Wi-­‐FORCE Wireless passive tool force measurement Overview Wi-­‐FORCE enables wireless passive tool force measurement during high-­‐tech biomedical, automo>ve and aerospace machining applica>ons facilita>ng online process op>misa>on and monitoring. What Problem does it Solve/Advantages Force measurement is cri>cal to understand and op>mise machining opera>ons along with maximising part quality, while at the same >me driving down cycle >mes. Process and machine monitoring using force sensing in the manufacturing industry requires sensing technologies to be integrated into complex CNC machine tools. Significant adap>on of the process environment is required to facilitate appropriate sensory measurement of machine condi>ons. Current state-­‐of-­‐the-­‐art process monitoring solu>ons, are prohibi>vely expensive for widespread adop>on and as a result are used in highly niche applica>ons and in research. Wi-­‐FORCE is a non invasive cost effec>ve measurement technique providing rich sensory informa>on of the tool and machine state with the following advantages/features. • 
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Unique and not currently on the market Wireless passive opera>on Version 1.0 targeted towards turning processes PlaPorm level applica>on poten>al Non invasive to the machining environment Reliable opera>on in harsh machining condi>ons Cost effec>ve integra>on into the machine The opportunity This technology has been developed to prototype stage with encouraging test results. Recent exposure to selected companies at the 2013 EMO machine tool trade fair aTracted much interest from companies. The promoters are ac>vely seeking new funding to bring the proof of concept to industrial demonstrator for targeted applica>ons. The op>mal route to market is currently being examined in an EI funded commercialisa>on feasibility grant. Possible Applica1ons The applica>on area of focus is the monitoring of turning process in machining. The previous figure shows an instrumented tool holder with the wireless interface. The precision machining sector in Ireland is represented by companies in the biomedical industry primarily, and this technology has poten>al to add value and make these companies more compe>>ve. The technology also has clear poten>al to provide solu>ons for other high end machining sectors including: •  Aerospace -­‐ machining of >tanium and high strength alloys •  Biomedical -­‐ manufacture of joint prosthesis •  Automo>ve -­‐ component machining Technology and Patent Status The technology is based on the principle of surface acous>c wave (SAW) devices. SAW strain sensors are designed to have a frequency response that is directly related to the strain applied to a sensor. The advantage of using SAW sensors is that they can draw the power required from the wireless interroga>on signal. Therefore there is no ac>ve power source, i.e – no baTery, required at the sensor site. The technology has the poten>al to be licensed to companies that are currently opera>ng in the tool condi>on monitoring sectors. Alterna>vely it may be possible for companies that manufacturing cuYng tool or cuYng tool holders to license the technology to have a so-­‐called “intelligent tool”. Reports from leading German ins>tu>ons indicate a 100million Euro market for process monitoring solu>ons in Europe. Market Manufacturing Compe>>veness Processing Technology and Novel Materials IP Status Inven>on Disclosure Form (IDF) Opportunity Research collabora>on Available to License
Researcher(s) Dr Garret O’Donnell Mr Rory Stoney Contact Dr. Graham McMullin, Case Manager, Physical Sciences [email protected] +353 1 896 1711 Reference: GO01-­‐385-­‐01