Top marks for high-flying US-based engineer
Tue, 22 Jul 2014 10:26:00 BST
Now Andrew will return to Huddersfield to undertake his PhD in the rapidly advancing field of additive manufacturing
ENGINEER Andrew Townsend achieved exceptionally high marks during his degree studies at the University of Huddersfield. Now he is set to embark on PhD research into the burgeoning technology of 3D printing. But he has already had a high-flying career that included the design of a key component in the International Space Station.
Andrew – originally from Colchester – obtained an HND in mechanical engineering before relocating to the USA, where he lived in New Jersey and worked in the aerospace industry, principally as a quality manager but with involvement in product design. The company specialised in high performance fluid valves and controls and its products were used in the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter aircraft, the Space Shuttle, Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo and the International Space Station, for which Andrew designed a valve incorporated into its Sabatier System, which is now making water for the astronauts by combining hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Choosing Huddersfield
Andrew has dual USA and UK citizenship, but when the time came that he needed to boost his qualifications with a degree, he headed back to his homeland. After careful research, he settled on the University of Huddersfield for a year’s “top-up” study leading to First Class Honours in his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree. He averaged exceptionally high marks of 87.6, meaning that he qualified for a Chancellor’s Prize.
He chose Huddersfield – from four universities where he had offers of a place – on the basis of factors, such as student reviews and the strength of its links with industry. He is delighted by his decision.
“Huddersfield has been amazing. The lecturers have been very attentive and considerate and they genuinely care about the University and the students,” said Andrew.
He will be stopping on, for he has been offered a bursary to undertake PhD research in metrology – the science of measurement – and its role in the rapidly advancing new field of additive manufacturing, which is commonly dubbed 3D printing. He will be supervised by Professor Liam Blunt, who is Research Director for the University’s EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Advanced Metrology.
“Additive manufacturing is a fast-growing field – with applications in many industries, including aerospace – and Professor Blunt has created a research opportunity in the area of metrology for additive manufacturing, which ties in well with my background in aerospace quality and design,” said Andrew.
After his early life in the south of England and a stint in the USA, Andrew is happy to remain in Huddersfield for the near future. “I really like the town. I enjoy hiking, so it is great that the Peak District, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales are so close.”
Pictured above on a visit to the 3D Printing lab, housed in the University's 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC), is the University's Patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of York (centre). His Royal Highness is pictured with 3M BIC Technical Director Dr Michael Wilson (left) and was shown different types of prototypes, models and replicas that can be produced using laser sintering 3D printing. These ranged from ‘chainmail’ squares of interest to healthcare professionals for wound protection, to pre-production prototypes for automotive turbochargers. In the background is the EOS Formiga P110 laser sinter 3D printer used to develop the prototypes.
