I'm Alex Fergusson (no relation...) and am the founder and a Director of FAC Technology (FACT). FACT develops processing methods for composite materials and structures. We're agnostic as to the end application of our materials and processes but are mainly focused on the commercial aerospace market.
We use NI kit and Labview for control and monitoring in developing our manufacturing processes and in experimental testing. As the performance of composite materials is inextricably intertwined with the manufacturing processes used to yield them, we have to do a lot of experimental characterisation of materials using standard methods along with developing bespoke methods at the coupon level to full scale component testing. Along with obtaining data from common sensors, e.g. strain gauges and extensometers, we also make use of techniques such as Digital Image Correlation with conventional and high speed cameras, thermal imaging, etc.. for which we typically use LabView and CompactRios.
We also use a variety of other tools in our work, e.g:
Autodesk Nastran, Nastran-in-CAD, Simulation Composite Analysis, Simulation Composite Design, Simulation Moldflow, Simulation CFD (we're an Autodesk Clean Tech partner), Abaqus, Femap, Laminate Tools, etc... (for Finite Element Analysis)
Various programming languages, e.g. Matlab and Fortran (finite differences, image/signal processing, bespoke FEA, etc...)
Powermill Robot Studio for CAM (we've got a latest gen heavy payload Kuka robot that we use as a large format machining tool as well as a 3+1 CNC mill)
CAD: Autodesk Inventor
I'm also a part time visiting academic in Mech Eng at Imperial College. Most of my research there is related to the effect of damage on composite materials and structures, all the way from quasi-static (very slow) up to ballistic and blast loading scenarios. I've had a little bit of involvement in robotics based research on the side too with looking into the use of real time kinematics to obtain cm level accuracy from low cost, commodity GPS hardware (mainly just out of personal interest).
Didn't make it to the last meeting but myself and/or one of my team will hopefully make the next one,
Alex
