Laboratories

Laboratory for Applied Mechanics / Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Applied Mechanics and its follow-up subjects (i.e. Finite Elements, Machine Dynamics and Dynamics of Multi-body Systems) form an important part in Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics. The currently available computer-aided design tools are indispensible for problem solving. The Laboratory for Applied Mechanics / FEA provides a modern learning and development environment, in which students learn to use simulation programs efficiently.

Equipment

CAD-Tools

• Inventor
• ProEngineer

Finite-Elemente Programs

• Ansys/Workbench (multiphysics)
• LSDYNA/LS-PrePost
• DYNA3D

Strenght verification FKM

• KISS-Soft

Vibration analysis / multi-body simulation

• ANSYS
• SIMPACK

Room Goe 00204
T +49.241.6009 52451

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Laboratory for Automation Technology and Robotics

Automation is a highly interdisciplinary field in which essential topics of mechanical engineering, mechatronics and electrical engineering are overlapping. It goes along with the fascination to build machines that are able to run processes autonomously.

The lab is focussed on automated assembly. It is equipped with:

• Transfer systems
• Assembly robots
• Programmable logic controllers
• Pneumatic, electrical and servopneumatic handling systems
• Various sensors and actuators
• A wide range of information and communication technology

The main components of automation technology are introduced in practical trainings. Parts of the assembly line have been developed in student projects.

Robotics is a major part of automation. A typical assembly robot (SCARA) and a universal robot as common representatives of the robotics industry are here at disposal. Both are equipped with image processing systems. Besides programming the robots directly at the line, simulation is another essential aspect of the practical training program.

Recently, the automation technology and robotics laboratory was supplemented by a range of mobile, autonomous systems. Wheeled platforms (TurtleBot, NXT and in-house developments) belong to them as well as humanoid robots (Nao), which give an insight into the complex kinematics and programming of humanoid service robots. These robots are able to play soccer as well ...

Room Goe 01 4 08

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Equipment

Assembly line with automotive transport trolley

Automated assembly line with five assembly stations, consisting of typical industrial components for assembly tasks on cylinder heads for diesel engines, such as:

• Transfer system with points and automotive programmable transport trolley
• Integrated four-axes assembly robot, type SCARA with safety cell
• Gripper changing system with parallel, angular and vacuum grippers
• Electric, pneumatic and servopneumatic handling devices
• Screwdriving station with electronically controlled tightening parameters
• Vibrating spiral conveyors, self-developed active depots
• Line and station PLCs
• Mechanical, electronic, and optical safety installations
• PC with programming and simulation software
• Several camera systems

Modular assembly system with double-strap transfer system

Workpiece carrier transfer system with diverts and infeeds to realize assembly task on mobile phones, consisting of:

• Hybrid system with integrated manual assembly workstations
• Workpiece carrier, double strap and accumulator chain transfer systems
• Modular design with replaceable cells
• Data transfer between stations and workpiece carriers, control technology

6-axes universal robot

• Type RV-3SB (Mitsubishi)
• Robot-vision-cell (Festo)
• Reach 640 mm, ultimate load 3 kg, repetitive accuracy ± 0.02 mm
• Long-stroke grippers, parallel grippers
• Stationary color camera, reflex sensor, optical waveguide including computer with programming and evaluation software
• Simulation software CIROS Studio

4-axes assembly robot

• Type Turbo-SCARA SR60 (Bosch Rexroth)
• Control IQ 150, teach pendant, offline programming software
• Reach 600 mm, ultimate load 2 kg, repetitive accuracy ± 0.025 mm
• Parallel, angular, vacuum grippers, gripper change system
• Safety cell

Humanoid robots (Nao)

• Five humanoid Nao robots with 25 degrees of freedom by Aldebaran Robotics (RoboCup standard platform)
• Simulation and control software

Mobile, autonomous robots

• One TurtleBot, consisting of iRobot Create, Netbook, Kinect sensor, and ROS
• One iRobot Roomba 555 robot vacuum cleaner with Kinect sensor

CAD Laboratory

Practical trainings

The CAD lab is used for the following practical trainings:

• Basics of CAD
• CAD/CAM

The participation in Basics of CAD is compulsory for all students. Here they learn the basic 3D techniques required for using a CAD system. The training is performed in groups with 15 person.

