Albert Weinert

Current PhD Student

Sensorization of Injection Mould Tools created by Additive Manufacturing

Albert began his academic studies in IT Sligo where he completed a BEng (Hons) in Mechatronics Engineering (2014 – 2018). After completing his studies, he was offered the opportunity of continuing to work with the research staff of IT Sligo as a PhD Researcher. After a successful recruitment stage, he began his post-graduate studies under Dr Marion McAfee and Dr David Tormey. As part of the research, he collaborates with AbbVie Ballytivnan, Medical Device Manufacturer. AbbVie is a world-leading manufacturer of auto drug delivery devices for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and others. The industrial collaboration with AbbVie allows Albert to test out his designs in their testing labs and on their production machines. Working with AbbVie gives Albert insight into common problems with injection mould tools. This provides more understanding in terms of tool wear classification and also the process parameters under which the tools operate.

Albert is in his second year of studies and is expected to finish in 2023. This project is part of I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing whose mission is to shape the future of manufacturing through high-impact research into the application of digital technologies to material processing. This research project is contributing to the development and deployment of embedded sensors and data analytics for the in-process condition monitoring of Injection Mould tooling fabricated by metal additive manufacturing (3D printing). Additively manufactured tooling offers flexibility in design which enables the manufacturers to produce high-quality goods made to buyers’ exact specification. With design flexibility comes the possibility of sensor integration, which can provide a better insight into the tool wear and part quality during the process.