Laura Conrads

Multi-technology Platforms (MTPs)

The growing demand for individualized commodities requires new solutions for a highly flexible yet cost-efficient production. Hence, the research results described in this chapter address the question of how different manufacturing technologies could be combined and employed efficiently in industrial practice. Reaching across the whole field of Multi-Technology Platforms (MTPs) a generalized design methodology was examined. The resulting template-based procedure, combining function structure and technology chains, is introduced in the first section. Consecutively, the next section advances this approach by illustrating the incorporation of metrology into machine tools and MTPs. For technological validation, all newly-developed scientific approaches were successfully integrated into four demonstrator test beds located at the RWTH Aachen University: a Multi-Technology Machining Center, a Hybrid Sheet Metal Processing Center, a Conductive Friction Stir Welding Center and a laser-enhanced hybrid lathe. The economic efficiency of manufacturing technology integration is reviewed before a profitability assessment based on the aforementioned demonstrator test beds is performed. The chapter concludes with an outlook on future research topics.

Hybrid Sheet Metal Processing Center

Incremental Sheet Forming (ISF) is a flexible sheet forming process suitable for single part and small series production. To form a component, a CNC controlled generic forming tool is moved along the contours of the desired shape and locally induces plastic deformations. Hence, the final shape of the component is obtained stepwise as a sum of all localized plastic deformations. However, the basic process shows several process limits, such as long process time, material thinning and limited geometrical accuracy. Here, a Hybrid Sheet Metal Processing Center is presented that addresses these process limits. It allows for combining stretch forming with ISF, performing laser assisted ISF as well as pre- and post-processing in one concerted machine setup.