The CAD/CAM practical training comprises two parts: In the first part (CAD), the capabilities of modern CAD systems are demonstrated. Students are introduced to ways of modeling and assembly modeling and much more by using the Inventor CAD system.

In the second part of the training (CAM), students deal with the computer-aided generation of milling programs. This part of the training takes place in the CAD/CAM lab.

Room Goe 03307

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Equipment

• 21 PC  systems
  • Precision Tx610 (Dell)
  • 27"- und 24"- monitors (Dell)
  • 3D-mouse (3DConnexion)

• Inventor Prof. 2014 (Autodesk)
• Mechanical desktop, AutoCAD (Autodesk)
• CAM system HyperMill (Open Mind)
• NX 8.5 (Siemens)

CAD/CAM Laboratory

The equipment of the CAD/CAM Laboratory of the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences reflects the entire CAx process chain in the production field; from model data acquisition/compilation and rapid prototyping up to the milling of components on modern 5-axis milling machines.

The following lab equipment can be used for practical trainings and project works:

Model Data Acquisition:

• Hardware: 3D-Scanner (Steinbichler) incl. high-performance-workstation and scanning workstation
• Software: Surface feedback and quality assurance (3D-Systems DesignX and Verify)

Model Data Generation (CAD):

• Hardware: 18 PC workstations and 1 workstation for presentations
• Software: Autodesk Inventor, Siemens NX (pilot stage)

Rapid Prototyping:

• Hardware: HP 3D Printer

Machine Simulation:

• Software: OpenMind HyperMill, DMG Virtual Machine (DMU 50 eVo simulation)

Manufacturing (CAM):

• Hardware: 5-axis milling machine Datron M8; machining center DMG DMU 50eVo (workshop building), CNC lathe Mazak SQT 200 (workshop building)
• Software: OpenMind HyperMill, Siemens NX CAM (pilot stage)

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Room Goe 02 4 08
T +49.241.6009 52474

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Equipment

Data Processing Laboratory

The Data Processing Lab is used for the following trainings:

• Practical course on data processing
• Practical course on numerics (NUMAS)
• Practical course on production logistics and automation engineering
• Practical course on test planning, measurement and control systems
• Practical course on industrial business operations and production planning
• Windows software
• Networks: basics, applications, safety
• Introduction to LINUX operation system
• Object-oriented C++ programming
• JAVA programming language
• Computerized problem solving of engineering issues (SciLab, MatLab)
• Introduction to LabView
• Test scheduling, measurement & control systems (course is held in English)

Equipment

Hardware

• 18 Dell PCs
• 3 Overhead projectors
• 1 3M beamer

Software

• Each PC runs optionally either with LINUX or Windows operating system.
• A wide range of user programs are available for both operation systems.

Room Goe 01202

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Flow Laboratory

Goettinger wind tunnel
Testing bodies in flow fields

• Wings
• Spheres

Water tank

• For flow visualization

Pipeline test benches

• Volume flow measurements
• Pressure drop measurements
• Determination of speed profiles
• Determination of throttle elements' characteristics
• Determination of hovering speeds

Pelton turbine

• Determination of characteristics
• Mechanical torque measurements
• Optical speed measurements

Centrifugal pumps test stations

• Measurement of characteristics
• Cavitation observations

Axial fan on suction chamber test bench

• Measurement of characteristics
• Applying different procedures for volume flow measurement, pressure measurement
• Power measurements
• Determination of hub impact losses
• Rotating stall analyses

 Radia fan test bench

• Determination of the characteristics
• Volume flow measurements on inlet nozzle, pressure measurements
• Mechanical torque measurements
• Optical speed measurements

Room Goe 00116

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Equipment

• Goettinger wind tunnel
• Water tank
• Pipeline test benches
• Pelton turbine
• Centrifugal pumps test station
• Axial fan on suction chamber test bench
• Radial fan test bench

Laboratory for geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)

The lab is mainly used for the following practical trainings:

