Aerospace manufacturing factories require advanced integrated systems within their manufacturing chains. One of the areas with less level of automation is the field of cutting tool management, taking into account that the conventional machining operations (milling and turning) are crucial in the aerospace business.
Tool area assemblies (areas were the tools are mounted in the tool holder and measured) acquires special relevance when talking about needs of automation in terms of capability increase, quality, assurance and adaptive systems.
This automation project will optimize the tool room area, in order to perform the operations more safe, more productive and more repetitive than the actual situation.
Industria de Turbo Propulsores
ITP Aero is currently the ninth largest aircraft engine and components company in the world by revenue. Ranking among the top one hundred companies in the aerospace industry (Top 100 Aerospace Companies, PwC and Flight International, 2015), the company has production centres in Spain, United Kingdom, Mexico, the United States, Malta and India with over 3,500 employees.
ITP Aero includes among its activities the design, research and development, manufacturing and casting, assembly and testing of aeronautical engines. It also provides MRO services for a wide range of engines for regional airlines, business aviation, helicopters, industrial and defence applications. In 2017 ITP Aero became part of the Rolls-Royce Group and operates as a corporate entity
Contribution from RTOs
Tool Room Processes Analysis: a process study of the current assembly methods and constraints associated
System development concepts: highlighting levels of automation, and costs for technology and integration.
Automation scenario definition: Top level process flow diagram for new automated solution including anticipated cycle times. Technology assessment: Market survey into automation technologies.
Impact (expected)
Flexible automation of the cutting-tool management, currently a manual process
Achieving a capability increase, quality assurance and adaptive systems
Addressing the safety aspects
This solution could be extended to other factories working in metal cutting processes
