Dr Heather Almond
Research Fellow
Location: Building 88, Cranfield campus
E: h.j.a.almond@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1234 750111 x2020
Manufacturing and Materials
Current activities
Dr Heather Almond is currently investigating the use of pulsed and pulsed reverse electrolytic machining in the etching of “difficult to etch” metals and alloys. These include a wide variety of superalloys and other highly corrosion resistant metals. She is also involved in several photochemical machining related projects to create small features in metal components.
Clients
Current clients/funding sources include:
- Chemart, USA
- Chemical Machining SPA, Italy
- CMT Rickenbach SA, Switzerland
- Datum Alloys, UK
- Etchform, Netherlands
- Hamilton Precision Metals, USA
- Heatric, UK
- HP Etch AB, Sweden
- KEMAC, USA
- Kem-Mil Company, USA
- Newcut Inc, USA
- Northwest Etch, USA
- Precision Micro, UK
- Stork Veco, Netherlands
- Tecan Components Ltd, UK
- 6th Framework Programme, Aeronautics and Space, Contract No: 502844 Development of Advanced Actuation concepts to Provide a Step Change in Technology Used in Future Aero-Engine Control Systems (ADVACT), Work package 4 – Shape memory alloys for gas turbine applications.
Previous clients/funding sources include:
- Brite Euram III Craft “Rapid, High Accuracy casting Technology Technology for Long Life Injection Mould Tooling”
- Adenco NV, Belgium
- Eastern Reproduction Corp., USA
- Hirai Seimitsu Corp, Japan
- Metaq GmbH, Germany
- Microphoto Inc., USA
- Photofabrication Engineering Inc., USA
- Phibro-Tech Inc, USA
- Fotofabrication Corp, USA
- Gravage Berreux, Sw
- Velocys, USA.
Background
Dr Heather Almond’s experience is mainly in the area of manufacturing techniques and advanced processes in general. She gained her MSc and PhD in Advanced Manufacturing Techniques at Cranfield University in 1988 and 1996 respectively, specialising in aspects of Photochemical Machining.
Her industrial experience includes working for the Atomic Energy Authority as a scientific assistant for a year and as a Development Engineer in the manufacture of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance super-conducting magnets for imaging equipment for two years.
Her post-doctorate research experience, includes: two years in Rapid Prototyping at Nottingham University and 12 years at Cranfield University with micro-electrodischarge machining, photochemical machining, electrolytic etching and various micro-engineering projects.
