UPC

Description:

CD6 is a technological innovation center created in 1997 with the aim of promoting research and innovation activities in the field of Optical Engineering developed at the UPC Campus in Terrassa.

CD6’s activity focuses on developing research and technological applications in the field of Optical Engineering. The center’s researchers work in four main lines of research:

• Optical metrology
• Òptica visual
• Opto-mechanical design and simulation
• Color and spectral technologies

On the other hand, the knowledge obtained in these lines translates into applications that are transferred to industry. This transfer occurs mainly within the framework of the following lines of innovation:

• Design of optical systems and sensors
• Development of instrumentation
• Optical metrology
• Biomedical instrumentation
• Optical sensors for Smart Cities
• Energy efficiency in lighting
• Optical techniques of non-destructive testing (NDT)
• Color technology

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

Linked to Additive Manufacturing, Optical Metrology is a line whose objective is the generation of new non-contact measurement techniques, and also the development of new equipment for mainly industrial and medical applications. In the case of additive manufacturing, the optical metrology can play a relevant role as an online or offline production control system, in the characterization of surface finishes and textures, and also in the development of metrological systems that can be incorporated as components in systems of additive manufacturing

In the field of additive manufacturing, the group’s contribution has focused on optical metrology techniques, with measurement capabilities up to sub-nanometric resolutions, and also on the development of manufacturing techniques for optical components.

Services:

• Advice and analysis of requirements
  • Sequential and non-sequential optical design
  • Photometric simulation
  • Simulation of the response of optoelectronic devices
  • Analysis of optical and mechanical tolerances
  • Analysis of manufacturing feasibility

• Optical design and simulation
• Mechanical design
• Design and development of acquisition, processing and control electronics
  • Acquisition and processing of analog signals from sensors of different technologies
  • Reception and processing of information obtained from integrated systems that serve sensor data through digital communication buses
• Manufacture of optomechanical components
• Validation and characterization of components and complete devices

Description:

CATMech was born as an association of the old research groups LABSON, LEAM and LITEM. It is organized with the Division of Fluids, the Division of Vibrations and Acoustics and the Division of Materials and Structures.

The research lines of the new group are:

• Fluids
• Mechanics of Vibrations and Acoustics
• Materials and structures

Values:

• Green: respectful solutions for the planet, sustainable climate change
• Digital: empowering IoT and Industry 4.0 solutions
• Experimental: test solutions at different scales and in any range. Real size specimens

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

Linked to Additive Manufacturing, the following lines of activity are exposed:

• Development of manufacturing solutions with carbon fiber composite material for tubular elements. This technology allows the use of robotic arms that have a tube of fibers without a mandrel and with a continuous impregnation of resins. A second working technology is the development of 3D printing solutions with cementitious materials (concrete and mortars). The group has two large-format printers for making prototypes.
• Application of additive manufacturing techniques for the manufacture of capillary microfluidic systems for the development of diagnostic solutions close to the patient or other microfluidic systems in the industrial field. This technology allows both the development of molds and final devices for systems with characteristic dimensions between 200 and 500 microns.
• Application of additive manufacturing techniques for the design and construction of supersonic ejectors of improved design by vacuum generation. This technology allows the construction of elements in a single piece with an improved shape to reduce the time of vacuum generation and increase the amount of vacuum generated.

Description:

The Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group bases its research on the development of biomaterials for the regeneration and/or functional repair of tissues and organs. This includes the design of materials capable of modulating the biological response of the recipient tissue, leading in some cases to tissue regeneration, and in others to a perfect integration of the biomaterial, with lost functional recovery.

It is structured in 3 priority lines of research:

• Biomaterials for bone regeneration
• Plasmas for biomedical applications
• Advanced metallic biomaterials and functionalization

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

In the last 8 years the BBT has paid special attention to additive manufacturing technologies, applied to the processing of biomaterials, and has made important developments in the fields of applications in orthopedic surgery, cardiovascular surgery and bone regeneration, which have materialized in technology transfer agreements, patents and publications in scientific journals.

Recently, the BBT has developed two innovative methods of additive manufacturing, both transferred to Catalan companies in the biomedical sector.

Services:

The business services division of the BBT is mainly oriented towards University-Company technology transfer, based on the know-how of the different lines of research that make up the group.

From our headquarters in the EEBE (Barcelona), we develop our activity in the design, management, organization and execution of R+D+i projects for companies, and in the realization of specific studies and services analysis and/or experimental characterization.

