Flexible and automated finishing and post-processing cell for high value AM components - FlexiFinish
Lead Participant:
TOOLROOM TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Abstract
The FlexiFinish project addresses the significant challenges faced by industry surrounding the ability to finish
surfaces on complex parts, in a controlled and cost effective manner. This is also becoming a significant barrier
to the wider uptake of additive parts within the Aerospace industry and beyond. In order to address this, the
FlexiFinish project will create a fully automated cell which includes a number of finishing (laser polishing and
adaptive linishing) and post processing technologies (shot peening). The cell will be enclosed, and will use
adaptive toolpath software alongside inspection technologies (roughness and dimensional) to allow automated
finishing of multiple parts' geometris. A database of finishing strategies and approaches will also be created,
and constantly updated to improve quality. This will not only improve current capability, but will reduce costs
and timescales from existing approaches
surfaces on complex parts, in a controlled and cost effective manner. This is also becoming a significant barrier
to the wider uptake of additive parts within the Aerospace industry and beyond. In order to address this, the
FlexiFinish project will create a fully automated cell which includes a number of finishing (laser polishing and
adaptive linishing) and post processing technologies (shot peening). The cell will be enclosed, and will use
adaptive toolpath software alongside inspection technologies (roughness and dimensional) to allow automated
finishing of multiple parts' geometris. A database of finishing strategies and approaches will also be created,
and constantly updated to improve quality. This will not only improve current capability, but will reduce costs
and timescales from existing approaches
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
---|---|---|
TOOLROOM TECHNOLOGY LIMITED | £209,315 | £ 104,657 |
  | ||
Participant |
||
INNOVATE UK | ||
SANDWELL UK LIMITED | £139,488 | £ 97,642 |
JRI ORTHOPAEDICS LIMITED | £38,472 | £ 23,083 |
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE | £399,716 | £ 399,716 |
ALSTOM POWER LIMITED | £54,174 | £ 27,087 |
MEGGITT AEROSPACE LIMITED | £29,156 | £ 14,578 |
People |
ORCID iD |
Paul Whistance (Project Manager) |