In a constantly changing world, identifying the technologies of the future and anticipating the impact of an emerging technology is essential to remain competitive.

The Reach and ROHS directives, as they are currently being developed, foresee the prohibition of the use of certain harmful or dangerous substances, including lead, even as an alloying element.

The commission of the machine tools manufacturers had commissioned Cetim to carry out an instruction file around the problems of filtration and follow-up of machining machines.

A study on filtration was decided, with two working phases including the research of information and the preparation of the test phase, object of this synthesis.

In a classic machining process, the parts after machining are taken out of the machine tool to be checked.

To improve their performance and extend their service life, HSS tools can benefit from a number of additional treatments, such as conventional heat treatments, water, air and oil quenching, but also using new processes such as laser quenching or cryogenic treatments, as well as the coating of the active areas - more specifically the tips and cutting edges - by depositing titan

Omnipresent in machining (cutting, milling, drilling, turning, ...), carbide has all the necessary qualities in terms of hardness and heat resistance for working a very wide range of materials such as high-speed steel, copper alloys or titanium alloys, at both conventional and high speeds.

Robots are often part of cells where high precision tasks may be performed, such as assembly, welding, pick and place that are often complex and repetitive. Being an integral part of the Industry 4.0 new paradigm, collaborative robots have started to be integrated in smart manufacturing eco-systems.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) software has been developed since the late 1950s and is an essential component of modern manufacturing. The term CAD covers a range of applications from 2D drafting packages to full 3D design packages with simulation and analysis tools.

The use of ceramic cutting tools is on the rise, that news is less dramatic than it seems, because solid ceramic end mills and inserts are usually easier to use than carbide tools. Changing to using ceramic cutting tools doesn’t need really any special process changes. Contrary to what people might think about ceramic tooling.

How does it work?

By use of a head mounted display and a set of controllers, the user is placed in a virtual environment where they can practice, learn and improve their skills. The user will enter a scenario in which they have to perform a set of tasks to reach a goal. The scenario depends on the type of training.

Model Based Definition is a new strategy of product lifecycle management in which the CAD models (Computer aided design) change from simple models with only the geometric data to extensive information sources containing all product manufacturing information (Alemanni, Destefanis, & Vezzetti, 2010).

Residual stresses are generated in a part during manufacturing which typically involves sequential thermo-mechanical processing including forming and heat-treatment steps.

Small and medium machining shops are often arranged as job-shops. In a job-shop the production is usually done in small batches, and the machines are arranged in functional units, or cells (milling cell, drilling cell, etc). Each part or product to manufacture needs to follow a sequence of operations (a route) to be performed in different machines.

Tap testing, also known as modal testing, is an experimental method that is used to excite the machine-tool system in order to extract its harmonic information such as natural frequencies, modal masses, modal damping ratios and mode shapes.  This is normally done in static conditions, using the impact hammer as the excitation mechanism, and an accelerometer as the sensor.  In theory, the tool t

The first spinning-tool technology was developed jointly by Mori Seiki and Kennametal around 2008.

Graphite has specific properties that make machining a challenge. It’s strong, but also brittle, and is susceptible to chipping if not handled properly. Cutting Graphite (or carbon) is different from cutting Metals. Metal exerts plastic deformation when a tool edge cuts it producing a curl or chips.

Tool wear describes the gradual failure of cutting tools due to regular operation. It is a term often associated with tools used for example on turning, milling, drilling and other types of machining operations where chips are made. We could also say “We started with a new cutting edge and at the beginning of the operation everything was working well.

The arrival of machine hammer peening opens the way to fast finishing of large milled injection and deep drawing moulds. Instead of manual polishing, an industrial robot does the work in a shorter time. This process also offers a number of other advantages.

Cryogenic cooling during machining stands for machining at very low temperatures. This has advantages both for tools made of heat-resistant materials, where the heat can be high during machining, and for the machining of softer materials, which will flow more easily during machining.

The pricing of a product has a large influence on the sales revenue and the profit. Surprisingly, research shows that a more accurate cost estimation does not automatically lead to a higher profit.

Our consortium partner, Sirris, was given the opportunity to make temporary use of a KMR iiwa with the aim to extensively test and explore the potential of a mobile cobot.

Femtosecond lasers are ultra-fast pulsed lasers, which are used to remove material. The material is not heated, but immediately turns into a plasma. In addition, the technology is extremely suited for the very precise application of functionalities via textures.

The combination of laser ablation and micro-EDM is a recent development for the quick finishing of products with small details in hard materials, such as nozzles for diesel engines. EDM is used to remove larger volumes, while laser ablation is used for the fine details.

With high-speed rough milling, correct programming can prevent exceeding the limit value of the radial cutting width and breaking the tool. In curves and transitions, however, the cutting width can temporarily increase, while this is not what is needed.

Integrated laser hardening offers a solution for hardening slim, elongated objects which suffer deformations with traditional hardening methods. This process also offers a number other advantages. 

Because of their extreme hardness, ceramic materials and their composites are very popular for mechanical applications that are susceptible to wear and tear due to heavy loads. The other side of the coin is that conventional techniques do not usually suffice to work these materials. Some are even impossible to grind, because oxides deposit on the grinding wheel.

Three photonic laser techniques to transfer colour images with high resolution to metal surfaces: oxidation of metal and interferences, formation of nanoparticles and plasmon resonance, structuring of a periodic circuit and diffraction of light.

3D measuring probes prove to be extremely suitable for a quick check of the kinematics of a five-axis milling machine. The principle is based on measuring an object, by means of an accurate measuring probe, according to pre-programmed measuring cycles.