rus
The Interdisciplinary engineering centre "New Materials, Composites and Nanotechnologies" (Composites of Russia) implements a full range of engineering services from the development of new materials and technologies to process the materials to the design and manufacture of products based on the composites. Since 2011 the IEC NMCN has implemented more than 50 projects for the development of new polymer composite materials and structures based thereon for implementation in various industries.
Теги: composite materials educational projects engineering инжиниринг композиционные материалы образовательные проекты
Establishment of the Interdisciplinary engineering centre "New Materials, Composites and Nanotechnologies" (IEC NMCN) meets the key engineering challenges in technology sectors of the Russian industry. The activities of universities should be focused on the interests of industrial enterprises to conduct the applied research aimed at introducing innovations as well as targeted training and retraining. In 2013, the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Industry and Trade launched a project designed to encourage the formation of university-based engineering centres that can provide the link between science and industry. To determine the level of preparedness of research centres to develop the engineering industry, the project has promoted a contest. According to the results of the contest, IEC NMCN (Composites of Russia) of the BMSTU were recognised as the best engineering centre in the field of composite materials.
Innovation Centre
"When the team "Composites of Russia" took its first steps as a research and educational centre within the BMSTU, we identified for ourselves the strategic goal to commercialise our projects through the implementation of their outcomes in real production, – says Director of IEC NMCN Vladimir Nelyub. – One of the basic principles of our centre, integrated approach to implementation of the whole cycle of works, helped us achieve it".
The first technical university of Russia has become a unique platform for the IEC NMCN. The chiefs of the Centre are the graduates of the BMSTU and they effectively use scientific potential of the university, as well as the technical basis for conducting research, i.e. engineering classrooms, laboratories and a pilot plant. In particular, the laboratories created within the IEC NMCN, in addition to its own resources, attracted the competence of the dedicated departments of the BMSTU such as "Materials technology" (МТ-8), "Space-rocket composite designs" (SM-13), "Applied mechanics" (RК-5), "Systems of the automated designing" (RК-6), "Computer systems of manufacture automation" (RК-9) and "Technologies of Space-Rocket Mechanical Engineering" (SM-12).
The Centre has the equipment for a wide range of tasks in the development of polymer composites production. In particular, the injection of resin is used in production, both Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) and RTM-Light, as well as moulding and vacuum forming. There is a possibility of manufacturing and cutting preforms using the sewing of the layers with roving felling that produces voluminous and reinforced structures 2D, 2.5D and 3D.
Since 2011 the IEC NMCN has implemented more than 50 projects for the development of new polymer composite materials and structures based thereon for implementation in various industries. Those include large-scale R&D for the production of strength parts of nano-modified composite materials, design and manufacture airframe components for the unmanned aerial vehicle, and create a technology for the production of propeller shafts made of polymer composites.
New capacities
As the IEC NMCN advances, its technical potential evolves, new equipment is purchased, the Centre’s staff master new technologies. So, the third birthday of IEC NMCN will herald putting in operation of a new research and manufacturing facility. These scientific experimental and production facilities will be used for basic and applied research in the field of new generation materials and products. In particular, it is planned to implement projects in medicine and space industry. The Centre’s specialists will develop ultra-light space antennas made of composite materials with high dimensional stability for intersatellite communication systems, as well as venous valves made of biocompatible materials for correction of chronic venous hypertension of the lower extremities, from which more than 35 million people suffer in Russia alone.
With the introduction of new production facilities there are additional opportunities of shaping the products of polymeric composite materials (PCM) and preforming of carbon and glass fibres. To improve these areas the following equipment was purchased:
vacuum press for the manufacture of small parts of the PCM;
hydraulic Press Genesis G100-30-X for the manufacture by pressing;
Virtek laser projector for layout of blanks;
Radius resin injection system for the manufacture of products using the RTM;
belt grinding machine for grinding surfaces of products;
vacuum systems Vacmobile Infusion 28/2 and Mils Mobile E25 for vacuum infusion;
LDS V406 shaker for vibration tests;
sewing machines Juki LZ-391N, Juki LG158, Juki MO-69016J and Juki MF-7723 for sewing of preforms;
ZSK embroidery machine for a roving felling;
DSC2500 cutting system for automated cutting of materials.
Education
The new equipment will not only increase the pace of modernisation of the science-intensive industries and accelerate the development of the composite materials industry but also help ignite interest in the engineering profession among students. Already now, students of the specialised departments of the BMSTU carry out labs in the IEC NMCN laboratories. For example, in the academic year 2013–2014 the students in third and fifth years of the specialty "Space-rocket composite designs" were provided the possibility of learning the basics of practical work on the production of binders for PCM. During the unique laboratory practice, students can choose their own components for binders, and upon completion of work, compare the results to determine the optimal properties of a binder for the manufacture of a product.
The students studying in the discipline "Nanoengineering" apply their knowledge in practice in the chemical laboratory of IEC NMCN. Using new materials and advanced equipment, students acquire practical skills to determine the influence of nanofillers on the properties of polymeric binders.
From 2014–2015, first-year students will be given the opportunity to get an insight into their future profession based on the new manufacturing facility of the Centre. Students of the specialised departments will be able to go through all the stages of work with composite materials from creating a mould of the model of a product to manufacturing a full-scale specimen.
