Engineering Technologies
Engineering Technologies
Our Engineering Technologies division is your expert R&D partner for manufacturing technology, with a focus on 3D printing and mechatronics.
OUR VISION
Create a sustainable future layer-by-layer.
RESEARCH TOPICS
- Materials & manufacturing technology for energy systems
- Innovative solutions for aerospace components (e.g., antennas, pressure regulators, ISRU applications)
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence for additive manufacturing
- Re- and upcycling
- Material and process development in additive manufacturing for high-tech applications (e.g., aerospace and military applications)
- Mechatronic systems for test benches
FACT SHEET
3D printing
- Metal alloys and polymer
- L-PBF (Laser-based Powder Bed Fusion)
- FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)
- DLP (Digital Light Processing Stereolithography)
- LMM (Lithography-based Metal Manufacturing)
- Prototypes, samples and models
- Small series production
- Component design and simulation
- Combined manufacturing (3D printing plus interface machining with CNC-mill)
- Material and parameter development also for non-standard materials (e.g. shape-memory alloys)
- Post-processing of components:
- Turing and milling
- Heat treatment (under inert gas and in vacuum)
- Electro-chemical surface finishing
Mechatronics
- Individual test bench development and integration
- Industrial machine center development in laboratory environment
- Flexible integration of sensors and actuators
- Measurement, control and regulation technology
- Data acquisition and analysis
- Hardware and software development
- Development of tailor-made test solutions
- Implementation from conception to commissioning
Other services
- CAD design
- Simulation
- Optical and tactile component measurements
- Reverse Engineering
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING (3D PRINTING)
The Engineering Technologies department serves as a highly specialized innovation center for additive manufacturing and sees itself as a bridge between academic research and industrial applications.
The team covers the entire 3D printing process chain, from material selection to the finished component. The technological spectrum includes advanced, laser-based powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processes as well as innovative extrusion technologies that enable the precise processing of metals such as titanium and aluminum, high-performance polymers such as PEEK, and specialty materials such as INVAR36 or Nitinol (NiTi).
State-of-the-art industrial systems from EOS (M400 and M280), EPlus3D (M260 and M150 Pro), Incus (HammerLab 35), as well as Prusa and Bambu Lab, are available to meet your needs.
ANALYTICS/MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGIES
The department seamlessly integrates available additive manufacturing processes with interdisciplinary mechatronic systems engineering. In addition to component manufacturing, the team focuses on customer-specific electronics development, various analytical methods, and test bench construction.
The integrated analysis methods ensure comprehensive quality assurance throughout the development chain. Using state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, the department performs powder characterization, microstructural analysis, and tactile and optical 3D geometric measurements.
Building on this, test bench construction enables the functional testing of the developed prototypes under realistic conditions.
ENGINEERING
The department offers a comprehensive portfolio of engineering services that bridges the gap between innovative design and industrial implementation. Its service offerings are based on state-of-the-art methods of computer-aided development and numerical validation.
At the heart of this is CAD design, which involves creating highly complex 3D models and production-ready technical drawings. The department places a special emphasis on Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) to make optimal use of the geometric freedoms offered by 3D printing.
CONSULTING & EDUCATION
The department’s consulting and continuing education offerings aim to transfer industrial and scientific expertise directly to companies. The focus is on strategically empowering companies to utilize modern production processes, particularly in 3D printing.
In the Consulting & Advisory division, the team supports companies in making strategic innovation decisions and implementing new technologies.
The continuing education and professional development offerings have a modular structure and are designed for individuals with a technical background. They include customized in-house training courses for targeted skill development as well as introductory seminars.
QUESTION(S)?
GET IN CONTACT WITH US
Dr. Markus Hatzenbichler
Head of the Engineering Technologies Department
Tel.: +43 5 0421 8202
E-Mail: hatzenbichler@fotec.at