Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VibraCoat (High Performance Nano-structured Composites for Tooling Industry)

Teaser

Reducing vibration from industrial equipment is one of the most important challenges to eliminate causes that adversely influence production state, working conditions of staff, and job safety. In manufacturing, vibration causes bad product quality, auxiliary costs for rework...

Summary

Reducing vibration from industrial equipment is one of the most important challenges to eliminate causes that adversely influence production state, working conditions of staff, and job safety. In manufacturing, vibration causes bad product quality, auxiliary costs for rework and repairing of damaged machine’s parts. Plasmatrix Materials’ unique technology has the potential to provide products that control machine tool vibration, ideally suited for manufacturing market segment.
The overall objective for the project is to develop a feasibility model and associated marketing strategy for implementing the solution for removing the vibration problem from industrial products by embedded VibraCoat material.
The proposal focuses on market introduction of the VibraCoat material for the cutting tool holders and shims to prolong the tool life of cutting inserts and considerably improve surface quality and process performance.

Work performed

The work performed in the project has been distributed in several tasks.

1. Market analysis and new applications of VibraCoat for tooling systems - user acceptance and perspective about VibraCoat tooling systems has been testes, and the market potential, type and size has been established

2. Development of pilot tests for the identified range of tooling systems with VibraCoat - requirements for scaling up the process and the range of VibraCoat tooling systems has been determined.

3. Business plan and marketing strategy development - a fully coasted quantitative estimate of the advantages of VibraCoat Tooling system, as part of establishing its market potential and a planned route to its exploitation and an business plan and marketing strategy for VibraCoat tooling systems was developed.

4. Dissemination and exploitation - a robust dissemination plan for maximum impact among stakeholders, workshops and demonstrations were organized. Direct contact with Swedish and European manufacturers.
The practical investigation in laboratory and in limited industrial trials demonstrated that a cutting insert’s too life is expected to be increased by at least 50%, while surface finish to be improved by 60-70% after an embedded solution with VibraCoat.

Final results

The VibraCoat project provides three major breakthroughs:
• VibraCoat material,
• Material Synthesis technology, Deposition and bonding technology,
• VibraCoat tooling systems.

(1) Scientific impact
• Knowledge of quantum mechanics and nano-technology.
• Contribute to the scientific community with new milestones for HiDaMats (high dynamic stiffness materials) development
• Nano size impact on materials’ mechanical properties.

(2) Impact on Users/Market
By using VibraCoat tools customers can significantly reduce the vibration levels in their machines or the machines using their parts. This gives them either a competitive edge which enables them to gain market share and/or enables them to address high-end segments in their market where they can charge a premium and obtain better margins.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.plasmatrix.se.