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<p>Using Moore’s Law, engineers and scientists have ability to place smart and powerful IC devices,</p><p>with increasingly complex systems on a chip (SoC). This thesis describes the technology of rapid</p><p>prototyping in the field of communication systems. Reconfigurable technologies always help in the</p><p>construction of flexible systems (where hardware and software can be changed at any time during its</p><p>execution). With growing developments in the field of communication systems, DSP is now the</p><p>heart of every communication system; engineers are consequently looking for a smart and reliable</p><p>platform to enhance their production to meet future challenges. This thesis presents a DSP-based</p><p>theoretical survey of rapid prototyping in communication systems. An attempt has been made to</p><p>cover every prototype issue in this theoretical survey. The objective is to make an evaluation to</p><p>judge whether it is feasible for practical educational and research purposes. The test design proposed</p><p>in this thesis for the evaluation is a simple DSP-based Correlator.</p><p>Scientists and engineers are looking for a smart system which can provide end results, in order to be</p><p>implemented in practical, real time environments and for research and educational purposes in</p><p>universities.</p><p>Previously we needed to make a hardware PCB for algorithm testing, especially when we had</p><p>complex algorithms which involved a great deal of work, but with the help of this thesis and other</p><p>research projects this area of rapid prototyping we are beginning to make some progress in the right</p><p>direction.</p><p>The tool chain plays a key role for the development in terms of the evaluation of rapid prototyping in</p><p>communication systems. Currently the available methods to design a system require a great deal of</p><p>time and money along with the efforts of many skilled researchers. Rapid prototyping is a shortcut</p><p>with regards to these usual methods with appropriate tools to achieve the goal.</p><p>In this thesis our main focus is on MATLAB, SIMULINK, REAL TIME WORKSHOP and the</p><p>appropriate Texas Instruments products (Code Composer Studio and Target DSP), to achieve</p><p>maximum performance and reduction of development time. The tools which are discussed are</p><p>actively involved in the design process of systems using the rapid prototyping development</p><p>technique. The basic system design is conducted using the model based on the design of tools in</p><p>Math Works software, consisting of MATLAB and SIMULINK using their tool and block sets.</p><p>Using these tools many applications for educational purposes and on a commercial level have been</p><p>implemented [2]. Here a DSP application, an FFT-based (Fast Fourier Transform) Correlator is</p><p>proposed that measures the phase delay of the two transmitted base band signals that are sampled at</p><p>different rates. Four major phases are involved for the purposes of rapid prototyping : 1) - the system</p><p>algorithm is designed and implemented in MATLAB and SIMULINK, 2) – generation of the</p><p>standard ANSI C code for this designed model has been done by using REAL TIME WORK SHOP,</p><p>3)- implementation of this C code on DSP/Microprocessor-based hardware using an interface and</p><p>4)- carrying out a performance evaluation of this tool chain, i.e. whether it is feasible for practical,</p><p>commercial and educational research purposes, and how these developments are overcoming the</p><p>barriers for the implementation of DSP algorithms in communication systems for commercial and</p><p>educational use. The tool chain acts as a bridge in between the input resources and output results</p><p>after implementation on hardware. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the thesis. Chapter 2 describes</p><p>iv</p><p>the main tools involved in the rapid prototyping revolution. Chapter 3 describes the role of every</p><p>tool in the flow of rapid prototyping processes. Chapter 4 provides an overview of the previously</p><p>implemented systems using rapid tool chains, their results and our proposed model and</p><p>recommendations. Chapter 5 concludes the results grasped from the previously implemented tool</p><p>chains and theoretical survey made in this thesis.</p>