• Quality systems
• Measurement technology
• Quality management methods

Equipment

• Computer-controlled flexible 3D measuring device with tactile contact (Brown & Sharbe)
• Tactile roughness measuring devices with software (Hommel tester)
• Hand-held meters (Vernier caliper gauge, dial gauge, outside micrometer)
• Test gauges
• Gauge blocks (steel)
• Height gauge
• Measuring microscope
• Inductive measuring probe
• Laser triangulation sensor
• Laser interferometer
• Torque measuring shaft with strain gauges

Room Goe 01 4 08

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Laboratory for Coating Analysis

The lecture Coating Technologies includes some practical training units that students carry out in this laboratory.

The lab is equipped with a highly sensitive nanoindenter for hardness measurements and two measuring microscopes for universal use.

Equipment:

• A CSM Calotest device to analyze coating thicknesses and coating rates on the basis of the ball-cratering method.
• An Olympus microscope with image analysis software and special analysis software for coating thicknessess and thickness deviations.
• A CSM nanoindenter of type TTX-NHT² is used for hardness measurements and mounted on an anti-vibration table because of its high sensitivity.
• A Keyence digital microscope (type VHX-1000) with a surface measurement module. It computes the depth of field in real time and allows image composition.

Room Goe U1219
T +49.241.6009 52944

Head of Laboratory

Laboratory Staff

Laboratory for Materials Engineering

This lab is mainly used for strenght tests on a wide range of materials.

Equipment

• Testing machine for tensile strength tests
• Universal hardness tester
• Light microscope for microstructure analysis

Room Goe 00 405
T +49.241.6009 52337

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Laboratory for Materials-handling Technology, Material Flow, and Logistics

This laboratory is used for:

• Production logistics - intralogistics
• Planning of conveying and storage systems
• Material flow planning / material flow simulation
• Analyzing assembly processes
• Developing components or sub-assemblies of materials-handling systems

• Project works and bachelor/master theses

Equipment

Simulation software WITNESS

Room Goe 01413

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Laboratory for Machine Design

This laboratory is used for practical trainings of the following lectures (or modules): Machine Elements, Machine Design Theory, Machine Elements - Higher Calculation Methods and Tribology.

Furthermore it can be used for student project works and final theses.

Equipment:

• Instruments for viscosity measurements (ball drop viscometer KF30 according to DIN 53015 and R/S cone-plate rheometer)
• Experiment set-up to determine the friction in friction bearings (Stribeck curve)
• Gear measuring center (Klingelnberg) to measure standardized gears from the FZG (gear rig test machine)
• Experiment set-up to visualize EHD contact
• Gear measuring center PFS 600
• Systems and devices for machine monitoring and diagnosis

Room Goe 03308

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Physics Laboratory

Almost all students of the three faculties Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, Aerospace Technology, and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology use the Physics Laboratory in their 1. or 2. semester, because a practical training in Physics is part of the Physics course. The lab holds approximately 15 experimental setups (in different versions, each 2-6 times), allowing students to conduct measurements in Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Optics and Solid State Physics. In addition, the following devices are available for scientific studies: two photospectrometers, a Faraday spectrometer, a setup for measuring optical modes in planar magneto-optical waveguides, an ellipsometer and optical benches with various optical components.

A particular highlight of the Physics Laboratory is the large collection of physical gadgets (toys) which can be used for a variety of creative experiments.

Room Hoh 00207 | Hoh U1214 | Hoh U1208a
T +49.241.6009 52374

Head of the laboratory

Equipment

• Appr. 15 experiment setups in different versions
• 2 photospectrometers
• Faraday spectrometer
• Ellipsometer
• Several optical benches
• Measurement setup for measuring optical modes in planar magneto-optical waveguides
• Large collection of physical "toys"

Laboratory for Production-related Measurement Techniques

This laboratory is used for experiments that belong to the practical training of the course Manufacturing Processes (course No. 82106).

The accuracy of components that are being produced plays an ever-increasing role in manufacturing technology. Therefore, the geometric dimensions of the components as well as their surface quality have to be checked and compared with the given requirements already during the production process.

