KnowEDM: Automated knowledge based EDM technology for integrated tool making and high precision components.

At present, European Union market in tool making and precision engineering accounts for close to 40% of the world market. In Europe there are approximately 4.500 SMEs employing a total of 110.000 employees, having a total a turnover of approximately 9 Billion Euro. The sector is reluctant to innovate and has an unattractive image with most employees (70%) working in a tool shop environment with unpleasant working conditions and few employees (30%) working in a knowledge based environment.

Europe’s market share is being threatened by low wage countries in Asia.
If no proper action is being undertaken on the short term, the risk for European society is that the employment in the tool making and precision engineering sectors will be reduced by 40%. This means that 40% of 110.000 = 44.000 employees will risk loosing their job.

In the project a knowledge-based system will be developed. The system will automatically choose which features are best machined by HSM or by EDM, based upon the
geometry of the part. The end-user will be able to optimise the choice by giving priority to parameters such as cost or delivery time. The system will be developed by the premier research organisations.

Three modules will be developed in the project.

• One module will give an accurate EDM time estimation.
• The second module will automate electrode design and manufacturing.
• The third module will automate an optimised choice between HSM or EDM machining. In this way you will be provided with the capability to work faster than your competitors.
  

The new knowledge-base system will improve the communication between product designers, mould manufacturers and injection moulders.
It will be possible to manufacture moulds of improved quality and costs and delivery time will be reduced. The modules can be used by both mould makers and manufacturers of precision engineering products and also for other sectors applying EDM machining.

Objectives

• Reduction of EDM electrode design and manufacturing by 50%
• Accurate EDM time estimation
• Reduction of the manufacturing lead-time by optimised EDM/HSM decision-making
• Improvement of integration of the chain from product design, through mould manufacture and injection moulding
  

The project has started the 1st October 2006 and will end in September 2009

Proposal/Contract no.:        030238