Using Moore’s Law, engineers and scientists have ability to place smart and powerful IC devices, with increasingly complex systems on a chip (SoC). This thesis describes the technology of rapid prototyping in the field of communication systems. Reconfigurable technologies always help in the construction of flexible systems (where hardware and software can be changed at any time during its execution). With growing developments in the field of communication systems, DSP is now the heart of every communication system; engineers are consequently looking for a smart and reliable platform to enhance their production to meet future challenges. This thesis presents a DSP-based theoretical survey of rapid prototyping in communication systems. An attempt has been made to cover every prototype issue in this theoretical survey. The objective is to make an evaluation to judge whether it is feasible for practical educational and research purposes. The test design proposed in this thesis for the evaluation is a simple DSP-based Correlator. Scientists and engineers are looking for a smart system which can provide end results, in order to be implemented in practical, real time environments and for research and educational purposes in universities. Previously we needed to make a hardware PCB for algorithm testing, especially when we had complex algorithms which involved a great deal of work, but with the help of this thesis and other research projects this area of rapid prototyping we are beginning to make some progress in the right direction. The tool chain plays a key role for the development in terms of the evaluation of rapid prototyping in communication systems. Currently the available methods to design a system require a great deal of time and money along with the efforts of many skilled researchers. Rapid prototyping is a shortcut with regards to these usual methods with appropriate tools to achieve the goal. In this thesis our main focus is on MATLAB, SIMULINK, REAL TIME WORKSHOP and the appropriate Texas Instruments products (Code Composer Studio and Target DSP), to achieve maximum performance and reduction of development time. The tools which are discussed are actively involved in the design process of systems using the rapid prototyping development technique. The basic system design is conducted using the model based on the design of tools in Math Works software, consisting of MATLAB and SIMULINK using their tool and block sets. Using these tools many applications for educational purposes and on a commercial level have been implemented [2]. Here a DSP application, an FFT-based (Fast Fourier Transform) Correlator is proposed that measures the phase delay of the two transmitted base band signals that are sampled at different rates. Four major phases are involved for the purposes of rapid prototyping : 1) - the system algorithm is designed and implemented in MATLAB and SIMULINK, 2) – generation of the standard ANSI C code for this designed model has been done by using REAL TIME WORK SHOP, 3)- implementation of this C code on DSP/Microprocessor-based hardware using an interface and 4)- carrying out a performance evaluation of this tool chain, i.e. whether it is feasible for practical, commercial and educational research purposes, and how these developments are overcoming the barriers for the implementation of DSP algorithms in communication systems for commercial and educational use. The tool chain acts as a bridge in between the input resources and output results after implementation on hardware. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the thesis. Chapter 2 describes iv the main tools involved in the rapid prototyping revolution. Chapter 3 describes the role of every tool in the flow of rapid prototyping processes. Chapter 4 provides an overview of the previously implemented systems using rapid tool chains, their results and our proposed model and recommendations. Chapter 5 concludes the results grasped from the previously implemented tool chains and theoretical survey made in this thesis.

Abstract Unsteady, axisymmetric fluid flow and heat transfer in a droplet rapidly solidifying on a cold substrate are investigated. The thermal and solutal Marangoni forces along the droplet surface are the driving forces for fluid motion. Concentration of the insoluble surfactants are determined by surface convection and diffusion. The solidification is governed by an instantaneous nucleation and a subsequent continuous growth induced by a given nucleation temperature. Solute trapping is also accounted for. By using a curvilinear orthogonal toroidal coordinate system, the computed results show that the effects of the supercooling and nucleation temperature, Marangoni, Stefan, Prandtl numbers, ratio of the changes in surface tension due to concentration and temperature gradients, and the contact angle of the droplet on unsteady flow and thermal patterns, distributions of surfactant concentration, cooling effects, recalescence and growth rates. Temperature variations at the axisymmetric axis agrees well with a one-dimensional model. A systematical confirmation and evaluation of surface tension due to solute concentration is also provided.

Thesis (ME--Engineering) -- AUT University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references. Also held in print (iii, 136 leaves ; 30 cm.) in City Campus Theses Collection (T 620.00420285 HUA)

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2004. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-123).

Published Article / Long-term growth in the additive fabrication industry will come from designs that are difficult, time-consuming, costly, or impossible to produce using standard techniques. Growth will occur with advances in the current additive processes, coupled with breakthroughs in new materials, which are expected to emerge over the next five to 10 years. These advanced materials will better satisfy the design requirements of many new products. The paper considers currently available technologies and discusses recent advancements in direct metal freeform fabrication and its potential of revolutionising the medical industry.

Published Article / This article looks at the role that vacuum casting plays in the rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing process. The accuracy to which components can be reproduced, by looking at the controllable factors in the casting process and the different types of materials that are available, were investigated and the process was also compared to other rapid prototyping and manufacturing processes in terms of cost effectiveness. Castings were made from a typical component under different operating conditions and the characteristics of the cast component, dimensions strength and surface hardness, were measured and plotted to determine the characteristics and accuracy of the process.

Published Article / Over the past few years, methods of layered manufacturing (LM) have advanced substantially to the point where they now provide vital strategic benefits to various organisations. One area of application where LM technologies have begun to reach a critical mass is in the development and production of high-performance tooling in different forming processes. With these tooling capabilities now available, the next challenge becomes the development of optimal process chains to minimise lead times and production costs, while still ensuring high quality of castings. The relevant issues that influence where a break-even point will be between different process chains and thereby also the point of selection between such optimal process chains according to different situations include among others: <ul> <li> the size of production runs, </li> <li> part size and complexity, and</li> <li> the cast materials involved.</li> </ul> <br>This paper reflects some of the experiences gained from an investigation towards developing a set of generic rules (guidelines) for the design of optimal process chains for sand casting prototypes of automotive components using LM methods, and more specifically the 3D Printing process.