The Plastometrex CTO, Dr Jimmy Campbell, has been recognised as one of the most promising research and innovation leaders in the country with the award of a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. He will be using this award to further develop the novel Plastometrex PIP (Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry) technology for rapid qualification of additively manufactured (AM) metal components. 

AM is a fast-growing manufacturing method, that facilitates the creation of complex parts and lightweight designs whilst also reducing material waste and production lead times. However, qualifying AM parts is difficult, and standards supporting the qualification process are still under development. This innovation will allow PIP to support the qualification process to reduce the time, cost and complexity of mechanical testing compared to conventional testing methods. The ultimate goal of the project will be to establish PIP testing as the go-to technique for mechanically qualifying metal AM parts. 

Plastometrex’s PIP testing methodology is currently capable of extracting mechanical properties - namely stress-strain curves - from metals that are isotropic. The testing technology is already being used at world-leading institutions like Oxford University, MIT, and Element Materials Technology. 

Mechanical anisotropy, which is a common characteristic of AM metals, can be rapidly identified using PIP. However, whilst it can quickly identify the presence and sense of anisotropy, it cannot yet be quantified. This innovation will remove that barrier, and position the technology to address the needs of the rapidly growing metal AM market.  

On receiving the fellowship award, Jimmy said ‘this award will allow me to assemble a team that is capable of tackling this technically demanding project. With the support from project partners the National Physical Laboratory, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Element Materials Technology and Oxford University I am confident we will be able to extend the capability of our software package to fully quantify anisotropy. This will allow users of our technology in the additive manufacturing communities to substantially reduce their material and component qualification times.’

‘UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said, “Future Leaders Fellowships provide researchers and innovators with the freedom and generous long-term support to progress adventurous new ideas, and to move across disciplinary boundaries and between academia and industry.

“The fellows announced today provide shining examples of the talented researchers and innovators across every discipline attracted to pursue their ideas in universities and businesses throughout the UK, with the potential to deliver transformative research that can be felt across society and the economy.”