Master's Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering: Digital Manufacturing University of Turku

Digital Manufacturing is one of the three specialization tracks of the Master's Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering. The other specialization tracks are Digital Design and Smart Systems.

Digital manufacturing (also termed 3D printing or Additive Manufacturing, AM) is considered as one of the key pillars in creating a sustainable and digital industrial era through the ongoing industrial revolution, Industry 4.0 along with Big Data and the Internet of Things.

Industries around the globe are thriving for maturing various digital manufacturing technologies and are facing a serious deficiency of skilled engineering trained in such a highly demanding field. Therefore, this master-level programme is designed to educate and train the students in the field of digital manufacturing so that they are ready to solve the challenges the industries are facing.

After completing this programme the students shall:

Have acquired a broader understanding of various traditional and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies such as welding, machining, cladding, thermal and cold spray, etc. along with an in-depth understanding of the next-generation digital manufacturing technologies such as direct energy deposition, powder bed fusion, material jetting, etc. to utilize them for creating sustainable and digital industries;

• Be able to transform innovative ideas in the field of digital manufacturing into viable business solutions;
• Have gained a basic understanding of material science and engineering concepts relevant to digital manufacturing to succeed in developing novel materials for various digital manufacturing processes;
• Have attained a broader understanding of various surface and coating methods for modifying the surfaces of the digitally manufactured components for various industrial applications;
• Have acquired a broad understanding of explaining how and why production is simulated and learn to recognize opportunities for virtual manufacturing in the industry.
• Be able to independently and creatively engage in industrial collaborations via various means such as project/assignment/thesis etc. to utilize the theoretical concepts learned during the programme and be able to critically think beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries to find innovative solutions to real-world industrial problems with new ideas;
• Be able to formulate research questions in the field of digital manufacturing, draw up plans accordingly and execute it during the thesis work by conducting scientific, ethical, and societally relevant research work as preparatory training towards doctoral research studies in digital manufacturing.

After completing this programme the students shall acquire the following skills:

• In processing the raw material (powder, wire, liquid, etc.) using various heat sources such as laser, electron beam, arc, plasma, light to create 3D printed components
• In analyzing and developing new raw materials for 3D printing and related technologies
• In applying appropriate post-treatment (thermal and mechanical) method to obtain finished 3D printed components
• In characterizing raw materials and 3D printed parts using basic and advanced material characterization techniques
• In using some of the fundamental tools in virtual manufacturing

Academic Excellence & Experience

The unit is conducting research on digital manufacturing, with a focus on additive manufacturing and 3d printing. This concentrates on improving the efficiency of different processes involved typically those of powder bed fusion and surface engineering together with laser-based processes like laser welding, -hybrid welding, -cutting, -marking and surface engineering.

The other part is concentrated on quality assurance of these technologies with in-situ sensors and its use via AI and ML disciplines, with which we collaborate with smart systems and computers sciences.

Our viewpoint for digital manufacturing consists of digital design and optimization by utilizing the advantages of modern manufacturing processes together with digital control of the manufacturing and the final quality.

Master's Thesis & Topics

The master thesis process starts typically with the identification of a problem (often from the real world), literature review to find traces of solution. This is followed with experimental design i.e. either modeling or practical. Experimental work is performed e.g. a product is designed and manufactured. Later the results are analyzed and final conclusions are drawn. The final result may be a service, a product, improvement to the process, or even a new process.

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Programme Structure

The Master’s Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering: Digital Manufacturing is a two-year programme of 120 ECTS credits including joint mechanical engineering studies, digital manufacturing studies, minor/thematic studies, and a master’s thesis.

Competence Description

After completing this programme the students shall gain the competence in following areas:

• Materials processing 3D printing technologies use various heat sources such as laser, electron beam, arc, plasma, light to create 3D printed components
• Tools to analyze and develop new raw materials for 3D printing and related technologies
• Tools to post-treat (thermally and mechanically) the 3D printed parts
• Basic and advanced material characterization techniques to study raw materials and 3D printed parts
• Fundamental tools for virtual manufacturing

Job Options

Digital manufacturing (also termed 3D printing or Additive Manufacturing, AM) is considered as one of the key pillars in creating a sustainable and digital industrial era through the ongoing industrial revolution, Industry 4.0 along with Big Data and the Internet of Things.

Industries around the globe are thriving for maturing various digital manufacturing technologies and are facing a serious deficiency of skilled engineering trained in such a highly demanding field. Therefore, after completing this programme the students are well trained to solve real challenges in various industrial sectors including but not limited to aerospace, space, automotive, bio-medical, marine, nuclear, power and energy, etc.

After successfully finishing this programme the student can go to industries as well trained 3D printing process specialist, design specialist, materials specialist, characterization specialist, surface engineering specialist, etc.

Career In Research

After successfully finishing this programme the student can also opt for a research career by enrolling into the Ph.D. programme with a specialization in 3D printing, process monitoring, materials processing using laser and plasma, thin and thick coatings, tribology, biomaterials, etc.

Graduates from the programme are eligible to apply for a position in the University of Turku Graduate School, UTUGS. The Graduate School consists of doctoral programmes, which cover all disciplines and doctoral candidates of the University.