• Microscopy
• Mechanical characterization
• Chemical and structural characterization
• Physical characterization
• Surface thermal treatments
• Electrochemical characterization
• Biological characterization
• In-vivo studies
• Forensic engineering and expert analysis
• Data analysis and processing
• Technological advice
• Collaboration modalities

Spin-offs:

• Mimetis

Description:

The Metal Formation Processes group (PROCOMAME) focuses on characterizing the plastic deformation behavior of metals (mostly under hot working conditions) as well as defining processing routes based on severe plastic deformation techniques to obtain metal materials. lics with nanometric grain size. This includes hot forming such as steel forging, copper and aluminum extrusion, sheet steel forming processes and others.

The specific lines of research that have been developed in the group are:

– Hot forming processes

– Development of nanostructured metals

– Cold forming processes

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

In relation to the Additive Manufacturing of metal alloys: this is a new line started recently, based on two different technologies:

• Extrusion of metal alloys in a semi-solid state to achieve the direct deposition of the metal (process designated as “Direct Metal Writing” or DMW)
• Extrusion of feedstock MIM (Metal Injection Molding) (process designated as Metal
• Extrusion Additive Manufacturing of Highly-Filled Polymers or MEAM-HP).

Project in the network:

• Thixoprinting

Description:

The research group belongs to the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in Barcelona. It is made up of several researchers with complementary experience in the fields of deformation, fatigue and fracture of ceramics, metals and inorganic compounds. Over the years specific expertise has been acquired in the fields of fatigue and fracture, failure analysis, instrumented indentation and advanced microstructural characterization, surface technology, micromechanics, wear and analysis of ‘interfaces.

CIEFMA’s main core competencies are defined through:

• Ability to successfully evaluate and understand the mechanical integrity and reliability of CIEFMA target materials (Zirconium-based ceramics, stainless and high-strength steels, Ti-based alloys, ceramic and metal composites – especially cemented carbides and hard coatings) at different length scales
• Potential to implement advanced processes to optimize the microstructural design and/or functionality of specific material systems.

The research areas in which CIEFMA focuses its efforts are:

• Reliability and characterization of engineering materials
  • Mechanical behavior of advanced ceramics and composites, both at room temperature and at high temperatures
  • Assessment and knowledge of surface degradation phenomena, including changes induced under contact loading, as well as thermal/environmental exposure

• Micromechanics and Nanomechanics
  • Micromechanics and nanomechanics of materials, both at the bulk level and in thin layers
  • Microstructural design of metal alloys processed using different manufacturing routes

• Structural integrity
  • Maintenance of structural integrity in service conditions of materials in engineering, including the joining of structures

In addition, NEMEN, a group associated with CIEFMA, focuses its activity on the preparation, characterization and evaluation of catalysts to operate in heterogeneous phase in reactions of fundamental and industrial interest. From a fundamental point of view, it is dedicated to designing new catalysts, usually nanoparticles supported on inorganic oxides, in order to correlate the catalytic behavior with the structure of the catalyst and manage to find out in this way the nature of the active centers and their behavior.

Services:

The CIEFMA makes available to companies:

• Advice on the selection of materials, considering their mechanical performance and their degradation in service.
• Assistance in the processing of materials for structural applications, with special emphasis on the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties.
• Carrying out a wide variety of mechanical tests in order to determine the service behavior of industrial materials and components.
• Expertise and analysis of failures in components and structures.
• Development of new characterization techniques in micro and nanomechanics.
• Evaluation of the mechanical integrity of surface layers for specific applications.
• Training in the area of materials science and technology, basically in the aspects of the relationship between microstructure and mechanical behavior.

Project in the network:

• PowerDIW Energy

Description:

NEMEN focuses its activity on the preparation, characterization and evaluation of catalysts to operate in heterogeneous phase in reactions of fundamental and industrial interest. From a fundamental point of view, it is dedicated to designing new catalysts, usually nanoparticles supported on inorganic oxides, in order to correlate the catalytic behavior with the structure of the catalyst and manage to find out in this way the nature of the active centers and their behavior. This is why it is important to carry out spectroscopy and microscopy studies under in situ conditions, which are carried out in the same laboratory of the research group (LACE-EEBE), in the multiscale science and engineering research center of Barcelona (EEBE) and in the ALBA synchrotron.

Regarding its industrial application, the group is dedicated both to the tailor-made preparation of catalysts and catalytic devices and to reaction engineering. We work with conventional catalytic wall reactors (ceramic and metal honeycomb structures and/or plates), microreactors, membrane catalytic reactors, as well as with the new possibilities offered by 3D printing techniques.

