FOCUS ON HYDROFORMING
“ The project accomplished promising results with high-pressure warm forming of lightweight magnesium parts . It demonstrated the potential for reducing process costs through faster forming times and lower tooling costs compared to more conventional hot-forming routes . Beyond these results , the AFRC has successfully supported forming trials remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic and enabled complementary technical capabilities via a strategic partnership elsewhere in Europe , which can prove key for further research into this technology ,” commented The Boeing Company .
“ From start to finish , the AFRC communicated in a timely fashion , ensuring updates were provided to Spirit at all times . The project goals were set out in a logical manner , as were the objectives . The outputs from the project clearly showed the technical capabilities and limitations of magnesium sheet forming , as well as the cost benefits of using HPWF versus SPF . The outputs of this project have allowed us to include HPWF as a technology in our toolbox for component manufacture in the future ,” said Spirit Aerosystems .
Advanced manufacturing projects
The University of Strathclyde has also been at the forefront of projects helping small and medium-sized manufacturing firms in Scotland . It is involved in several of the Scottish Government ’ s Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund projects . Through the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland ( NMIS ),
AFRC LMC Hybrid .
the University will lead on two projects and colleagues across the University will support the development of four others .
Announced by Scotland ’ s First Minister in May 2021 , the Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund projects will see £ 15.8 million invested in the development of free services across Scotland to help small and mediumsized companies develop their manufacturing capabilities and ultimately transform skills , productivity and innovation in Scotland ’ s manufacturing and engineering community .
The Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund is a partnership between the Scottish Government , Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise . Projects are partfunded by the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ), Scottish Government and match-funding from each project , with Scottish Enterprise managing the Fund .
A cost comparison showed that up to 40 % cost savings could be made in producing this complex sheet component
The two projects being led by the NMIS team at the University focus on upskilling the workforces of SME manufacturers across the country . The first focuses on the key technology area of additive manufacturing . The project is set to de-risk innovation by providing companies with the knowledge required to make the correct business , technology and investment decisions in additive manufacturing and ultimately grow the Scottish supply chain around the development of this emerging technology .
Additive manufacturing is a transformative approach to manufacturing that uses the layering of materials to produce complex shapes without limitations . It enables companies to develop lightweight parts and often repair components that would otherwise be scrapped .
With support from organisations around the country , the team , led by Stephen Fitzpatrick ( lead for machining and additive manufacturing at NMIS ) is developing nine different business and technology support packages . Using these packages , companies will be taken on a technology adoption journey that suits their specific needs and objectives . With the exception of one package , all can be delivered virtually so that companies can start their journey immediately regardless of location .
NMIS , through its Manufacturing Skills Academy ( alongside colleagues in Strathclyde ) is also leading on a project to establish an online platform for the delivery of digital manufacturing and leadership courses
Quintus deep draw Flexform™ press .
for the manufacturing community . Companies and their employees will be supported through a portfolio of content libraries and bespoke learning action plans that will be designed in collaboration with individual businesses . The courses and learning plans will cover a wide variety of topics related to manufacturing in the digital age including data science , visualisation technologies , cyber security , robotics and artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things .
NMIS and teams at Strathclyde are involved in three other projects alongside North Lanarkshire Council , New College Lanarkshire and South Ayrshire Council and Ayrshire College . North Lanarkshire will see the creation of a manufacturing innovation hub that will link in with all that the NMIS Group has to offer . Meanwhile the South Ayrshire projects focus on the high-value aerospace sector with the development of a dedicated aerospace digital visualisation suite in collaboration with the NMIS digital manufacturing team and an aerospace supply chain development programme that will endeavour to break down the barriers to entry for smaller businesses . n
EDITOR ’ S NOTE On 8 March 2022 ( 11am-12 noon GMT ) the AFRC will be running a digital seminar entitled ‘ Exploring additive manufacturing for your business ’. Register on https :// bit . ly / 3oKGbPD
CONTACT For further information , see www . strath . ac . uk / research / advancedformingresearchcentre / or email info @ afrc . org . uk
36 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR March 2022