AVANGARD – Advanced manufacturing solutions tightly aligned with business needs
The AVANGARD project addresses the integration of three novel processing units into an existing microfactory test bed conceived to produce urban electric vehicles. The units are state of-the-art multipurpose and multifunctional demonstrators on their own, specifically:
- Robotized integration of laser cutting-shaping-welding for 3D components
- Supersonic deposition of metallic powders for high speed 3D printing
- Large volume and high-speed 3D polymeric printing
The operation of the AVANGARD pilot will be demonstrated manufacturing I-Bikes, I-CARS and innovative battery packs
Project goals
Het Europese project AVANGARD beoogt de ontwikkeling van een licht en veilig elektrisch voertuig voor personenvervoer in steden. Het project draagt bij tot het gebruik van hoogsterkte staalsoorten door het onderzoek naar en de ontwikkeling van een innovatief chassis voor elektrische voertuigen. Dit moet voldoen aan structurele en veiligheidseisen en zal de ruggengraat vormen voor het ontwerp van een nieuwe generatie elektrische voertuigen met een licht gewicht. Bij deze ontwikkeling worden Dual Phase staalsoorten gebruikt. Dit zijn innovatieve materialen die hun eigenschappen verkrijgen door een unieke structuur bestaande uit twee fasen (ferritisch-martensitische microstructuur).
Objectieven
Project description
Consortium
- PRIMA INDUSTRIE SPA (IT)(link is external)
- INTERACTIVE FULLY ELECTRICAL VEHICLES SRL (IT)(link is external)
- MA SPA (IT)(link is external)
- UNINOVA-INSTITUTO DE DESENVOLVIMENTO DE NOVAS TECNOLOGIAS-ASSOCIACAO (PT)(link is external)
- INTROSYS-INTEGRATION FOR ROBOTIC SYSTEMS-INTEGRACAO DE SISTEMAS ROBOTICOS SA (PT)(link is external)
- PANEPISTIMIO PATRON (GR)(link is external)
- Hellenic Mediterranean University (GR)(link is external)
- GIZELIS ROBOTICS S.A. (GR)(link is external)
- Ideas Forward PC (GR)(link is external)
- Rodstein Oy (FI)(link is external)
- VAASAN YLIOPISTO (FI)(link is external)
- UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO (IT)(link is external)
- ISTITUTO P.M. SRL (IT)(link is external)
- MORPHICA SOCIETA A RESPONSABILITA LIMITATA SEMPLIFICATA A SOCIO UNICO (IT)(link is external)
- STMICROELECTRONICS GRENOBLE 2 SAS (FR)(link is external)
- STMICROELECTRONICS ROUSSET SAS (FR)(link is external)
- FUNDACION CIDAUT (SP)(link is external)
- POLEVS sp. z o.o. (PL)(link is external)
- THINKSTEP AG (DE)(link is external)
- BELGISCH INSTITUUT VOOR LASTECHNIEK VZW (BE)(link is external)
- SCUOLA UNIVERSITARIA PROFESSIONALE DELLA SVIZZERA ITALIANA (CH)(link is external)
- MASSIVIT 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGIES LTD (IL)(link is external)
Results
Experimental research
During the AVANGARD project, experiments were carried out for monitoring robotic MIG/MAG welding based on acoustic emissions. Different types of sensors were used; piezoelectric sensors and a microphone. The welding experiments were carried out for fillet welds (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Fillet weld, part of the frame of an electric vehicle
Welds were performed with the different parameter settings of the welding process. Welds performed with optimal parameters served as a reference. In addition, welds were also performed where a particular parameter was varied; for example, the welding speed, projection length, torch position or angle and the welding direction (pulling or pushing), with the aim of introducing welding defects. The cobot used for the experimental work is a Universal Robotics UR10 with a MIGATRONICS Sigma Select 400 power source; see Figure 3).
Figure 3 : Test setup used for fillet welds
The standard ISO 5817 [Welding - Fusion welded joints in steel, nickel, titanium and their alloys - Quality levels for imperfections] was used to assess the weld quality. This international standard details the quality levels for imperfections in fusion welded joints in steels, such as cracks, porosities and voids, solid inclusions, lack of penetration and incomplete penetration, form imperfections and multiple imperfections.
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Figure 4: Example of a good weld (left) and a weld with imperfections (right)
Application of artificial intelligence methods for monitoring weld quality
Artificial Intelligence offers huge potential for analysing measurement data and monitoring the quality of welds and welded products. Data-driven AI models were developed by the firm OQTON, and used to predict weld quality and recognise and classify occurring imperfections based on the noise produced by a weld. Welding voltage and current were also used for analysis through the AI models.
The observed acoustic spectrum could make a statement about the type of weld imperfection present in the weld and where in the weld this imperfection occurs. With the AI models, it is also possible to predict whether a certain weld imperfection is acceptable or not according to EN ISO 5817 (quality level C).
In this way, it is not only possible to detect welding imperfections in real time, but also immediately assign a rating to them based on the emitted acoustic spectrum. If the welding imperfection is not acceptable, it is possible in continuous installations (e.g. robotic installations) to have the system react adaptively based on this data by adjusting the welding parameters.
Deliverables
Newsletters
Publications
Technical project results
Welding-related results
- Weld quality monitoring(link is external)
- High Strength Steels: An Overview
- Manual, Cobot and Robot Welding? How to Make the Choice?
- Comparison of Cobot and Manual Welding Based on Arc Parameters
- New Strategy to Evaluate Specific and Complex Welds Application Using EN ISO 5817 Standard
Other results
- Robust Additive Manufacturing Performance through a Control Oriented Digital Twin(link is external)
- On the generation of validated manufacturing process optimization and control schemes(link is external)
- A three-stage quality diagnosis platform for laser-based manufacturing processes(link is external)