Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPTIndustry project "Identification of the automation potential"
Status quo analysis of automation requirements
The toolmaking industry in Germany is facing many challenges and changes. With the help of the latest technologies, manufacturing potentials are to be exploited, quality optimized and tool design made more flexible.
At the Lohne site of Pöppelmann GmbH, researchers from Fraunhofer IPT are working with the WBA Werkzeugbau Akademie Aachen to identify the automation potential for the tool shop. The first step is to determine the existing prerequisites for automation as well as the effects on an automation concept.
In order to create the necessary technological framework conditions for automated toolmaking and to derive concrete needs for action, various areas of mechanical manufacturing are being examined. These include the areas of process control, standardization and data consistency.
Workpiece analysis
In the second step of the project, a representative sample of workpieces is derived, analyzed and validated with regard to their macro- and microgeometric properties, their material characteristics and their process-related key figures.
Result
The automation enables, besides the industrialization of the toolmaking, an improved competitiveness through an increased productivity and shorter cycle times. As a result of the industry project, the researchers uncover technical-economic rationalization opportunities within industrialized toolmaking through automation of manufacturing.
Project partner
- Pöppelmann GmbH & Co. KG
