INTEGRADDE | Intelligent data-driven pipeline for the manufacturing of certified metal parts through Direct Energy Deposition processes

Summary

The industrialisation of Additive Manufacturing (AM) requires a holistic data management and integrated automation. INTEGRADDE aims to develop an end-to-end Digital Manufacturing solution, enabling a cybersecured bidirectional dataflow for a seamless integration across the entire AM chain.

The goal is to develop a new manufacturing methodology capable of ensuring the manufacturability, reliability and quality of a target metal component from initial product design via Direct Energy Deposition (DED) technologies, implementing a zero-defect manufacturing approach ensuring robustness, stability and repeatibility of the process.

To achieve this aim, INTEGRADDE addresses following key innovations:

  • Development of an intelligent data-driven AM pipeline.
  • Combination of automatic topology optimisation algorithms for design, multi-scale process modelling, automated hardware-independent process planning, online control and distributed NDT for the manufacturing of certified metal parts.
  • A self-adaptive control is adopted focused on the implementation of non-propagation of defects strategy. Moreover, Data Analytics will provide a continuous refinement by acquiring process knowledge to assist in the manufacturing of new metal components, improving right-first-time production by adopting a mass customization approach
  • Cybersecurity ensures data integrity along the AM workflow, providing a novel manufacturing methodology for the certification of metal AM parts.


INTEGRADDE implements a twofold deployment approach for the pilot lines: both in application-driven at five industrial end-users (steel, tooling, aeronautics, and construction) and open-pilot networks at RTOs already owning AM infrastructure (AIMEN, IREPA, CEA, WEST). This will allow a continuous validation and deployment of specific developments towards industrialization, boosting definitive uptake of AM in EU metalworking sector.

More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: http://www.integraddeproject.eu/
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/820776
Start date: 01-10-2018
End date: 31-03-2023
Total budget - Public funding: 12 716 173,00 Euro - 12 716 173,00 Euro
Twitter: @Integradde
Cordis data

Original description

The industrialisation of Additive Manufacturing (AM) requires a holistic data management and integrated automation. INTEGRADDE aims to develop an end-to-end Digital Manufacturing solution, enabling a cybersecured bidirectional dataflow for a seamless integration across the entire AM chain.

The goal is to develop a new manufacturing methodology capable of ensuring the manufacturability, reliability and quality of a target metal component from initial product design via Direct Energy Deposition (DED) technologies, implementing a zero-defect manufacturing approach ensuring robustness, stability and repeatibility of the process. To achieve this aim, INTEGRADDE addresses following key innovations:
- Development of an intelligent data-driven AM pipeline.
- Combination of automatic topology optimisation algorithms for design, multi-scale process modelling, automated hardware-independent process planning, online control and distributed NDT for the manufacturing of certified metal parts.
- A self-adaptive control is adopted focused on the implementation of non-propagation of defects strategy. Moreover, Data Analytics will provide a continuous refinement by acquiring process knowledge to assist in the manufacturing of new metal components, improving right-first-time production by adopting a mass customization approach
- Cybersecurity ensures data integrity along the AM workflow, providing a novel manufacturing methodology for the certification of metal AM parts.

INTEGRADDE implements a twofold deployment approach for the pilot lines: both in application-driven at five industrial end-users (steel, tooling, aeronautics, and construction) and open-pilot networks at RTOs already owning AM infrastructure (AIMEN, IREPA, CEA, WEST). This will allow a continuous validation and deployment of specific developments towards industrialization, boosting definitive uptake of AM in EU metalworking sector.

Status

SIGNED

Call topic

DT-FOF-04-2018

Update Date

27-10-2022
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Comment:

The major goal of INTEGRADDE was to develop a novel end-to-end solution capable of demonstrating the potential of Directed Energy Deposition (DED) processes for the manufacturing of certified large metal components in strategic metalworking sectors. The project is focused on additive manufacturing, specifically laser metal deposition. This technology requires validation, and the compatibility of various pieces in the manufacturing process must be verified under real-world situations. Standardization, therefore, has great significance. The case study demonstrates the need for adequate planning of resources for standardisation as well as the requirement to provide project partners who are unfamiliar with standards and standardisation with training. Two obstacles stand out: first, the distinct nature and timetables of standardisation processes from those of research, and second, the apparent conflict between IP protection and the requirement for openness during the standardisation process. Nevertheless, the use of standards/standardisation seeks to help increase quality and reliability in the specific AM process.

Comment:

The mention of certification and standards in the call for proposals prompted the project to create standardisation as a specific activity as part of the WP on dissemination and exploitation from the very start. Some of the project partners had prior expertise with standardising and engagement with relevant TCs. However, overall standardising knowledge was limited. As a result, Deutsches Institut Fuer Normung E.V. (DIN) was involved in the project as an SDO to aid, training and to connect with TC 261 on AM. DIN was also in charge of developing a standards landscape to better understand what standards exist and where gaps need to be filled. According to the interviewed partners, for researchers with little experience in standardisation, it may be difficult to understand what is going on. In this case, it is vital to listen to and learn from Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) like DIN. Furthermore, if a researcher does not deal with standardisation, he or she may not actively seek training in it. Learning in practice is thus frequently in the form of learning on the job while carrying out projects. Finally, knowing standardisation also means knowing the ecosystem of stakeholders involved.

Liaisons have been formed with three TC 261 WGs during project implementation. Project members are permitted to contribute to WG meetings and participate in joint WGs. In addition to communicating with TC 261, DIN has been asked to establish connections with ongoing projects relating to design and data exchange. The project participants also received standardisation training from DIN. One particular issue arose was intellectual property protection. On one hand, open approaches are required for standardisation; on the other hand, protection is required. In this scenario, it is not so much about patents as it is about software (copyright) protection and possibly trade secrets. Two areas for developing standardisation activities are being investigated where there are gaps in standards. The first is related to digital technology, and the second is laser cladding, for which there is currently no standard.

The project has yet to produce standardised results such as CEN Workshop Agreement (CWAs). On a more positive note, the activities have resulted in the formation of new relationships, which will be useful for future standardisation and project efforts. As a result, these liaisons can be deemed a good output, even though there is still a long way to go towards a standard. There is a desire among project participants to have the opportunity to prolong the project with Horizon funding to account for the differences in timelines between standardisation processes and funded research and to allow enough resources for standardisation activities.