Dr. Afzaal Ahmed

Dr. Afzaal Ahmed is an Associate Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Palakkad. His research interests broadly centers on the non-conventional machining, hybrid machining, ultra-precision machining, deep hole drilling, metal additive manufacturing (AM) and post-processing of additive manufactured components. His research expertise also includes evaluation of surfaces via roughness, microhardness, microstructure with various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques like SEM, EDS, XRD, AFM, TEM and XPS. 

Prior to joining IIT Palakkad, he served as a Research Fellow at the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory (AML) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at NUS Singapore. During this time, he was instrumental in securing funding from A*Star Singapore and SIMTech Singapore for the development and implementation of hybrid processing techniques for Large Format Machining of Nickel-based superalloys, particularly Inconel 718 for the Oil and Gas Industry. During his PhD, he has developed a novel hybrid electrical discharge and arc machining process (HEDAM) for the efficient and ultrafast machining of difficult-to-cut superalloys such as Inconel 718, Ti-6Al-4V etc. After joining IIT Palakkad, he has secured funds from the Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB), Federal Bank and a Seed Grant & Exploratory Research Grant (ERG) from IIT Palakkad to support the research activities in the PEARL Group.

Educational Background

• PhD - Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.

• M.Tech - Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, (W.B), India.

• B.E - Mechanical Engineering, Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla University (Pt.RSSU), Raipur, (C.G), India.

Professional Experience

• Associate Professor : IIT Palakkad, June 2023 – Present

• Assistant Professor : IIT Palakkad, August 2018 – May 2021

• Research Fellow, Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory (AML), Department of Mechanical Engineering, NUS Singapore.

Awards & Achievements

1. Received ‘‘Best Paper Award” for the paper titled ‘A novel approach in deep hole drilling of Inconel 718’ at the 7th International Conference of Asian Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (ASPEN) held at Seoul, South Korea in Nov 2017.

2. Received the 30th Innovation & Research Award (IRA 2016) by Faculty of Engineering (FoE) NUS Singapore in the category of ‘High Achievement’.

3. Awarded with NUS Research Scholarship for the duration of four years.

4. Secured 9th position overall & 5th in Mechanical Engineering in Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Raipur (C.G.) at U.G. level.

5. Ranked among Nation’s top 1.6% in GATE - 2007.

6. Received St. Thomas Mission Performance Award for overall excellent academic performance.

7. Awarded Merit Scholarship for excellent academic performance in 3rd and 4th semester at U.G. level.

8. Awarded Merit Scholarship for excellent performance in 5th and 6th semester at U.G. level.

9. Awarded with Prime Minister Trophy Scholarship by SAIL for successive four years at U.G. level.

Teaching

• ME5634 Fundamentals of micro-nano manufacturing (PG)

• ME5013 Mechanics of Machining (PG)

• ME5007 Advanced Engineering Materials (PG)

• ME5613 Welding Technology (PG)

• ME2280 Manufacturing Processes (UG)

• ME1130 Engineering Drawing (UG)

• ME2080 Engineering Materials (UG)