Industry 4.0
Research in Advanced Manufacturing at St. Clair College supports new processes, products, prototypes, and services focused on Industry 4.0 Pillars in Robotics and Automation, Additive Manufacturing and Materials Science, Smart Manufacturing and Simulation. The goal of advanced manufacturing research at St. Clair College is to enhance the capabilities of the local manufacturing industry and to train the next generation workforce on Industry 4.0 technologies.
At St. Clair College we provide regional industry partners with timely access to expertise and advanced technologies that support innovation through talent development, technological consulting, and customized solutions that generate cost-savings and improved quality.
Robotics and Automation
Research that focuses on a range of disciplines, including engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence. Researchers in this field enhances the development of new technologies, such as robots that can perform tasks in hazardous environments. At St. Clair College we’ve conducted robotics and automation applied research that has been used in manufacturing and agriculture sectors. Robotics and automation has the potential to drive significant technological advancements and to shape the way we live and work in the future.
Additive Manufacturing and Materials Science
Research that focuses on exploring the structure and properties of material for real-world application. At St. Clair College we have the capabilities to conduct finite element analysis services with the ANSYS/LS-DYNA software packages, stress analysis of solids, determination of load bearing capacities and safety factors, and modal analysis. St. Clair College is also leading the way in additive manufacturing with their 3D printing lab, offering project partners and students real time prints.
Smart Manufacturing
Research that focuses the development and implementation of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics, in the manufacturing process. At St. Clair College we have the knowledge, skills, and technology to conduct applied research projects that offer significant improvements in the manufacturing industry. This research aims to improve efficiency, quality, and agility in the manufacturing sector.
Simulation
Research that focuses on integrated digital process consisting of 3D visualization, simulation, analytics, & collaboration tools to manufacture products and process operations. Simulation can be used to explore the behaviour of systems and processes, to test and validate designs and models, and to communicate and present data and information. Simulation can also be used to improve decision-making, as they allow users to explore different scenarios and understand the potential outcomes of different actions.
Affiliated Labs
The Ford Centre for Excellence in Manufacturing, located at St. Clair College’s Windsor campus, delivers high-quality training in the engineering and manufacturing technology industry. This state-of-the-art teaching facility gives students hands-on training using some of the world’s most sophisticated technology offered in a single college setting. This includes 5-axis CNC machines, state-of-the-art plastic injection molding machines, wire cut EDM, and Rapid Prototyping machines.
At. St. Clair College with our 3D Printing Lab we have the ability explore unique designs and a variety of material options through additive manufacturing. The lab contains a variety of 3D printers capable of printing a range of materials such as plastics, nylon, carbon fiber, metal, etc. Students can submit a 3D Print Request filling out the form by clicking here. An Instron machine is also housed in this lab to test the material properties of the printed components as well as other manufactured parts.
At St. Clair College we have the ability to design and fabricate custom fixtures for unique, project-dependent test structures. Unknown material properties for manufactured parts and details can also be determined with high accuracy by extracting, experimentally testing, and analyzing (post-processing, microscopy, etc.) test samples directly from products provided by industrial partners.
St. Clair College’s robotics lab offers cutting-edge technology for industrial automation, including collaborative robots, an autonomous mobile robot (ARM), and Cognex vision systems. These advanced tools provide precise and efficient solutions for manufacturing and industrial settings.
The Simulation Lab has the capability to work in the virtual space by developing CAD models and creating virtual reality digital twins. The lab houses virtual reality and augmented reality equipment, software, and computing hardware to conduct these types of projects. It also contains a laser, structured light, and lidar scanners to reverse engineer small and medium-sized parts, and large spaces.