In mechanical engineering, timely maintenance and replacement of defective components in machine tools is an important part of the manufacturing process. In the case of ball screw drives, such as those used in lathes to precisely guide the production of cylindrical components, wear is determined manually.
"Maintenance is therefore associated with installation work, which means the machine comes to a standstill," says Professor Jürgen Fleischer from the Institute for Production Technology (wbk) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). "Our approach, on the other hand, integrates an intelligent camera system directly into the drive, which enables a user to continuously monitor the spindle status. If there is a need for action, the system informs the user automatically."
The new system combines a camera with light source attached to the nut of the drive and artificial intelligence (AI) that evaluates the image data. As the nut moves on the spindle, it takes individual pictures of each spindle section, enabling the analysis of the entire spindle surface.
Artificial intelligence for mechanical engineering Combining image data from ongoing operations with machine-learning methods enables system users to directly assess the condition of the spindle surface.
"We trained our algorithm with thousands of images so that it can now confidently distinguish between spindles with defects and those without," says Tobias Schlagenhauf (wbk), who helped development the system. "By further evaluating the image data, we can precisely qualify and interpret wear and thus distinguish if discoloration is simply dirt or harmful pitting."
When training the AI, the team took account of all conceivable forms of visible degeneration and validated the algorithm's functionality with new image data that the model had never seen before. The algorithm is suitable for all applications that identify image-based defects on the spindle surface and is transferrable to other applications.
During Hannover Messe, running April 20-24, 2020, in Stand C14 in Hall 25, KIT shows what’s possible with intelligent spindle monitoring in ball screw drives. Furthermore, KIT organizes an energy pavilion (Hall 27, Stand L51) as well as other topic-specific exhibits.
Application example of the collaboration of Henkel and NewPro3D: soft tissue anatomical model of a heart
Henkel/NewPro3D
Quick reads: Medical wearable sensors monitor Coronavirus patients in China
Henkel, NewPro3D providing additive manufacturing (AM) solutions at production scale; VADovations licenses IP from Mayo Clinic
Three quick medical device reads today…Coronavirus is taking the lead spot in news around the world. As the outbreak numbers increase, medical technology we’ve covered in Today’s Medical Developments magazine is helping monitor patients without exposing caregivers to the virus.
Next, it may be 2 weeks before Valentine’s Day but collaboration between Henkel and NewPro3D gives us the lead photo – a soft tissue anatomical model of a heart – and information about the two companies collaborating to provide additive manufacturing (AM) solutions at production scale for the medical industry.
Finally, VADovations’ cardiac assist pump for long-term use in patients suffering with heart failure is getting a boast as the company licenses IP from Mayo Clinic, advancing this next-generation technology designed to avoid open surgical implantation while addressing the limitations of current blood pumps.
VivaLNK's continuous temperature sensor monitors Coronavirus in China
VivaLNK officials announce that the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (SPHCC) is using VivaLNK's continuous temperature sensor to combat the spread of Coronavirus in China.
A key challenge in combating contagious diseases is limiting the spread of the virus within a hospital. Cross infection from patient-to-patient and patient-to-caregiver can be a major problem. While quarantining patients may limit patient-to-patient contact, contact between caregivers and patients can also be avoided with technology.
VivaLNK officials announce that the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (SPHCC) is using VivaLNK's continuous temperature sensor to combat the spread of Coronavirus in China.
Working with VivaLNK solution partner, Yijing Health, the temperature sensor is applied directly onto the patient and allows for continuous, real time monitoring of changes in body temperature. The data is then sent electronically from the patient to a remote observation dashboard at the nursing station, providing a view of the patients. Now, instead of physically checking the patient temperature every few hours with a mercury thermometer, temperatures can be monitored remotely and automatically, thereby limiting patient-to-caregiver contact. SPHCC also plans to deploy other VivaLNK sensors to monitor vitals such as heart rate and respiratory rate. In addition to SPHCC, the VivaLNK solution has been deployed in four other hospitals in various locations throughout China.
Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center uses VivaLNK continuous temperature sensor to monitor patients, combat the spread of Coronavirus.
Henkel, NewPro3D collaborate for 3D printing solution
NewPro3D recently joined Henkel’s Open Materials Platform to provide additive manufacturing (AM) solutions at production scale for the medical industry. Henkel’s materials expertise and NewPro3D’s 3D printing equipment and software is enabling new applications in anatomical modeling, prosthetics, and more.
NewPro3D’s unique technology for digital light processing (DLP) produces 3D models at record speeds. Specifically, the company’s Intelligent Liquid Interface (ILITM) consists of a transparent wettable membrane that is chemically designed to facilitate faster movement between cured layers, eliminating the slow mechanical processes used on conventional 3D printing techniques. When used in combination with Henkel’s wide range of photo-curing resins, the result is ultra-fast manufacturing of medical devices and tools including hard and soft anatomical models for use in surgical planning and educational programs.
NewPro3D and Henkel will be showcasing applications at the MD&M West, Feb. 11-13, 2020 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, booth #2321.
One will be an anatomical model of an infant’s skull. In this particular case, the child was afflicted with a syndrome that caused misalignment of the anterior mandible. To correct the issue, doctors must lengthen the mandible to approximate the maxilla. The model serves an invaluable role, helping the surgical team more accurately measure the defective position and identify areas where a device can be anchored to lengthen the mandible, in addition to helping them more easily visualize the overall position of other cranial bones.
Doctors were able to develop a treatment plan that involved the construction of an osteodistraction device that was placed in the body of the mandible. As dictated by the treatment plan, the apparatus featured external screws, which were rotated daily to a prescribed number of revolutions.
VADovations licenses IP from Mayo Clinic to develop a novel next-generation endovascular cardiac assist device for long-term use
VADovations Inc., a company developing miniaturized cardiac assist pumps is licensing intellectual property (IP) from Mayo Clinic for endovascular deployment of VADovations’ novel cardiac assist pump for long-term use in patients suffering with heart failure. This next generation technology is designed to avoid open surgical implantation while addressing the limitations of current blood pumps.
Kurt Dasse, Ph.D., president of VADovations, says, “Advancing our mission to deliver the best, most widely adopted implantable cardiac assist technologies that overcome the limitations of current and emerging devices, we are proud to draw on the clinical expertise of Mayo Clinic enabling our newest innovation: the endovascular deployment of VADovations’ ultra-miniature cardiac assist pump uniquely designed for enhanced safety and cost-effectiveness. Percutaneous insertion and catheter-directed navigation through blood vessels to the heart avoid the need for extensive open-heart surgery, as is required for other cardiac assist pumps today.”
Heraeus Medical Components / Myant Inc
Myant partners with Heraeus Medical Components
Partnership is to develop, test, prototype, and produce a solution leveraging Heraeus’ Tecticoat coating for on-skin textile applications.
Myant, leaders in textile computing, and Heraeus Medical Components, experts in biomaterials and components for medical devices, manufacturing technologies, and supply chain excellence, have entered into an exclusive partnership to develop, test, prototype, and produce a solution leveraging Heraeus’ Tecticoat coating for electrical sensing applications in textiles. Tecticoat is a conductive polymer-based coating that can be applied to textiles to control electrical conductivity, electromagnetic shielding, and electrostatic dissipation, making it an ideal material for integration into connected, on-skin textile applications.
The performance of electrodes that interface with the human body via the skin is governed by the electrical behavior of the materials forming the interface. Traditional electrode designs using electrolytic gels or other adhesives are cumbersome and poorly-suited for broad consumer applications, while dry electrodes tend to vary in performance under different humidity levels and generally suffer due to electrical noise. Heraeus has managed to overcome these challenges using Tecticoat, a flexible, robust, medically formulated, polymer-based coating that can be applied onto yarns like the ones developed by Myant for its bioelectrical on-skin sensing (e.g. ECG, EEG, EMG) textile applications.
