Mechatronic Development and Prototyping Facility
With funding from Boeing, the Research & Development Corporation, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Memorial University is establishing a new Mechatronic Development and Prototyping Facility in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS). In addition to supporting a number of long-term industry-academic collaborative research projects, the facility will greatly augment the capability of the FEAS’ Industrial Outreach Group in providing services to outside businesses and organizations.
The equipment includes:
- State-of-the-art rapid prototyping equipment for manufacturing functional, mechanical components and electronic enclosures;
- High performance electronic test and measurement equipment;
- Facilities for assembly and reworking of Printed Circuit Boards based on Surface Mount Technology;
- Non-conventional machining systems including laser machining equipment; and,
- Equipment for the accelerated environmental and mechanical testing of mechatronic systems.
The Fortus 400mc, for example, is a flexible 3D production system for manufacturing functional parts with production-grade thermoplastics that can be selected according to user requirements. Ideal for creating prototypes, manufacturing tools, and small batches of end-use parts, the machine is the only one of its kind in Atlantic Canada.
