M-3 Institute of Machine Design - Cracow University of Technology

Research laboratories

The following laboratories are owned by the Institute:

Laboratory of Crane and Transport Machinery
Laboratory of Building Machinery
Laboratory of Hydraulic Drives and Hydraulic Control
Laboratory of Theory Machines and Mechanisms
Laboratory for Machine Testing in Increased and Decreased Ambient Temperatures
Laboratory of CAD/CAE and Engineering Graphics
Laboratory of Fundamentals of Machine Design

Description of research laboratories:

The Institute is the owner of modern research laboratories allowing it to conduct specialized experimental research work and to cooperate with the industry and research institutes. The Institute has a substantial background for conducting ordered work in the following research areas:

Approval tests of heavy duty machines and vehicles (including specialized vehicles) concerning their adaptation for different climatic and environmental conditions (tests in thermoclimatic chambers with the temperature ranging from -40° C (polar climate) to +50° C (dry and damp tropical climate)).
Testing and designing of hydraulic power units, hydromechanical drives and control systems for heavy duty machines.
Vibroacoustic testing of machines, vehicles and other equipment aimed at the diagnostics, confomity certification and operator's safety and comfort (anti-vibration, sound and thermal insulation).
Designing of supporting structures, mechanisms and fittings of heavy duty machines.
Diagnosis of load, effort and wear spectra of supporting structures and effectors of cranes in orde to maintain or increase their working capability.
Opracowania technologii, modernizacji oraz automatyzacji urządzeń dźwigowych oraz transportu wewnątrz-zakładowego.
Technical examination of heavy duty machines components with regard to their defects and malfuntions (troubleshooting taking into consideration material, processing, construction and maintenance factors).

The Institute is equipped with various measuring and data processing equipment, based on PC computers and SUN Sparc Classic workstation, which is a network server connected to CYFRONET Computer Centre, giving access to international INTERNET network . Thus the Institute has an interactive connection with research centres located in Poland and all over the world (e.g. Monash University Australia).
The Institute undertook actions in order to adapt its laboratory to European quality standards ISO9000, (EN45000), which is necessary to obtain an approval certificate. It is especially important in the case of large-size thermoclimatic chambers (24 x 6 x 7 m), where machine tests including functional and durability tests are conducted.