Comar, a plastic packaging, dispensing, and medical device provider acquired iMARK Molding, a custom contract manufacturer focused on serving the medical device industry.
The combined company will offer additional best-in-class engineering and custom plastic molding and assembly services to Comar’s medical device, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical customers while also supporting Comar’s growth objectives in the medical and pharmaceutical segments.
Based in Woodville, Wisconsin, less than a one-hour drive from Minneapolis, Minnesota, iMARK specializes in complex scientific injection molding, automated and manual assembly, and cleanroom operations.
With this acquisition and other recent investments, Comar is now better positioned to address the unmet needs of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Class 1 and 2 medical and healthcare consumables, which are experiencing favorable tailwinds from the adoption of disposables, an aging population, and increased outsourcing.
Tornos welcomes Brian Glavanovits to its Customer Center Chicago as applications and process engineer. Glavanovits joins Tornos with 30 years of experience in manufacturing.
Glavanovits started in the tool and die industry manufacturing dies for many industries, including electronics, automotive, and consumer products.
Shortly after, he opened up his own shop that made dies and high tolerance machined parts. As that business took off, it led to the machining more complex parts for medical and aerospace. Having worked with different and difficult to machine materials, Glavanovits is excited for the challenge of working for Tornos and helping you find solutions to your application needs. Glavanovits is looking forward to receiving customer prints and parts and offering his expertise.
CNC Software’s Owner and Executive Vice President, Brian Summers, is transitioning to a new role in the organization. Summers will retain ownership responsibilities but is stepping away from executive duties as vice president to embark on a new journey as an ambassador for the manufacturing community.
Summers has developed an extensive group of contacts over the years working for his family business. In his role as ambassador, he will spend time traveling to meet up with clients and other prominent players to share stories of innovation and accomplishment in the manufacturing industry. These are people and organizations working in the public and private sectors that are leaving a positive mark on the world in which we live.
According to Summers, “It has been a lot of hard work and an incredible privilege to have been a part of the development of a world-renowned brand in the field of manufacturing. I’m so thankful for the community of talent that I have been a part of for more than 30 years.”
GF Machining Solutions has announced that Peter Eigenmann, former head of sales for the Southeast region, has been promoted to the position of director of sales and marketing.
Bringing with him extensive experience in machine tools, the mold and die industry, and industrial manufacturing operations, Eigenmann joined GF Machining Solutions in April 2013 as the head of project management in Schorndorf, Germany, before serving as the head of sales for the Southeast region. Eigenmann received his undergraduate education in mechanical engineering at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Uzwil, Switzerland, and his master’s certificate in project management from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
The graph includes the 12-month moving average for the durable goods shipments and cutting tool orders. Values are calculated by taking the average of the most recent 12 months and plotting them over time.
USCTI and AMT
US cutting tool orders down 1% in November YTD
The year-to-date total of $2.3 billion has 2019 down 1.1% compared to 2018.
November 2019 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $189.1 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report collaboration, was down 12.6% from October’s $216.4 million and down 9.7% when compared with the $209.4 million reported for November 2018. With a year-to-date total of $2.3 billion, 2019 is down 1.1% when compared with 2018. Please note revisions to September 2019 through October 2019 data.
According to Brad Lawton, chairman of AMT’s Cutting Tool Product Group, “The cutting tool industry has been managing through declining sales volumes for 2019. The economic forecasts indicate that this trend will continue into 2020. However, the recent progress that has been accomplished with Trade Agreements could improve economic activity.”
“The CTMR did not drop off as significantly as machine tool orders in 2019 but was on a downward trend for most of the year and remained in negative territory. We should see an upturn in December compared to the previous month as year-end budgets are expended. I’m actually surprised orders are as close to 2018 levels as they are, and that may be due to relatively high capacity utilization rates in many industries,” says Chris Kaiser, CEO of Big Kaiser.
These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals reported by the companies participating in the CTMR program. The totals here represent the majority of the U.S. market for cutting tools.
Posted by Elizabeth Engler Modic
Posted by Elizabeth Engler Modic