Furthermore, students are free to use the laboratory for projects or their bachelor and master theses.

Equipment

• Surface reference standards
• Vernier caliper
• Outside micrometers
• Gauges and light section microscope
• Mahr form tester to detect surface deviations (circularity), eccentricity deviations, and deviations from plane-parallelism
• Various measuring instruments to determine such surface characteristics as roughness depth, smoothing depth, mean roughness value, and load-bearing behaviour
  
  The instruments can be used for measurements in the workshop (MarSurf PS1 without any further documentation) as well as for measurements in the test laboratory (MarSurf M300 + RD18 with wireless data transmission to the evaluation computer).

Room Goe 01409
T +49 241 6009 52358

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

GoetheLab for Additive Manufacturing

The laboratory is used for the courses Rapid Prototyping and Laser Technology, but also for the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics' master degree programs. Go to the GoetheLab homepage.

Prof. Gebhardt (faculty 8), who leads the teaching and research field "High performance processes in manufacturing and rapid prototyping", has worked mainly in the area of additive manufacturing of plastic prototypes. His findings have drawn international attention.

At the end of 2010, he included metal processing in his studies on additive prototype manufacturing. Thus he entered not only uncharted territory for the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, but also tackled a new issue that industrial manufacturers were facing. In the meantime, the findings of different research projects have paved the way that allows to process various steel alloys as well as precious metals, e.g. silver.

The cooperation with the company CP-GmbH and its extensive practical experiences led to the following (meanwhile regarded as standard) textbook:

• Gebhardt, A.: Generative Fertigungsverfahren. Rapid Prototyping – Rapid Tooling – Rapid Manufacturing.
  Fachbuch, 499 Seiten, 3. Auflage, Carl Hanser Verlag, München / Wien, 2007

as well as to the concise study edition in English language:

• Gebhardt, A.: Understanding Additive Manufacturing. Rapid Prototyping - Rapid Tooling - Rapid Manufacturing.
  ISBN 978-3-446-42552-1, 180 pages, Hanser Publications LLC, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 2012

Both textbooks are available in the FH library in sufficient quantity.

The Goethe lab team has presented its projects in the edition "Karrierestart Young Professionals Technik" (ISSN 1862-9253), winter semester 2013/14, published by IWV. Here ist the article (only in German).

Equipment

• Additive manufacturing machines for prototypes and final products (commercial)
  • SLM-50 by Realizer to manufacture prototypes and final products of metals
  • ZCorp ZPrinter 450 to manufacture colored prototypes of pottery plaster
  • Dimension SST to manufacture prototypes of plastics
  • Objet 30 to manufacture prototypes and final products of acrylates
• Additive manufacturing machines for prototypes (Fabber, personal printer)
  • Makerbots
  • Ultimaker
  • Form 1+
  • Delta-Printer
  • RepRap´s
• Finishing equipment for metal and plastic parts

GoetheLab for Additive Manufacturing – Laboratory
Goethestrasse 1, Room 04304

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff

Laboratory for Thermodynamics and Energy Technology

Thermodynamics is a basic course that belongs to the curriculum's required subjects. At present, the practical training in Thermodynamics consists of the following three experiments:

• Temperature measurement procedures
• Vapor-liquid phase equilibrium (measuring the vapor pressure curve of carbon dioxide)
• Processes in humid air

The experiments are designed such that students can conduct them on their own.

Energy Technology is an elective course for which the lab provides experimenal set-ups and testing equipment for the following issues:

• Thermal heat pumps
• Combined heat and power units
• Heat exchanger
• Thermography

Equipment

• General lab measurement instrumentation to measure electric variables
• Testing equipment for the Temperature Measurement practical training
• Testing equipment to measure the vapour pressure curve of carbon dioxide
• Experiamental set-up Humid Air
• Heat pump
• Several thermographic systems
• Gas-powered combined heat and power unit
• Steam-powered combined heat and power unit
• Experiamental set-up heat transfer test rig (under construction)
• Experiamental set-up shell-and-tube heat exchanger

Room Goe 00108 und 00109
T +49.241.6009 52447

Head of the laboratory

Laboratory staff