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News Release from: GTMA
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 14 November 2006
EU project to provide faster and cheaper
moulds
EU KnowEDM project aims to improve European tool making and precision engineering competitiveness by achieving 35% average cost reduction while cutting lead-times by up to 50%.
GTMA is participating in KnowEDM, a new three-year, EU-sponsored, collaborative research project which had its 'kick-off' meeting at TNO in Eindhoven in October KnowEDM aims to improve the competitiveness of the European tool making and precision engineering sectors by achieving a 35% average cost reduction while cutting lead-times by up to 50%
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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These objectives will be achieved by developing knowledge-based automated EDM technology, which will be integrated into toolmaking and the manufacture of high precision components.
The KnowEDM partnership comprises five trade associations and four research centres, drawn from eight European countries: in addition to the UK; Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Poland are all represented.
The project consortium embraces a wide spectrum of the industry, vertically integrated from equipment supplies through tool and die makers to end-users.
The project will benefit from pooling the accumulated knowledge, expertise and research effort of the 20 consortium members, supplemented by input provided by associated companies.
This will ensure that the work-programme and any spin-offs will be tailored to suit the industries addressed by the project.
Three specific modules will be developed are as follows.
1 - Time estimation of EDM operations.
2 - Automation of electrode design and manufacturing.
3 - Automation of optimised apportionment of machining operations between HSM and EDM processes (on cost and time criteria).
A prototype software module has already been developed to display STL models of mould tools and precision parts in 3D.
This will be used as a demonstration tool to illustrate the capabilities of the EDM optimisation program as it is being developed and refined in the KnowEDM Project.
Companies interested in joining the UK EDM Forum please contact GTMA by email.
For further information visit: * Collective research programme - the KnowEDM project is being carried out under the Collective Research Programme of the European Union (COLL-CT-2006-030238), where Research partners undertake scientific and technological research activities on behalf of Industrial Associations and their member companies.
This R and D funding scheme is intended to assist European companies to improve their global competitiveness.
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