspection, verification & quality control in Additive Manufacturing.

• Dr Chris Tuck: Investigating low-carbon effects of Additive Manufacturing as well as supply chain / business / economic issues.