About
Dr
Abhijit Cholkar
Postdoctoral Researcher
SETU
Dr. Abhijit Cholkar is a postdoctoral researcher at I-Form, based in SEAM at SETU Waterford. His research focuses on advanced manufacturing technologies, with a particular emphasis on laser-based additive manufacturing and jetting processes for electronics and biomedical applications. He completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Dublin City University (DCU), where his work on multimodal laser processing of aluminium alloys significantly contributed to enhanced surface structuring techniques. His expertise spans additive manufacturing, surface engineering, and process optimization for metals and multi-materials.
Research Interests (Lay Summary)
Dr. Abhijit Cholkar’s research is centred on enhancing the capabilities of additive manufacturing, specifically improving the mechanical properties, surface quality, and efficiency of metallic parts created through laser-powder bed fusion (PBF-LB). He is also involved in advancing piezoelectric-pneumatic jetting processes for printed electronics. His work is focused on optimizing process parameters for better conductivity, adhesion, and dimensional accuracy in multi-material printing. His interests lie in developing technologies that enhance the performance of AM parts in fields like biomedical implants, aerospace, and flexible electronics.
Technical Summary
Dr. Abhijit's research aims to improve the performance of Ti6Al4V alloy parts by incorporating laser re-melting during PBF-LB as a dynamic heat treatment method. This project seeks to eliminate the need for post-processing by applying various re-melting strategies to optimize microstructure, residual stresses, and surface finish. Key outcomes include the development of process maps that ensure bespoke microstructure and mechanical properties, making the technique ideal for orthopaedic implants with Voronoi lattice structures. He is also involved in a project focussed on optimisation of a piezoelectric-pneumatic jetting process for printed tracks. Dr. Abhijit’s contributions are pivotal in advancing additive manufacturing and jetting processes for high-precision applications in medical devices, flexible electronics, and more.