News: TEKS partners in major research project

TEKS are one of the industrial partners in a major pan-European collaborative research project callled COMET, which aims to develop industrial robots into cost effective, accurate and reliable machining solutions.

TEKS, based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, and their partners are developing innovative robot-based machining systems that are flexible, reliable and predictable and which could provide an average of 30% cost efficiency savings in comparison to machine tools. A second equally important objective of the project is to increase the accuracy of a robotic machining system well beyond current standard and make them comparable to current CNC milling machine tools.

The project, which also includes The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing as a partner, is testing the view that industrial robot technology could provide an excellent base for machining being both flexible (due to their layout) and cost efficient (robots typically cost five times less than machine tools). The proposed approach is however not without challenges to be overcome. Currently whilst robots are very agile, this agility results in a reduced stiffness compared to conventional machine tools.

Roland Krain, R&D manager, from TEKS explains the potential benefits of this approach: "Traditionally robots are used as handling solutions for assembly. If machining is required in a robotic line or cell, the robot typically would place the part in a conventional machine tool. Such tools range from the high tens of thousands pounds to several hundred thousand pounds.

"A robotic machining cell could provide a cost effective machining solution. A second hand robot can typically be purchased for £15k, along with a good quality high speed spindle for £20k, giving the end user multi axis machining capability for a fraction of the cost of a comparable conventional machine tool. Obviously the second hand robot has to be in "as new" condition, be well maintained and have a compatible controller otherwise the accuracy required might not be achieved.

"The challenge is to overcome the current issues with robots around reduced stiffness and dynamic accuracy, but TEKS and its consortium partners are well on the way to achieve this."

TEKS is a privately owned French SME actively involved in process design and optimisation, project management, training and technology exploitation. The company was established to respond to a need identified in the aerospace supply chain to introduce greater levels of process optimisation formally seen in the automotive sector.

TEKS website
COMET project website

Images: tatasteeleurope.com