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Development and Pilot Line Validation of a Modular re-configurable Laser Process Head

Project description

An innovative reconfigurable system for laser processing heads

In recent years, laser process tools have emerged as vital innovations in various industrial processes and sectors. They offer remarkable efficiency and automation advantages. However, the current prevalent option of fibre-delivered laser sources, while ensuring quality work, falls short in terms of adaptability, particularly in highly automated industrial environments where the need to change processing heads arises. To address this limitation, the EU-funded ModuLase project aims to develop an innovative system for laser processing heads that is reconfigurable and adaptable. This system will enable laser sources to efficiently perform a wide range of tasks. It will also possess the ability to autonomously sense and switch tasks as needed, utilising an intelligent system.

Objective

State-of-the-art fibre-delivered laser sources are an industrially accepted tool for performing a range of materials processing applications. Despite the unrivalled capability of fibre-delivered laser sources to perform a wide range of processes, the potential flexibility of the laser source is limited by the need to change the processing head for these processes to be performed. The majority of industrial laser systems are employed to perform low-variety and high-volume manufacturing operations. However, current manufacturing trends (such as increased automation, individualisation and next-shoring) are driving the need to develop manufacturing systems which are capable of performing a higher variety of manufacturing operations.

The ModuLase project will develop a re-configurable highly flexible processing head system, which will be capable of covering welding, cladding and cutting. The ModuLase process head system will:
• Be capable of welding, cladding and cutting, through the use of three modular end-effectors
• Include intelligent sensor technologies for in-process monitoring
• Be linked to an intelligent system, in order to achieve adaptive process control, quality assurance, and semi-automated process parameter configuration.
The development and pilot line validation of the ModuLase laser process head will unlock the potential flexibility of fibre-delivered laser sources, and address a number of arising industrial challenges; including:
• An increasing need for flexible manufacturing systems to support an increasing variety of product mixes.
• The need to maximise equipment utilisation rates, by eliminating down-time associated with changing of laser processing heads and equipment stoppages.
• Reducing capital investment costs.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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IA - Innovation action

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-IND-CE-2016-17

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Coordinator

TWI LIMITED
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 990 895,00
Address
GRANTA PARK GREAT ABINGTON
CB21 6AL CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom

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Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 990 895,00

Participants (7)

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