Curtin University

Curtin Additive Manufacturing and Surface Manufacturing Capability Overview

Curtin University is making a substantial investment of over $4 million in metal AM technologies. This investment includes the commissioning of the "PhotonForge Additive Manufacturing (PFAM) Lab" in 2024 to be situated within the John de Laeter Centre (JdLC). The PFAM Lab aims to facilitate research, development, and training activities in AM by leveraging existing material characterisation and analysis facilities, along with industrial collaborations. Curtin Surface Modification and Characterisation research is driven through the Curtin Corrosion Centre (CCC). The centre studies corrosion and wear under a range of conditions and helps develop and characterise new surface protection systems and approaches as well as develop corrosion / wear mitigation strategies and industrial practices to protect our industry partners’ assets.

Expertise

We conduct high quality research and engage with our partners, both nationally and internationally, in government and industry to deliver targeted solutions to real world problems in the defence, mining, drilling, oil and gas, critical minerals, and energy sectors, where we excel in the following areas:

• Design for Additive Manufacturing

  Redesigning and developing design rules and numerical analysis of components manufactured by AM

• Materials Characterisation and Assistance in Certification

  Advanced characterisation in macro-, micro- and nano-length scale, for optimisation of manufacturing processes and assistance in certifications and IP generation

• Fundamental and Applied Corrosion and Wear Research

• Qualification of engineering materials and chemicals, corrosion and wear materials evaluation and assessment, testing methods and materials development

Facilities

The JdLC hosts state-of-the-art industry scale metal 3D printers alongside worldclass characterisation facilities for enabling an efficient workflow to our industry clients for developing manufacturing processes.

The centre starts the PFAM Lab with the following flagship platforms:

• Flagship I: Desktop Metal Studio System (Bound metal deposition)

• Flagship II: LaserBond Direct Energy Deposition System

• Flagship III: AML3D ARCEMY Wire ARC Additive Manufacturing System

The CCC accommodates several dedicated research laboratories, including:

• General corrosion lab (supports a wide range of corrosion and materials for the mining health and energy sectors)

• EXTREME lab (corrosion testing at high pressures and temperatures)

• Seawater and atmospheric corrosion lab

• Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) lab (combines state-of-the-art MIC facilities, ATP, DNA, and RNA testing)

• Wear lab (access to a range of ASTM standardised, industry, and custom wear materials testing methods & methods development.

Collaboration Highlights

• Characterisation of zirconia toughened alumina ceramics and chromium/tungsten/vanadium/molybdenum carbide weld-overlays intended for service under severe impact and abrasion.

• Development of functionally graded materials through laser depositions for severe environment applications.

• Characterisation and analysis of wire arc additive manufactured recovery davit, leading to an independent verification statement.

Key Researchers

Professor Vladimir Golovanevskiy

V.Golovanevskiy@curtin.edu.au

Associate Professor Zakaria Quadir                          

Zakaria.Quadir@curtin.edu.au

Dr Ehsan Foroozmehr

ehsan.foroozmehr@curtin.edu.au