Automatic Boring Tool Compensation and Process Monitoring System
Lead Participant:
RIGIBORE LIMITED
Abstract
CNC machines use boring tools to produce micron-accurate, geometrically perfect bores in metal
components (e.g. motor engine cylinder bores). Compensating for cutting edge wear on these
tools is an expensive problem for the manufacturing industry, as it is one of the few functions that
CNC machines cannot perform automatically. Interrupting production in order to manually adjust
the cutting edges can be very costly, typically resulting in production losses of between five and ten
percent (Appendix E10.6).
As the first step in overcoming this problem, Rigibore has already developed the technologically
advanced 'Active Edge' boring tool system (Appendix E9). Active Edge tools are unique in that
they can be remotely triggered to compensate for tool wear by means of a wireless command. To
do this automatically, a way must be found for the command to be initiated by the CNC machine
control (Appendix E7). Integrating non-standard functionality into CNC machines is technically
difficult, due to a complete lack of standardisation between different makes of control. However,
after much research, Rigibore has identified a novel method to accomplish this (Appendix E8) and
provide the means for any make of CNC control to command any Active Edge tool. The
development of this method will result in the product output in phases 1 and 2 of the project.
In addition to providing the means to carry out automatic tool compensation, the product developed
above will also provide the platform for an extremely flexible process management system. It
would enable a customer to easily capture time-coded data generated by the manufacturing
process. Uniquely, it would also provide the means to make real-time changes to any of the
processes' operating parameters. The monitoring and optimisation possibilities afforded by such a
system, coupled with its versatility and ease of use, has the potential to save manufacturing
companies many millions of pounds. This product will be the output from phase 3 of the project.
components (e.g. motor engine cylinder bores). Compensating for cutting edge wear on these
tools is an expensive problem for the manufacturing industry, as it is one of the few functions that
CNC machines cannot perform automatically. Interrupting production in order to manually adjust
the cutting edges can be very costly, typically resulting in production losses of between five and ten
percent (Appendix E10.6).
As the first step in overcoming this problem, Rigibore has already developed the technologically
advanced 'Active Edge' boring tool system (Appendix E9). Active Edge tools are unique in that
they can be remotely triggered to compensate for tool wear by means of a wireless command. To
do this automatically, a way must be found for the command to be initiated by the CNC machine
control (Appendix E7). Integrating non-standard functionality into CNC machines is technically
difficult, due to a complete lack of standardisation between different makes of control. However,
after much research, Rigibore has identified a novel method to accomplish this (Appendix E8) and
provide the means for any make of CNC control to command any Active Edge tool. The
development of this method will result in the product output in phases 1 and 2 of the project.
In addition to providing the means to carry out automatic tool compensation, the product developed
above will also provide the platform for an extremely flexible process management system. It
would enable a customer to easily capture time-coded data generated by the manufacturing
process. Uniquely, it would also provide the means to make real-time changes to any of the
processes' operating parameters. The monitoring and optimisation possibilities afforded by such a
system, coupled with its versatility and ease of use, has the potential to save manufacturing
companies many millions of pounds. This product will be the output from phase 3 of the project.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| RIGIBORE LIMITED | £300,719 | £ 105,252 |
People |
ORCID iD |