Research themes
Explore public summaries of TheRink Engineering Lab work, from sharpening process control and optical inspection to blade selection, fit, repair, and rink safety systems.
Wider Lab scope
Pass speed, pressure, wheel condition, finishing media, edge completion, and profile preservation.
Optical inspection, repeatable measurement, calibrated visual guides, fixture behaviour, and Visualiser validation.
Boot fit, foot mechanics, blade mounting, screw torque, alignment, and the way the boot and blade work as one system.
Radius of hollow, blade profile, toe-pick geometry, skater feedback, discipline, and ice conditions.
Straightness, rust, nicks, reconditioning, pick engagement, hole repair, re-riveting, and practical blade-life decisions.
Hire skate safety, technician training evidence, job workflow, customer messaging, and tools for ice arena operations.
Current public summaries
Lab objective
Pass speed, pressure, wheel condition, finishing media, edge completion, and profile preservation.
The Lab is investigating how sharpening pressure, pass speed, wheel choice, finishing media, and technician process affect edge levelness, steel loss, blade profile, and skater experience.
Public benefit: Better sharpening decisions can reduce rework, protect blade profiles, and give skaters a more predictable feel on the ice.
Lab objective
Optical inspection, repeatable measurement, calibrated visual guides, fixture behaviour, and Visualiser validation.
The Lab is exploring how microscope-based and optical metrology techniques can inspect skate hollows, locate edges, assess symmetry, and support more repeatable sharpening decisions.
Public benefit: Improved visibility can support technician training, QA checks, and more consistent sharpening communication.
Lab objective
Boot fit, foot mechanics, blade mounting, screw torque, alignment, and the way the boot and blade work as one system.
The Lab is developing a practical fitting model that treats boot fit as a dynamic system involving foot mechanics, support, heel lock, blade alignment, and skater feedback.
Public benefit: Better fitting diagnosis can reduce unsuitable purchases, improve comfort and confidence, and help skaters progress with fewer avoidable equipment frustrations.
The Lab is reviewing how skate heat-moulding decisions depend on boot material, model guidance, oven behaviour, chamber temperature, heating time, and workshop risk control.
Public benefit: Better heat-moulding guidance can improve fit outcomes while reducing avoidable boot damage and workshop uncertainty.
Lab objective
Radius of hollow, blade profile, toe-pick geometry, skater feedback, discipline, and ice conditions.
The Lab is reviewing how radius of hollow affects bite, glide, release, edge confidence, jumps, spins, and skater-specific setup choices.
Public benefit: Better hollow guidance can improve confidence, reduce over-sharpening, and make technician conversations more precise.
The Lab is studying how rocker profile, spin rocker, toe-pick geometry, blade family, skater size, discipline, and technique interact when selecting figure blades.
Public benefit: More structured blade selection can reduce unsuitable purchases and improve progression confidence.