Net-shape joining technology to manufacture 3D multi-materials components based on metal alloys and thermoplastic composites
ComMUnion enables productive and cost effective manufacturing of 3D metal/ Carbon Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic (CFRT) multi-material components.ComMUnion will develop a novel solution combining tape placement of CFRTs with controlled laser-assisted heating in a multi-stage robot solution. High-speed laser texturing and cleaning will overcome the limitations of current joining technology to provide greatest performance joints.
ComMUnion will rely on a robot-based approach enabling on-line inspection for layer-to-layer self-adjustment of the process. Moreover, tools for multi-scale modelling, parametric offline programming, quality diagnosis and decision support will be developed under a cognitive approach to ensure interoperability and usability.
ComMUnion will address the following key innovations:
- Texturing and cleaning based on high speed laser scanning for surface condition.
- High-speed spatially resolved control of surface temperature profile.
- Multi-scale metal/CFRP modelling, self-adaptive process control, and quality diagnosis based on multimodal active imaging.
ComMUnion approach will decrease by 30% the consumption of titanium and boron steel, (costly alloys requiring critical materials).
Besides, reinforcement of textured metallic surfaces with CFRT tapes will increase mechanical performance of multi-material components over 30% without cost increase.
Manufacturing of two pilot-cases for automotive and aeronautics will demonstrate the scalability of the joining process.
It will be possible trough a consortium with a strong involvement of industrial partners (73% of which 55% are SMEs).
The outline of the business plan ensures the exploitation of the project results. With a target market of 2.000 companies and a fair estimate of 2% market penetration (5 years after the commercialization start), ComMUnion will result in 40M€/year incomes.
Web resources: |
http://communionproject.eu/
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/199470/factsheet/en |
Start date: | 12-01-2015 |
End date: | 31-05-2019 |
Total budget - Public funding: | 5 917 392,00 Euro - 4 863 011,00 Euro |
Call topic: | Industrial technologies for advanced joining and assembly processes of multi-materials (FoF.NMPB.2015.12) |

This is a set of Specific Objectives and Research & Innovation Objectives that is subject to a consultation in preparation of the Made In Europe Partnership. For more guidance about the consultation, please see www.effra.eu/made-in-europe-state-play.
Communion system consisted in several ones (online and offline) based on a flexible reconfigurable fully robotized cell supported by several expert systems based on data knowledge
Communion has contributed developing a Quality diagnosis system supporting a self adapting systems. Also a decission support system to support the product design
Communion cell is based on advanced manufacturing process able to process different materials and shapes with several sizes. Both systems are flexible
The flexibility of the communion cell allows to manufacture complex 3D rpdocuts with smart properties
Communion has developed an oof line system based on data knowledge.
Benefits of commuion to circular economy has been proven using LCA/LCC approaches and also with a software for assembly /dissasembly capabilities connected to the deccision support system in order to include environmental aspects on the design of the products
- No published items