Project description
Automated robotic assembly of cables gets the job done faster and cheaper
Electrical cables are ubiquitous in industry, providing power to electrical systems and subsystems via a current flowing through metal wires enclosed by insulation. Cable assembly is still almost entirely manual, increasing time and cost of the process and adding the element of human error. The Israeli SME Frisimos Technologies has developed three disruptive automated robotic assembly machines that can be used alone or together to form a process line. The EU-funded ACE project will help the company optimise prototypes and carry out important tests and demonstrations in preparation for commercialisation.
Objective
Cables are at the heart of electronic equipment that serves the medical, marine, aerospace, communications and automotive industries. The assembly of electrical cables is primarily based on human workmanship - however, manual assembly of cables is a delicate art that increases product cost, reduces quality as well as increases supply chain lines and cost. As a means to increase profitability, cable manufacturers from Europe have relocated their production facilities to low cost labour regions like North Africa, Mexico and China. Because of technological advances and statutory regulations as defined by IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards, it no longer viable to continue with manual assembly. There is an imminent need to develop machines that allow to automate the assembly to meet the standards requirements.
As Frisimos, we have developed a evolutionary automated robotic assembly machines that will disrupt the electric cable assembly industry. The project idea is composed of three modules that can work as standalone machines or together forming a process line. The Layer Removal machine that enables cutting of metal with almost no heat, and to separately cut each layer with precise profile, is based on Laser ablation process, which uses specific wavelength and additional parameters. The Wire Sort machine that allows sorting cable wires according to their color or lettering, is based on a machine vision based algorithm. The Wire soldering machine welds the cable by laser, using a laser beam, which allows controlling the soldered spot size and the power, so creating the most optimal soldering. We will specifically concentrate on the automotive and communications market segments. The targeted market potential for our solution will grow from €12.29b in 2017 to €19b by 2022. We anticipate that ACE will help grow our turnover to €35.45m with a cumulative profit of €50m within the first 5-years of commercialisation.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineering
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputer vision
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivity
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
43663 RA ANANA
Israel
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.