Group Head
Dr. Afzaal Ahmed
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Palakkad
☎ 04923 226 432
Faculty Office, Sangraha Block,
Sahyadri Campus, IIT Palakkad
Kanjikode, Palakkad
Kerala. PIN: 678623
Research Interest
Non-conventional machining
Micro and nano machining
Hybrid machining
Post-processing of additive manufactured components
Ultra-precision machine
Deep hole drilling
Laser based additive manufacturing processes
Wear and tribology studies of modified surfaces
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
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.
Received the 30th Innovation & Research Award (IRA 2016) by Faculty of Engineering (FoE) NUS Singapore in the category of ‘High Achievement’.
Awarded with NUS Research Scholarship for the duration of four years.
Secured 9th position overall & 5th in Mechanical Engineering in Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Raipur (C.G.) at U.G. level.
Ranked among Nation’s top 1.6% in GATE - 2007.
Received St. Thomas Mission Performance Award for overall excellent academic performance.
Awarded Merit Scholarship for excellent academic performance in 3rd and 4th semester at U.G. level.
Awarded Merit Scholarship for excellent performance in 5th and 6th semester at U.G. level.
Awarded with Prime Minister Trophy Scholarship by SAIL for successive four years at U.G. level.
Teaching
ME-5013 Mechanics of Machining (PG)
ME-5007 Advanced Engineering Materials (PG)
ME-5613 Welding Technology (PG)
ME-2280 Manufacturing Processes (UG)
ME-1130 Engineering Drawing (UG)
ME-2080 Engineering Materials (UG)
Project & Post Doc Staff
Dr. Jibin Boban
Principal Research Assoicate
Area of Research:
Post-processing of additive manufactured metallic components
Ph.D: IIT Palakkad
Dr. Subhrojyoti Mazumder
Institute Post Doc Fellow
Area of Research:
Metal additive manufacturing, Tribology of materials and Ceramics for extreme environmental applications
Ph.D: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Students
Mr. Suresh E
Research Scholar
✉️:131914003@smail.iitpkd.ac.in
Area of Research: Ultra-Precision Machining
M.Tech: IIT Kanpur
Mr. Muruga Prabu U
Research Scholar
✉️:132114005@smail.iitpkd.ac.in
Area of Research: Laser Assisted Machining
M.Tech: College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai
Mr. Arata Pradhan
Research Scholar
✉️:132304001@smail.iitpkd.ac.in
Area of Research: Ultra-Precision Machining
M.Tech: IIITDM Kanceepuram, Chennai
Mr. Priyesh Padmanabhan
Research Scholar
✉️:132304004@smail.iitpkd.ac.in
Area of Research: Vibration Assisted Ultra-Precision Machining
M.Tech: Government College of Engineering, Kannur, Kerala
Mr. Jishnu Namboodiri VN
Research Scholar
✉️:132404005@smail.iitpkd.ac.in
Area of Research: Post Processing of Metal Additive Manufacturing Parts
M.Tech: Government College of Engineering, Kannur, Kerala
Mr. Pavithran.R
M.Tech Student
✉️:132202007@smail.iitpkd.ac.in
Area of Research: Ultra-Precision Machining
B.Tech: Sri Ramakrishna Engineering College
Mr. Sajan Kumar
M.Tech Student
✉️:132202010@smail.iitpkd.ac.in
Area of Research: Fatigue behavior analysis and performance improvement of additive manufactured aerospace components via post-processing strategies
B.Tech: Indore Institute of Science and Technology
Ms. A Keerthi Reddy
B.Tech Student
✉️:132001009@smail.iitpkd.ac.in
Area of Research: Experimental Investigation of Hydrogen Embrittlement in Steels
Mr. Alfin Jaison
B.Tech Student
✉️:132001005@smail.iitpkd.ac.in
Area of Research: Polishing of additive manufactured metallic components using recycled wire electrodes