Description:

e-PLASCOM carries out its research in the field of Science and Technology of Plastic and Composite materials, studying the relationship between processing-generated structure-properties. Its general objective is to reduce the environmental impact of plastic products, using recycled or renewable raw materials, as well as sustainable manufacturing technologies.

He has developed projects focused on the modification of PLA with different strategies: preparation of nano composites, reactive extrusion and mixing with other thermoplastics.

In this context, the group’s strategic objectives are articulated around 3 axes:

• Axis 1-Materials: Research on natural, bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers. Natural fillers and fibers (on a micro and nano scale). Thermal, mechanical and rheological characterization of these materials.
• Axis 2-Design, processing and behavior in service: Application of Ecodesign concepts, manufacturing through new processing technologies of thermoplastics with an emphasis on lightening the weight of the components.
• Axis 3-Plastic waste: Study on recycling and revaluation of plastic waste.

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

Preparation and characterization of metal feedstocks with polymeric binder for additive manufacturing through material extrusion.

Services:

R&D projects, tests and advice for companies in the field of plastic materials.

Project in the network:

• Plastic Upgrading

Spin-offs: –

Description:

The CDAL is a consolidated research group (GRC) of the UPC with experience in research and technology transfer in the fields of component manufacturing. The group’s areas of expertise are: forming with metallic materials, especially light alloys, and surface engineering, both in technical and decorative coatings.

The CDAL has experience in different technological areas related to the manufacture of components, especially for the industries: aeronautics, automotive, railway and transformer.

• Metal materials:
  • Study of the relationship between the microstructure and the properties of materials.
  • Selection of light alloys and optimization of shaping processes (Casting, forging, heat treatments…)
  • Research and development of semi-solid state forming processes (SSM).
  • Optimization of thermal treatment parameters.
  • 3D printing: Selection of alloys and development of new additive manufacturing processes of metallic materials.
• Surface engineering:
  • Advanced characterization and analysis of surfaces to respond to a wide variety of industrial requirements.
  • Development of new coatings with better resistance to wear and/or corrosion. High-speed thermal projection pilot plant (HVOF process).
  • Analysis of failures in coated components and search for solutions.
  • Improvement of the current processes of obtaining coatings and surface treatments. Introduction of new techniques.
  • Decorative coatings.
  • anodized
• Manufacturing processes:
  • Optimizing the parameters of foundry and forging processes
  • Improve the design of molds and dies.
• Characterization:
  • Metallographic characterization by means of optical and electronic microscopy of the microstructure in metal alloys, composite materials and coatings.
  • Qualitative and quantitative analysis using EDX and RX techniques.
  • Qualitative and quantitative analysis using EDX and RX techniques.
  • Carrying out tensile tests at low and high temperatures.
  • Performance of hardness, microhardness and ultra-microhardness tests.
  • Potentiodynamic corrosion tests and in a salt fog chamber
  • Tribological characterization of materials: determination of friction coefficients and wear resistance.

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

In the first area (made with metallic materials), the CDAL is participating in two projects in the area of ​​additive manufacturing of metals:

• BASE 3D project (FUSE3D), Grouping in emerging technologies in additive manufacturing, (2019-2022), funded by GENCAT
• Project RTI2018-097885-BC31, “Development of new additive manufacturing processes for the production of metal parts”

These projects are based on CDAL’s experience in different European and national projects of forming aluminum in a semi-solid state.

In addition, the CDAL has collaborated with Eurecat in the development of a process for obtaining aluminum sludge (RD10-1-0021 Ultra-SSM) and with SEAT on the laser printing of metallic materials (Metall 3D Printing).

In the second field of research (surface treatments and coatings) he has participated in different European and national projects: COMPWERC (BRPR-CT97-0579), Nano-HVOF (GRD1-1999-10986), MAT2008-01261 i MAT2004-06716-C02-01. These investigations go lead the CDAL to the acquisition (in March 2007) of a pilot plant for obtaining coatings by high-speed thermal projection (HVOF).

Services:

The CDAL offers a wide range of specific services to companies so that they can improve their quality and competitiveness.

These services include:

• The acquisition of new knowledge through the development of research and development projects or technological innovation
  • National R+D+i projects
  • International R+D+i projects
  • Specific projects and agreements

• Staff training
  • Introduction to Materials Science.
  • Metallic, reinforced metallic, plastic, ceramic and composite materials.
  • Bankruptcy analysis.
  • corrosion
  • Surface treatments.
  • Conformation of materials.
  • Forming of aluminum alloys.
  • Metal coatings resistant to wear.
  • Heat treatments of light alloys.
  • Introduction to the simulation of properties in industrial components by finite elements.
  • Properties of Al, Mg and Ti alloys.
  • Quantitative metallographic analysis.
  • Training of laboratory personnel in analysis and testing techniques.

