The Manufacturing Automation Laboratory ( MAL ) conducts research in the mechanics and dynamics of metal cutting operations, spindle design and analysis, micro-machining, virtual simulation of machining operations and CNC machine tools; design and digital control of high speed feed drives; precision machining, sensor assisted intelligent machining; and chatter stability of cutting processes. Our academic articles receive the highest citation in the world in the field of manufacturing.
Research facilities include a five axis Mori Seiki NMV5000DCG CNC Machining Center; a Mori Seiki NT3150 CNC Mill Turn; a Fadal Vertical CNC Machining center instrumented with our own spindle and open CNC system; a Hardinge Super Precision CNC turning center; Mikrotools MPM4020L multi-functional micro-machining center; in house built ultra-high speed micro machining center; Mitutoya CMM; high speed Siemens linear drive; low speed– large scale Lamb XY table; high speed ball– screw driven table; ultra-precision piezo actuators for precision turning; tool holder testing stands; tool balancing and shrink fit stations.
The Laboratory is fully equipped to conduct research in all aspects of machine tool, machining and mechatronics engineering applied to manufacturing. Sample instruments include table, lathe and rotating dynamometers from Kistler; tool microscopes with video and photography attachment, surface finish analyzer, Ranishaw Laser Interferometer and ball bar, laser displacement sensors, laser vibrometer, capacitive-inductive probes, modal testing kits with a variety of hammer and accelerometer sets, shakers, Fourier Analyzers, data acquisition sets, dSpace high speed control system, scopes and analog filters.
The laboratory designs and builds sophisticated but industry-friendly machining simulation algorithms which have milling, turning, boring, drilling, cutting temperature, spindle design and analysis, experimental modal analysis, modal testing and data acquisition modules(CUTPRO™ ); virtual CNC, Virtual High Performance Machining System (MACHPRO). More than one hundred seventy leading companies and universities around the world licensed the unique and advanced engineering tools developed in our laboratory (www.malinc.com). We conduct joint projects with several national and international universities, research centers and leading machine tool, cutting tool, automotive and aerospace companies in North and South America, Asia and Europe.
Our laboratory is also a social gathering place for the graduate students. We work, ski, camp, hike, and throw parties as a family. We welcome graduate students, engineers from industry and other academic institutes who enjoy working on machine tools and automation. The laboratory accepts students and engineers from most distinguished universities, laboratories and industrial research centers through referral of our academic and industrial network.
