As described in the Proposal, aim of the first period of the LICORNE project was to create a functional cell of automatic bead forming in order to realize industrial tests during the second period and gather the necessary information to keep on with the following actions:
- Improve the existing system after a representative number of repetition
- Build a second cell able to detect and alert on any defect of bead deposition or forming
- Develop a simplified big data system to prevent any derivation of the process newly installed
As a matter of fact, the perturbation on the ignition of the project due to the departure of one of the participants has compromised the respect of this planning from the beginning. Discussions to keep the participant in the consortium and later to find a good replacement took no far from six months. Indeed, the Grant Agreement has been signed only in July.
Nonetheless, preparation of the production line to welcome the new robots has been started as soon as December 2015, continued on August 2016. Some part of the work has even been done during production period when possible. At the end of October the platform was already equipped with two robots, without bead forming tool or aspiration system yet but all setting up plans where defined.
In parallel of that, tests have been realized on our two test platforms:
- At RINGLER’s: trials to find the good aspiration system in order to evacuate the bead material and avoid any occlusion resulting in an aspiration power loss. Still left to solve the matter of material evacuation not to clot the hose. A non-definitive solution has been identified that will allow to start the in-line tests with “cleaning balls”, but main objective is still to simplify the cleaning process and have an installation as automated as possible.
This work has been held with CNRS which developed plasma treatment that would make the hose system anti-adhesive. So far the results are promising even though a good solution to transfer laboratory knowledge and results to industrial feasibility is yet to finalize.
- At PSA Poissy center: trials to conceive the best forming tool, compatible with aspirated material, complex trajectories and easiness to maintain. Solution of a 3D conception has been chosen, allowing a faster realization process and more freedom of conception. The shape and material of the tool have been co-validated with CNRS.
PSA also implanted one of the aspiration systems on its test platform before sending it to its definitive location in Mulhouse. Objective was to create the trajectories for the robots before the in-line test in order to avoid any unnecessary perturbation on the production line. Work has been done on every vehicle presently produced in Mulhouse.
Concerning the following steps, CLEMESSY has started the conception of its own test platform in order to validate the choices made on materials and equipment able to detect the defect of bead forming. Exploitation of a photo database of defects will be essential to the parametrization of the detection cell.
CTAG has started the inventory of all relevant parameters to be included in the algorithm. The tools to be used in order to insure compatibility with existing information system in PSA are defined. Next steps include the construction of the algorithm and its inclusion in the detection system.
