AGENDA | 28.05-2.06.2012
IK4-TEKNIKER will be present at the 27th Machine-Tool Biennial
IK4-TEKNIKER will be present at the 27th Machine-Tool Biennial to be held from 28 May to 2 June, 2012, at exhibition halls 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the BEC-Bilbao Exhibition Centre.
A new feature this year is that IK4-TEKNIKER will be sharing a stand with IK4-IDEKO, thus reflecting their association within the IK4 Research Alliance.
The stand will be located between aisles C08 and D09 in exhibition hall nº 1, devoted to Removal, Metrology, CAD/CAM/CAE, and the two R+D centres will have an area of 240 m2. At the stand, IK4-TEKNIKER will be presenting a range of scenarios showing the innovations of some of the sectors which it is currently devoting its activity to.
Each of the scenarios will be represented by demonstrators linked to laser technology, robotics (automation of production systems) and non-conventional manufacturing processes.
Laser equipment for plastic welding
IK4-TEKNIKER is capable of coming up with integral solutions and will be demonstrating this at the BIEMH-27th Machine-Tool Biennial. They will include laser welding equipment 100% designed and developed with in-house technology in the mechatronic part and in the development of the high-power laser.
The prototype of the laser system has been incorporated into a machine designed for the assembly of thermoplastics and geared towards industrial applications like the automotive sector, biomedicine or microfluidics.
The welding of plastic components by means of fibre-optic guided laser is a technique that has been recently introduced into industry and which offers advantages over other conventional methods: the doing away with chemical adhesives, the minimizing of thermal distortions in the welding section, greater efficiency and greater flexibility.
Automating production systems: Robotics for footwear
Another of the scenarios will be represented by the automation of production systems. This sphere allows production to be automatically controlled, totally or partially, by robots. They are used as elements to provide a high degree of flexibility, and allow repetitive work to be carried out at high speed, which is particularly important in conditions of work that are tough or hazardous for the workers. IK4-TEKNIKER is working to develop traditional manufacturing systems by optimizing their processes and coming up with sustainable solutions to achieve more efficient production by means of robots.
Right now, important sectors of the economy like the automotive sector or metallurgy have implemented robots in their production systems. Other traditional industries, however, have obstacles that are preventing robots being incorporated into their production systems.
In this context, IK4-TEKNIKER is leading the ROBOFOOT project with the aim of introducing robotics into the European footwear sector. This project is tackling various operations like roughing, gluing, polishing, dyeing and removal from the last. At the BIEMH, IK4-TEKNIKER will be presenting some of these operations in the form of a manufacturing cell, including the pick-and-place operations of the manual conveyor, polishing and inspection of the footware.
Non-conventional manufacturing processes: ultrasound technology
Finally, IK4-TEKNIKER understands the machine and process as parts forming a whole and designed to offer fresh, solutions and alternatives for competitive manufacturing. That is why it is putting forward various non-conventional manufacturing processes that offer unique capabilities. These processes are put into practice in response to new market requirements.
At the 27th BIEMH, IK4-TEKNIKER will have a demonstrator of the ultrasound rotary machining process which is based on the removal of material through a combination of turning and vibration in an axial direction in a super-abrasive tool; this reduces cutting effort, thermal load on the part, and together with that, the wear and tear sustained by the tool.
For further information
For further information, please check out the fair’s official website: www.biemh.com
