Projects

1. A novel approach to the design and fabrication of biomimetic and biocompatible Ti-Ta for bone implants by additive manufacturing

This multidisciplinary ARC-supported research project aims to combine structural and materials engineering, additive manufacturing and tissue engineering to develop biomimetic bone-like scaffolds with superior structural, mechanical and biological compatibility as bone substitutes.

The research aims to improve the quality of life for people suffering musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

These disorders affect large numbers of people in Australia, at tremendous treatment cost to the national health system.

Partners: Anatomics, Xian Sailong Metal Materials
Funding model: ARC Linkage Project Grant (2014 - 2017)
Project investigators:

• Ma Qian
• Mike Xie
• Wei Xu
• Milan Brandt
• Peter Choong (St Vincent's)
• Robert Thompson (Anatomics) and Huiping Tang, (Xian Sailong Metal Materials).

2. Additive manufacturing productivity gains for industry

The Victorian Government's Manufacturing Productivity Networks grant aims to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Victorian manufacturing businesses. It is a major initiative under the Victorian Government's Manufacturing Strategy: "A More Competitive Manufacturing Industry: New Directions for Industry Policy and Manufacturing."

A collaboration venture between our Centre, the Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC) and seven other local companies successfully attracted a large grant under scheme.

Together with our industry partners, the Centre's researchers examined a number of components for additive manufacture and demonstrated the design and fabrication possibilities in polymers and selected metals together with their cost benefit analysis.

A series of workshops were held locally to assist industry uptake of the additive manufacturing technology.

Partner: AMCRC
Funding model: Victorian Government
Project lead: Milan Brandt and Martin Leary

3. Repair technologies for current and next generation aircraft systems

Foreign objects and corrosion can damage metallic aircraft components such as blisks or integrally bladed rotors (IBRs), fan blades and compressor blades. This can result in the need to remove components of high value from military aircraft for repair, or even replace entire components, at considerable cost.

The principal aim of this project is to develop and certify safe, timley and cost effective repair technologies for current and next generation military aircraft, in particular direct metal deposition technologies. The successful research resulted in the certification of repair methodology for one component, with several others to follow in the near future.

Partners: Rosebank Engineering, ANSTO, Swinburne, and DSTO
Funding model: DMTC
Project lead: Milan Brandt