Back

8 April 2008

AILU Members' Meeting and Annual General Meeting

• Sector: AGM
• Location: Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK (Building 38 ? Management Centre ? Galleries room)
• Attendees: AILU Members Only

This Members Meeting includes the Association's Annual General Meeting together with a Technical Meeting about new opportunities and developments. Presentations will be made for the AILU Award and Young Engineer's Prize for 2008. A Tour of the Cranfield Welding Centre and Precision Engineering Centre will follow the meeting.

Download a flyer here (PDF 240kB)

Presentations

New opportunities for AILU

The three-year Photonics Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) project is over halfway and from an AILU perspective is reaching an important point in terms of the formation of Special Interest Groups and improved networking/collaboration opportunities for its members. AILU Secretary Mike Green and Technology Officer, Anna O'Neil, will review progress, highlight ongoing activities and point to near and midterm opportunities for association members.

Developments in welding

David Yapp, senior lecturer at Cranfield, will cover recent developments in welding. This will be a presentation reviewing developments mainly outside of lasers.

Forum on new developments

How well do lasers currently compete with non-laser sources for welding?
Following on from the success of the last two years' open discussions, this year's event will provide an opportunity for members to examine issues relating to recent developments in welding and in particular the impact of new high brightness lasers in welding. Following on from David Yapp's presentation on alternative welding technologies the forum format provides a unique opportunity to contribute informally to the discussion.

Presentation of the AILU Award and Prize 2008

The AILU Award and Young Engineer’s Prize will be presented, with interesting insights into the winners’ backgrounds and laser activities.

The 2008 Award will be presented to Tim Weedon in recognition of his introduction of YAG-based machining systems in the early 1980s and being a tireless champion of laser based manufacturing
in the UK.

The Young UK Engineer's Prize will be presented to Fraser Dear in recognition of successful
development of fine laser machining techniques for the use of zirconia, primarily for application in dental restorations.

Programme

09:15 - 10:00 Registration and refreshments

10:00 - 10:10 Welcome to Cranfield University
Stewart Williams (Chair)

10:10 - 11:15 New developments
New developments at AILU
Mike Green and Anna O'Neil, AILU
New developments in welding technology
David Yapp, Cranfield University

11:15 - 11:45 Refreshment break

11:45 - 12:15 Open forum discussion
How well do lasers currently compete with non-laser sources for welding?

12:15 - 13:15 AGM and award presentations

President and Secretary report
Election of Officers and Members of the committee

Presentation of the Young UK Engineer's Prize 2008 to Fraser Dear
Presentation of the AILU Award 2008 to Tim Weedon

13:15 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 Tour of the Welding Centre and the Precision Engineering Centre

Registration

There is a charge of £20 + VAT(= £23.50) for members wishing to stay for the buffet lunch and tour. The buffet will include vegetarian dishes.

No charge for members wishing to attend the morning session and AGM only. We would nevertheless like you to register.

Limited table top space will be made available in the refreshment area for free display of any material you may wish to bring for distribution.

Please register, either by completing and mailing or faxing the form below to the AILU office (contact details can be found on the back page) or by e-mail to courses@ailu.org.uk.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday 28 March 2008

Venue

Cranfield University Cranfield Bedfordshire MK43 0AL.
The meeting will take place in Building 38 – Management Centre – Galleries room.

Getting there

Directions by road: The campus lies about 10 minutes drive from Junction 13 of the M1
motorway. Please go to Security in the main reception area to collect a car pass. You will be directed to where to park.

By Rail: Milton Keynes is the nearest train station (9 miles).

By Air: The nearest airport is Luton (26 miles).

Maps and further information can be found at:
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/locations/cranfield/index.jsp

Cranfield facilites tour

Welding Centre

In the laboratory of the Welding Engineering Research Centre you will see the UK’s highest power fibre laser facility (8kW), the technology developed that is forecast to provide over $500m worth of savings in the production of the Trans Alaska gas pipeline.

Also on display will be the latest developments in high deposition rate additive manufacture.

Precision Engineering Centre

The Cranfield facility is pivotal to the recently established EPSRC £8m Integrated Knowledge Centre (IKC) in ultra precision and structured surfaces, embracing technologies and manufacturing techniques that are key for effective design and manufacture of many advanced systems, medical devices and 'high end' consumer products.

The new Hexagon Loxham Precision Engineering laboratory, opened in December 2007, support work in a range of processes including abrasive machining, diamond turning, micro-machining and metrology.