Welcome
The Manufacturing Automation Laboratory ( MAL ) conducts research in the mechanics and dynamics of metal cutting operations, machine tool feed drives, spindle design and analysis, virtual simulation of machining operations and CNC machine tools, design and digital control of high speed feed drives, precision machining, 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 NT3000 CNC Mill Turn, a Fadal Vertical CNC Machining center, a Hardinge Super Precision CNC turning center, Mitutoya CMM, Multi-Functional Micro-Machining Center from Mikrotool, high speed SIEMENS linear motor driven 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, shrink fit station.
The Laboratory is fully equipped to conduct research in all aspects of machine tool and machining engineering. Sample instruments include table, lathe and rotating dynamometers from Kistler; tool microscopes with video and photography attachment, surface finish analyzer, Ranishaw Laser Interferometer, laser displacement sensors, laser vibrometer, capacitive-inductive probes, modal testing kits 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 software which has milling, turning, boring, drilling, cutting temperature, spindle design and analysis, virtual CNC, Virtual High Performance Machining System, experimental modal analysis, modal testing and data acquisition modules. More than one hundred companies around the world licensed the unique and advanced engineering tools developed in our laboratory. We conduct joint projects with several national and international universities, research centers and leading machine tool, cutting tool, automotive and aerospace companies in Canada , the USA , Japan and Europe.
Our laboratory is also a social gathering place for the graduate students. We work together, ski, camp, hike, and throw parties. We welcome graduate students, engineers from industry and other academic institutes who enjoy working on machine tools and automation.
Yusuf Altintas, Professor
NSERC – Pratt & Whitney Canada Industrial Research Chair in High Performance Virtual Machining