"The issues of teaching engineers, attracting the interest to profession and the development of young professionals are among the key drivers of higher education in Russia, – says Vladimir Nelyub. – An engineering centre run in the premises of a technical university is designed to address those issues by providing conditions for the target training, retraining and advanced training. We use an integrated approach by giving the opportunity to get an idea of their future profession in training and through work experience but also taking part in the project work, to which we invite the most successful and motivated students of the specialised departments. At our Centre young professionals including students and graduates can take practice without interrupting the educational process and also work to unlock their scientific potential and acquire some valuable experience".
The Centre is committed to the implementation of the model in which for promising R&D projects a small innovative companies will be created to promote they in the market. This practice, which is popular in developed countries, will help shape the belt of small enterprises at universities thus providing support to the innovation economy in Russia. ■
Innovation Centre
"When the team "Composites of Russia" took its first steps as a research and educational centre within the BMSTU, we identified for ourselves the strategic goal to commercialise our projects through the implementation of their outcomes in real production, – says Director of IEC NMCN Vladimir Nelyub. – One of the basic principles of our centre, integrated approach to implementation of the whole cycle of works, helped us achieve it".
The first technical university of Russia has become a unique platform for the IEC NMCN. The chiefs of the Centre are the graduates of the BMSTU and they effectively use scientific potential of the university, as well as the technical basis for conducting research, i.e. engineering classrooms, laboratories and a pilot plant. In particular, the laboratories created within the IEC NMCN, in addition to its own resources, attracted the competence of the dedicated departments of the BMSTU such as "Materials technology" (МТ-8), "Space-rocket composite designs" (SM-13), "Applied mechanics" (RК-5), "Systems of the automated designing" (RК-6), "Computer systems of manufacture automation" (RК-9) and "Technologies of Space-Rocket Mechanical Engineering" (SM-12).
The Centre has the equipment for a wide range of tasks in the development of polymer composites production. In particular, the injection of resin is used in production, both Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) and RTM-Light, as well as moulding and vacuum forming. There is a possibility of manufacturing and cutting preforms using the sewing of the layers with roving felling that produces voluminous and reinforced structures 2D, 2.5D and 3D.
Since 2011 the IEC NMCN has implemented more than 50 projects for the development of new polymer composite materials and structures based thereon for implementation in various industries. Those include large-scale R&D for the production of strength parts of nano-modified composite materials, design and manufacture airframe components for the unmanned aerial vehicle, and create a technology for the production of propeller shafts made of polymer composites.
New capacities
As the IEC NMCN advances, its technical potential evolves, new equipment is purchased, the Centre’s staff master new technologies. So, the third birthday of IEC NMCN will herald putting in operation of a new research and manufacturing facility. These scientific experimental and production facilities will be used for basic and applied research in the field of new generation materials and products. In particular, it is planned to implement projects in medicine and space industry. The Centre’s specialists will develop ultra-light space antennas made of composite materials with high dimensional stability for intersatellite communication systems, as well as venous valves made of biocompatible materials for correction of chronic venous hypertension of the lower extremities, from which more than 35 million people suffer in Russia alone.
With the introduction of new production facilities there are additional opportunities of shaping the products of polymeric composite materials (PCM) and preforming of carbon and glass fibres. To improve these areas the following equipment was purchased:
vacuum press for the manufacture of small parts of the PCM;
hydraulic Press Genesis G100-30-X for the manufacture by pressing;
Virtek laser projector for layout of blanks;
Radius resin injection system for the manufacture of products using the RTM;
belt grinding machine for grinding surfaces of products;
vacuum systems Vacmobile Infusion 28/2 and Mils Mobile E25 for vacuum infusion;
LDS V406 shaker for vibration tests;
sewing machines Juki LZ-391N, Juki LG158, Juki MO-69016J and Juki MF-7723 for sewing of preforms;
ZSK embroidery machine for a roving felling;
DSC2500 cutting system for automated cutting of materials.
Education
The new equipment will not only increase the pace of modernisation of the science-intensive industries and accelerate the development of the composite materials industry but also help ignite interest in the engineering profession among students. Already now, students of the specialised departments of the BMSTU carry out labs in the IEC NMCN laboratories. For example, in the academic year 2013–2014 the students in third and fifth years of the specialty "Space-rocket composite designs" were provided the possibility of learning the basics of practical work on the production of binders for PCM. During the unique laboratory practice, students can choose their own components for binders, and upon completion of work, compare the results to determine the optimal properties of a binder for the manufacture of a product.
The students studying in the discipline "Nanoengineering" apply their knowledge in practice in the chemical laboratory of IEC NMCN. Using new materials and advanced equipment, students acquire practical skills to determine the influence of nanofillers on the properties of polymeric binders.
From 2014–2015, first-year students will be given the opportunity to get an insight into their future profession based on the new manufacturing facility of the Centre. Students of the specialised departments will be able to go through all the stages of work with composite materials from creating a mould of the model of a product to manufacturing a full-scale specimen.
"The issues of teaching engineers, attracting the interest to profession and the development of young professionals are among the key drivers of higher education in Russia, – says Vladimir Nelyub. – An engineering centre run in the premises of a technical university is designed to address those issues by providing conditions for the target training, retraining and advanced training. We use an integrated approach by giving the opportunity to get an idea of their future profession in training and through work experience but also taking part in the project work, to which we invite the most successful and motivated students of the specialised departments. At our Centre young professionals including students and graduates can take practice without interrupting the educational process and also work to unlock their scientific potential and acquire some valuable experience".
The Centre is committed to the implementation of the model in which for promising R&D projects a small innovative companies will be created to promote they in the market. This practice, which is popular in developed countries, will help shape the belt of small enterprises at universities thus providing support to the innovation economy in Russia. ■
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