Machine learning in the aluminium industry based on real-time production data

Master thesis

In “CondOR-EEE”, which is a national funded project, the in-situ measurement of electrical conductivity during the thermomechanical processing of wrought aluminium alloys will be tested on a laboratory scale and on an industrial scale. The conductivity needs to be measured, for example, during homogenization, heating for extrusion or rolling, and during heat aging, to be able to make predictions about the end product quality using machine learning or physical models. The electrical conductivity curve during heat treatments implicitly contains a complete fingerprint of the material. However, this fingerprint is difficult to interpret due to temperature influences on the measurement and due to the complexity of the metallurgical processes. Machine learning can be used to filter out systematic errors such as the influence of temperature. In addition to other process parameters (e.g. temperatures, extrusion speed, taping plan during rolling) end product properties can be predicted.

PROFACTOR is an applied research center located in Steyr. We conduct research in the field of industrial assistive systems and additive micro/nano manufacturing. Our team consists of around 100 employees from 15 different academic fields. We work across disciplines to find solutions for the manufacturing industry and set standards in robotics, machine vision, simulation, 3D printing, functional surfaces and nanostructures.

Your tasks

The goals of this thesis are:

• to analyse, preprocess and interpret data from aluminum extrusion processes
• to train, test and evaluate machine learning methods based on this data
• to benchmark different machine learning approaches
• to optimize model parameters

We are looking for

Motivated students with a hands-on mentality in the field of software development and/or mechatronics.

Benefits

Start / Duration

Starting as soon as possible – Duration of 6 months (extendable depending on performance)

PROFACTOR’s research improves the competiveness of European Industry. We are pioneers of the thinking production. We bring production back home.

We offer for master thesis a compensation of min. 515 EUR per month.

We are looking forward to your application – please apply at www.profactor.at or
send your application to personal@nullprofactor.at

Questions? Please contact:
DI Daniela Kirchberger

daniela.kirchberger@nullprofactor.at , Tel.: +43 7252 885 319

Master thesis – Inkjet printed Flexible and Wearable Electronics

Ageing of population is one of the main problems that European population is facing today, raising the question on the future sustainability of the social health system. Observing the patients who are recovering from an operation by Remote Patient Monitoring can reduce the hospitalization days and avoid further complications of the post-operation time.
TEX-hype project (TEXtile integrated HYbrid Printed Electronics) aims at the development of novel technologies for smart textiles enabling seamless integration of electronics and sensors into garment and develop remote patient monitoring system.
TEX-hype will concentrate on improving the level of integration of electronics in textiles by exploiting a hybrid approach: a stretchable technology that allows the integration of electronics in textile products in such a way that their typical flexible/elastic nature is preserved.

Hybrid printed electronics have the ability to solve this problem by using a combination of traditional silicon-based electronic devices, flexible electronic devices and printed systems. However this hybridization faces the challenge that existing electronic components are commonly not compatible with textile substrates..

PROFACTOR is an applied research center located in Steyr. We conduct research in the field of industrial assistive systems and additive micro/nano manufacturing. Our team consists of around 70 employees from 15 different academic fields. We work across disciplines to find solutions for the manufacturing industry and set standards in robotics, machine vision, simulation, 3D printing, functional surfaces and nanostructures.

Your tasks

The goals of this master thesis are:

• to develop printing processes, pre-treatments and post-processing of dielectric, conductive and resistive materials
• to investigate assembly processes for FWE (flexible, wearable electronics)
• to design demonstrators for health monitoring systems
• to characterize, test and validate printed samples

We are looking for

Motivated students with a hands-on mentality in the field of engineering, physics, material science or similar studies.

We offer

• the possibility to work in cutting edge R&D projects with renowned industrial partners
• flexible working hours
• the chance to be part of a young, interdisciplinary and cooperative team

Benefits

Start/Duration

As soon as possible/ Duration of 6 months (extendable depending on performance)

Our Mission

PROFACTOR’s research improves the competitiveness of European Industry. We are pioneers of the thinking production. We bring production back home.

We offer for master thesis a compensation of  515,- EUR per month.

