Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT
CAM2030
Innovative solution for advanced systems engineering of computer-aided process planning of the future
Research project "CAM2030"
Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) systems enable technicians to plan machining processes. CAM technicians use CAM software to program code with machine specific instructions and commands for Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machine tools. Programming the tool paths is an essential step in the process design of machining processes. During this step, all relevant boundary conditions of the CAD-CAM-CNC process chain must be considered.
Deficiencies in today's CAM systems: "destruction of added value", "lack of quantification" and "lack of knowledge building and knowledge retention"
Experienced CAM system users usually achieve good results in process planning, but the optimal process is almost never achieved, even with enormous effort. Once the best possible solution has been identified, all other versions are usually discarded without documentation, so that the knowledge gained during their creation can no longer be accessed in subsequent planning processes. The knowledge is thus lost. What is currently available to CAM system users in industrial practice only to a limited extent are quantitative evaluation tools for comparing the programmed process solution with the achieved process and workpiece quality.
New generation of user-friendly and intelligent CAM systems
The project team of "CAM2030" is developing a new generation of CAM systems that will help users reduce planning effort, optimize process capability as well as develop and retain knowledge for the long-term. By enriching CAM systems with novel digital optimization tools centered on the user – evolutionary algorithms (EA), cloud computing (CC) and artificial intelligence (AI) – "CAM2030" will improve the socio-technical working environment of CAM technicians. The developments will reduce the workload of CAM system users in computer-aided process planning and enable them to perform planning tasks in an uncomplicated, efficient and safe manner in the future, even for highly complex components.
The project objectives of "CAM2030" are
- Connecting EA, CC, KI to the CAM system to increase the efficiency, automation and sustainability of process planning tasks
- Integrating simulation models into the CAM system for quantifying the quality of calculated tool paths
- Supporting users through analysis of human factors and user requirements to derive user-friendly design specifications of CAM systems
- Developing digital, data-driven and platform-based business models (Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, Infrastructure-as-a-Service)
- Strengthening interdisciplinary knowledge from the fields of computer science, engineering, ergonomics, sociology and business administration
Advanced Systems Engineering (ASE) as a tool for mastering the complexity of socio-technical systems
By developing a new CAM system demonstrator, the partners in “CAM2030” will deliver new methods, tools, procedures, models, guidelines, manuals and concepts for "Advanced Systems Engineering (ASE)". ASE addresses the four central characteristics of advanced systems: high autonomy, dynamic networking, user-friendly socio-technical interaction, and closely intermeshed product-service systems.
The focus of "CAM2030" is to create innovative solutions and significant progress for the development and application of CAM systems in German SMEs so that the complexity of the systems can be better managed in the future. The research results will be merged with further results within the project "AdWiSE", which is expected to enable a cross-industry use of ASE-relevant developments.
Partners
- Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT (coordinator)
- 3WIN Mechanical Engineering GmbH
- EXAPT Systemtechnik GmbH, Aachen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI, Sankt Augustin
- German Edge Cloud, Eschborn
- Human-Computer Interaction Center, Aachen
- IAW Chair and Institute of Industrial Engineering, Aachen
- KEX Knowledge Exchange AG, Aachen
- Merantix AG, Berlin
- ModuleWorks GmbH, Aachen
- MTU Aero Engines, München