Products, Processes and Systems Engineering Laboratory (LIPPS)

Established in 1998, the Products, Processes and Systems Engineering Laboratory, which comprises more than 95 members, is a leader in its sector in Canada. LIPPS conducts research aimed at creating, validating and optimizing products, processes and manufacturing systems, focusing on a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates mechanical engineering, software engineering and industrial engineering concepts.

LIPPS stands apart because of its approach, which combines applied research with industrial development activities.

Research

Research at LIPPS revolves around two complementary axes in modern industry.

Axis 1: Physical domain (materials, tools, processes)

Optimization of manufacturing processes (machining, welding, grinding, rapid prototyping, moulding and numerically controlled machining)
High-speed machining and clean machining (environmentally friendly machining that respects workplace safety standards)
Instrumentation and control of processes and products (non-destructive control)
Automatic metrology and inspection (CMM, post-processor, vision and laser scanner)
Materials characterization
Recycling and reuse of materials
Tool life and machinability testing
Materials and composites processing

Axis 2: Virtual domain (CAD/CAM, digitization and optimization of manufacturing processes)

Design for efficient manufacturing and assembly
Integrated engineering methods, models and tools (CAD, CAM, FE, integrated technical data management)
Dimensional and geometric variation management (tolerancing, planning sheets, process capabilities)
Product lifecycle management and engineering change management
Design of experiments (DOE), statistical data analysis and optimization

Consult the LIPPS publications

High-performance machining of light alloy aeronautic parts
Integrated product process change management
Multidisciplinary optimization standardization approach for integration and configurability
Dust-free composite machining
Geometric inspection and tolerancing of flexible parts
Formal representation of multi-axis machining processes for the generation of machining characteristics
Technological derivation link for capturing and exploiting product-process constraints
Manufacture of axisymmetric parts with complex high-resistance steel profiles
Development of an infringement detector for CAD models
Improvement of plantar prosthesis manufacturing processes
Prediction of the effect of high-speed machining residual constraints
Optimization of geometric variation management processes applied to mechanically-welded metallic structures
Analysis of production-line measurement systems for LPM batteries
Residual reliability of hydraulic turbines
Characterization of copper alloys

The Materials Characterization Laboratory is a one-of-a-kind facility that is fully integrated into research related to clean manufacturing. It contains the following equipment, among others:

Atomic force microscope (AFM)
Variable-pressure scanning electronic microscope
Confocal laser scanning microscope
120,000 fps high-speed camera
FTIR infrared spectrometer
200 kN high deformation tension/compression machine
Tension/compression/torsion machine and environment room
Thermal and thermogravimetric analysis system (DTA, TGA: 25 °C to 1500 °C)
Gas analyzer

Advanced electron microscope in a high-tech university lab with computer analysis interface.

The Manufacturing Laboratory features cutting-edge industrial production and design equipment and dimensional measurement equipment, and has CAD/CAM/CAI software installed on its computers. It contains the following equipment, among others: