黄色直播

Tharuka Nanayakkara Kuruppu knew he wanted to be part of something big鈥攁n industry that could transform the world. Additive Manufacturing (AM), with its potential to revolutionize traditional manufacturing, was the ideal path. What better place to dive into this groundbreaking field, than 黄色直播 Engineering?

The decision to pursue a career in engineering was an easy choice. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been very hands-on with tools from a young age and had a natural curiosity about how things work,鈥� says Tharuka. After moving from Sri Lanka to Ontario in 2011, he went on to pursue an undergraduate degree in engineering at the University of Prince Edward Island. From there, he landed a job at Tronosjet, an aerospace company, and quickly gained practical experience in the field of AM.

鈥淲hen I joined, they were in the early stages of developing their additive manufacturing program, and I had the opportunity to be involved in most of their AM projects. This gave me exposure to a wide range of industries鈥攎edical, aerospace, and automotive鈥攁nd allowed me to gain firsthand experience in designing and manufacturing for both traditional and additive manufacturing technologies.鈥� he says.

Although a great place to start, he explains that the industry environment isn鈥檛 always the best place to gain a deeper theoretical understanding.

鈥淚 found that the industrial environment was a good place to learn practical knowledge, such as understanding the limitations of the technology. However, it wasn鈥檛 the best environment for understanding the underlying science. For example, if a part fails during the print process, I wanted to know why it failed and how we could use a scientific approach to mitigate the failure.鈥�

A leader in AM research and innovation, and a partner with Tronosjet, 黄色直播 Engineering quickly caught Tharuka鈥檚 attention.

World-Class Experience
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Enrolling in the Faculty鈥檚 Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering, Tharuka gained access to state-of-the-art facilities and the opportunity to utilize tools and equipment only accessible within the University.

Under the leadership of Dr. Paul Bishop, he balanced his studies with his ongoing role at Tronosjet, learning from top researchers in the country and surrounding himself with like-minded individuals. 鈥淥ne of the things I really liked about Dr. Bishop鈥檚 lab is that he has almost every type of metal 3D printing technology in his lab, and that is quite rare,鈥� he says. 鈥淏eing able to see these different technologies in action, use them, and design for them has been an incredible experience. While additive manufacturing may seem niche, it plays a pivotal role in rapid prototyping, which is applicable to a wide range of industries and applications.鈥�

As part of his Master鈥檚 program, Tharuka immersed himself in a collaborative project between 黄色直播 Engineering and Tronosjet: designing a heat exchanger optimized for additive manufacturing.

With guidance from Dr. Bishop, he focused on producing a direct replace heat exchanger for aircraft engine use that was not only efficient but also significantly lighter than its conventional counterparts. Leveraging the unique capabilities of AM, he was able to create complex geometries that traditional methods simply couldn鈥檛 achieve.

鈥淗aving access to both industry and academia was a huge benefit to the project,鈥� explains Tharuka. 鈥淭ronosjet provided access to industry-grade 3D printers and manufacturing expertise for the production of the heat exchanger, while Dr. Bishop鈥檚 research group and lab exposed me to the technical research, simulations and the science behind additive manufacturing and material testing. This partnership allowed me to blend practical industry needs with cutting-edge academic insights, ensuring that my project was both innovative and applicable to real-world manufacturing settings.鈥�

Beaming with excitement as he speaks about the heat exchanger, Tharuka says the final product was about 20% lighter than traditional designs and was achieved through fewer manufacturing operations.

鈥淲hen I show this to my friends, family, and colleagues鈥攎any of whom don鈥檛 have a background in additive manufacturing鈥攖hey鈥檙e thrilled to see such a complex component produced through advanced technology. Their appreciation for the complexity and innovation behind the heat exchanger always brings a smile to my face.鈥�

Beyond the Research

While a defining moment in his academic career, for Tharuka, it certainly wasn鈥檛 the only highlight.

鈥淢y favorite memory from my time at Dal Engineering was being part of the 黄色直播 Formula Electric team (Dal FSAE) and competing in the SAE competition in Michigan,鈥� he shares. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I truly advocate for. Any university student going through undergraduate or graduate studies should get involved in extra-curricular activities. It鈥檚 an invaluable way to apply what you鈥檝e learned and gain hands-on experience.鈥�

For Tharuka, this meant joining one of 黄色直播 Engineering鈥檚 diverse student design teams. Groups like the Dal electric FSAE team provide valuable hands-on experiences that bridge classroom learning with real-world applications. Tharuka says the chance to collaborate with peers on designing and building Atlantic Canada鈥檚 first electric vehicle was exciting.

鈥淚t was an incredible experience to work with a team of passionate engineers, apply what we learned in a real-world competition, and see our hard work come to life on the competition track,鈥� he adds. 鈥淭hat event really stands out as a highlight of my time at 黄色直播.鈥�

Also member of the 黄色直播 CubeSat team, Tharuka consulted on the design of the additively manufactured structural rings for a satellite that was launched into the space in 2022. He oversaw the production of the metal AM components at Tronosjet and developed the CNC machining toolpaths for milling the additively manufactured parts. 鈥淲here else would you have the opportunity to design a part that will be sent into space?鈥� he reflects.

Now, as graduation approaches, Tharuka says being part of these student design teams is one of the things he鈥檒l miss most about Dal Engineering.

鈥淎nd of course, I鈥檒l miss the university experience. But that鈥檚 just part of life. This was a great chapter in my life, and it is important to appreciate each phase, making the most of the opportunities available at the time.

Up next for Tharuka is his continued work at Tronosjet, where, thanks to the high-caliber experience he gained at Dal, he is now ready to play a transformative role in the area of AM.