Good Practices of Metallurgy of Cooper

Learning Outcomes: 

Module I: The main objective of this module is to describe the European regulation of the management, characterization and valorization of the waste generated in the copper industry. Examples of waste valorization in the Smelting Copper Plant of Huelva will be shown.   

Module II: The three main objectives of the course are the development of a computer-aided design (CAD), the use of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software to generate G-code that the CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machine can use, and the production of the copper component. Students will gain virtual practical experience with copper machining on this course. Some of the topics covered include copper properties, tooling requirements, fixturing techniques, setup procedures, program development, and tool path optimization. 

Module III: The aim of this module is to understand the development of the metallurgy of copper in Atlantic Copper. 

Module IV: The objectives of the module are: (1) Understand the metabolism of iron and/or sulfur oxidizing acidophilic bacteria, (2) Explain the implication of bacteria in the generation of AMD, (3) Recognize the possible applications of such bacteria in copper metallurgy, (4) To review the state of the art of the use of acidophilic bacteria in the mining industry: experiences in Chile and China, (4) To know and understand the experimental methodology prior to the use of acidophilic bacteria in the mining and metallurgical industries. 

Module I: The course is focused on analyzing the European regulation on waste and expose some real cases of waste valorization of smelting copper plant of Huelva. 

Module II: The course is focused on making a CAD Drawing, generating the G-code using CAM software and then manufacturing the part.  

Module III: Some of the processes of the metallurgy of copper carried out in Atlantic Copper will be explained. 

Module IV: This module intends to know alternative methods of low cost and low environmental risk in the mining and metallurgy of copper, based on the use of microorganisms typical of mining areas rich in metal sulfides. 

Upon successful completion of the course, learners will know the next concepts: 

Module I  

• European waste regulation. 
• Definition, classification and identification of waste. 
• Valorization of waste; by-product and the end of waste.  
• Characterization techniques of waste in the copper industry. 
• Valorization of the Electrical Furnace Dust. 
• Reduction and optimization of waste generation. The arsenic case.  

Module II 

• Copper characteristics 
  • Mechanical Properties and grades of copper alloys.    
  • Differences in mechanical properties among copper alloys, and their uses. 
  • Speeds and feeds principles while processing copper alloys. 
  • Cost of copper and copper alloys as raw material. 
• Computer Aided Design 
  • History of CAD. 
  • Sketches. 
  • Features.
• Computer Aided Manufacturing 
  • Defining machine, tool crib and z axis offsets. 
  • Defining stock and x, y axis offsets. 
  • Toolpaths, toolpath optimization and speeds & feeds. 
  • Generating the G-Code
• History of CNC Machines. 
  • Safety assessments while using CNC Machines. 
  • Tool z axis offsets measuring and zeroing. 
  • Fixture is needed among different processes. 
  • Stock x, y axis offsets measuring and zeroing. 

Module III 

• Processes of metallurgy of copper. 

Module IV  

• Species of bacteria able to oxidize and lixiviate metal sulfides. 
• Methods of growth, enrichment and isolation of acidophilic bacteria. 
• Applications of bacterial cultures in the copper mining and metallurgy: technologies and benefits.