Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT
© Fraunhofer IPT
Research project "BioManu"
In order to ensure the well-being and innovative strength of our society in the future, we need new approaches for the transition to a sustainable circular economy. Biological transformation describes how technology can change through interaction with, integration of and inspiration from living nature: To achieve this, biological materials, structures and principles are combined with technical and digital systems to create sustainable value chains.
The "BioManu" research project takes up different approaches to the biologization of technical systems and uses them to improve the thermal behaviour of machine tools. For example, bionic structures or the principle of equi-thermal temperature distribution in mammals are being harnessed for the machines. In the project, the partners are also investigating the use of bio-based insulating materials based on fungal networks, known as mycelium, and integrating these into a machine tool as an example.
The Fraunhofer IPT has been researching the thermal behavior of machine tools as a function of ambient and process conditions for many years. In the "BioManu" project, a simulation model of the temperature distribution within a machine tool is now being developed in collaboration with the machine tool laboratory at RWTH Aachen University. The model can then be used to test and integrate measures for insulation with insulating materials made from fungal mycelium and a machine learning algorithm for thermal pre-control of the machines. In this way, process instabilities caused by internal and external thermal influences can be minimized intelligently and in a resource-saving manner.
Consortium
- Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU
- Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST
- Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT
- DMG MORI AG