Dr. Pavel Kulha (Functional Surfaces), +43 7252 885 – 431

Master thesis – Team Functional Surfaces and Nanostructures 

An increasing demand for alternative processes is present in the PCB manufacturing industry. Considering photolithography as main alternative solution, inkjet printing PCBs will be: innovative, cheaper, simpler, greener, stronger and closer to the market. Compared with photolithography, inkjet printing PCBs has a clear economic advantage with the potential to cut PCB prices of more than 50%. Moreover, PCB manufacturing by inkjet printing will open new possibilities for this well-established market.
Main scope of inkjetPCB project is to develop fully inkjet printed multi-layer Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) including embedded passive components as a commercially viable process. As outcome of this collaborative innovation project, the consortium partners plan to deliver to their customers a Complete Solution for the digital additive manufacturing of PCBs including materials, equipment and process guidelines.

PROFACTOR is an applied research center located in Steyr. We conduct research in the field of industrial assistive systems and additive micro/nano manufacturing. Our team consists of around 70 employees from 15 different academic fields. We work across disciplines to find solutions for the manufacturing industry and set standards in robotics, machine vision, simulation, 3D printing, functional surfaces and nanostructures.

Your tasks

The goals of this thesis are:

• to develop processes, including printing, pre-treatments and post-processing of dielectric, conductive and resistive materials
• to investigate the interface issues and compatibility among the different materials
• to further develop the lab equipment and its sotware towards full 3D printing compatibility
• to design and manufacture PCBs and electronic devices for demonstration

We are looking for

Motivated students with a hands-on mentality in the field of engineering, physics, material science or similar studies.

Benefits

Start / Duration

Starting as soon as possible – Duration of 6 months (extendable depending on performance)

PROFACTOR’s research improves the competitiveness of European Industry. We are pioneers of the thinking production. We bring production back home.

We offer for master thesis a compensation of 515,- EUR per month.

We are looking forward to your application preferred online or send your application to: personal@nullprofactor.at

Questions? please contact:  Dr. Pavel Kulha, +43 7252 885-431

Master thesis – Team Functional Surfaces and Nanostructures 

Improving the life quality of Europe’s increasingly elderly population is one of the most pressing challenges our society faces today. The need to treat age-related degenerative changes in e.g. articular joints or dental defects will boost the market opportunities for tissue regeneration products like implants. 3D printing has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare system by providing highly sophisticated, tissue engineered implants personalized to the patient. State of the art 3D printing technologies can provide biocompatible implants with the right macroscopic shape to fit a patient-specific tissue defect. However, for a real functionality, there is a need for new biomaterials, technologies and processes that additionally allow the fabrication of an inner multi-material microstructure that induces tissue-specific regeneration. Among the different available technologies for tissue engineering applications, 3D multi-material inkjet printing has an immense potential to address the complexity required for implant inner microstructure fabrication. However, the advance of this technology is mainly hindered by the lack of inks that exhibit the required properties to be used in a multi-material process.

PROFACTOR is an applied research center located in Steyr. We conduct research in the field of industrial assistive systems and additive micro/nano manufacturing. Our team consists of around 70 employees from 15 different academic fields. We work across disciplines to find solutions for the manufacturing industry and set standards in robotics, machine vision, simulation, 3D printing, functional surfaces and nanostructures.

Your tasks

The goals of this thesis are:

• to develop new inkjet ink formulations based on biocompatible and biodegradable materials for 3D multi-material inkjet printing
• to optimize the printing and curing processes of those materials
• to investigate the interface issues and compatibility among the different materials to make possible the multi-material process
• to perform 3D multi-material inkjet printing of biocompatibility and biodegradable materials

We are looking for

Motivated students with a hands-on mentality in the field of chemistry, material science, polymer chemistry or similar studies.

Benefits

Start / Duration

as soon as possible / 6 months (extendable depending on performance)

PROFACTOR’s research improves the competitiveness of European Industry. We are pioneers of the thinking production. We bring production back home.

We offer for master thesis a compensation of 515,- EUR per month.

We are looking forward to your application preferred online or send your application to: personal@nullprofactor.at

Questions? please contact:  DI Dr. Thomas Köpplmayr +43 7252 885-429

Master thesis

Our Mission