• Technical reports: the analysis of specific problems
  • Characterization of materials
  • Analysis of component and process failures
  • Quantitative micrographic analyses
  • mechanical tests
  • Tribological properties of coatings

Description:

The TECNOFAB group carries out applied research in different Manufacturing Technologies, regarding the processes themselves, the methodologies, the computer-assisted systems and the integration of different technologies. The activities are grouped into two large areas, all of them related to the study and analysis of the surface finish: additive manufacturing processes and mechanical manufacturing processes.

The main activities in the area of ​​additive manufacturing processes are the following:

• 3D printing of plastic and composite materials (wood, metals, etc.) by extrusion using fused deposition modeling (FDM).
• Ceramic 3D printing by extrusion using direct ink writing (DIW).

Regarding the area of ​​mechanical manufacturing processes, the main lines are the following:

• High Speed ​​Machining for milling in 3 and 5 axes.
• Machining with abrasives for burnishing and honing
• Ball burnishing.

Other research activities are also carried out in the areas of machinability of materials, laser cutting and cryogenic machining, among others.

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

For the different manufacturing processes studied, analyzing dimensions such as shape errors, surface finish and the mechanical resistance of the pieces.

Services:-

Spin-offs: –

Description:

The REMM group focuses its research on topics in the fields of Mechanics of the Continuous Environment, Strength of Materials and Structural Engineering.

In the last five years, research has focused on two topics:

• thin-walled metal components and structures (practical application of the Generalized Theory of Beams, analysis of the distortional bond in open section perforated profiles, behavior and design of curved trapezoidal section sheets)
• the mixed slabs of steel and concrete

The group uses analytical, numerical and experimental tools. The Group has achieved a high technology transfer activity, collaborating with national and international companies. In the sector of metal shelves (metal structures of thin wall sections) its laboratory is a benchmark at European level and collaborates with European and American standardization organizations.

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

In this line of research, started in recent years, he works on the experimental characterization of the mechanical behavior of parts obtained by additive manufacturing, the development of numerical models to simulate and optimize their resistant mechanical behavior. On the other hand, numerical models have also been developed to simulate the manufacturing process using frontal photopolymerization processes.

Description:

The Construction Engineering group focuses on the life cycle of large modern civil infrastructure projects from a global perspective, which involves planning; design; construction; useful life and exploitation; maintenance and dismantling and recycling, taking into account economic, social, environmental, quality and health and safety aspects. This group has a global perspective and aims to develop management methods and technologies that can be applied to any civil infrastructure such as roads, railway lines, bridges, dams, canals, tunnels, underground structures and civil buildings.

The EC Group is focusing its efforts on increasing its international scientific strength and its position vis-à-vis the industrial sector in areas related to digital construction, control and maintenance of structures and underground space technology:

• Sensorization for a sustainable use of materials and intelligent management of the infrastructure
• Optimization of the design of underground infrastructures and management through the service
• BIM-based approaches and AI algorithms for sustainable and resilient construction

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

3D printing technologies aimed at structural applications

Services:

• https://www.c3s-barcelona.com/research/

Spin-offs:

Smart-Engineering

Others: C3S (Concrete Sustainability and Smart Structures). Research subgroup of the EC group.

Description:

The group works with the technology of concrete structures, carbon steel and stainless steel, brick and stone factory work and also wood. Many of these materials are amenable to additive manufacturing, which can make it possible to find products that are competitively additively manufactured. The interaction of manufacturing with functional and resistant design is essential to develop new products with innovations that bring value and sustainability.

The three main research areas are:

• Analysis and design of concrete structures: it consists of experimental and theoretical research on the behavior, numerical analysis and the development of conceptual models for the safe and sustainable design of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures.
• Research of historical structures and masonry: deals with the structural analysis and conservation of existing buildings, with special attention to historical and heritage buildings.
• Steel and Composite Structures Research: Covers experimental, numerical and theoretical studies on the behavior and analysis for the safe and sustainable design of steel and composite structures. The activity focuses on: problems related to instability (buckling), new metallic materials (stainless steel), numerical simulations of construction processes, time-dependent effects in composite structures, plate beams (hybrid and conical) and the ‘systematic use of FEM in steel structure design.

Services:

Technology transfer and consultancy is offered on particular problems related to the stability and ductility of steel bridges, buildings, tunnel linings, off-shore structures and wind towers, seismic design and advanced non-linear analysis of these structures .