Insight-November 7, 2004-Jobwerx News-For years the precision grinding process has always been handled by technical experts in their field.

The problem is that many factories don’t have enough of these very experienced people, so a lot of grinding processes are run under suboptimal conditions.

For 15 years Yung Shin, a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue Univertisty, has been working on an intelligent optimization and control grinding process system that uses artificial-intelligence software which mimics how people think.

Professor Shin, who is leading the Purdue portion of the research, is working with other researches and industry memebers to identify several pilot applications, all in automotive areas, and validate the methodology.

For the Automotive industry the implementation of this new system could save about 10 percent of the cost of current grinding practices, translating into upwards of $1 billion annually in manufacturing costs by improving precision-grinding processes for parts production.

According to Professor Shin, the new system will allow relatively inexperienced employees to operate grinding machinery with the same precision as these rare, highly experienced workers.

The process, if successful, could save the automotive industry millions of dollars annually by increasing productivity, saving energy, reducing the number of grinding wheels needed, reducing scrap and improving the overall quality of parts.

The intelligent system will use a wealth of data collected by various sensors, as a given part is being ground. Then the method will apply advanced software, such as neural networks and genetic algorithms, to operate specialized "computer numerical control" grinding machines that cost up to $1 million apiece.

Ceramic Parts Are Created Entirely By Grinding

The machines, commonly referred to as CNC machines, are widely used in industry and are increasingly being equipped with sensors that provide information about the grinding process in real time. The machines use grinding wheels containing ceramic or diamond particles to apply a fine-finish surface to precision parts, and sometimes they are used to create a part from scratch.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Advanced Technology Program is funding the $6 million project. Together with researchers, TechSolve Inc., who is leading the industry leaders, Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems, Applied Grinding Technologies and Landis Gardner, they hope to extend the technology to other grinding applications in the next sveral years.

For years technology offerings and partnerships with Universities has varied. Sometimes universities have technologies available for licensing and may offer a collaboration. Depends on what the manufacturer is seeking. It could be a solution to a problem, an improvemnt to an existing process or a startup seeking fresh technology.

For instance, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, UMA, offers a research section on their website where there is a link for available technologies. Here manufacturers can search through many subcategories.


Haven't found what you're looking for? Try Searching the Web above for: Purdue Univeristy, University of Massachusetts Amherst, UMA, National Institute of Standards, NIS, TechSolve Inc, Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems, Applied Grinding Technologies, Landis Gardner

You may contact Professor Yung C. Shin at (765) 494-9775, and at the National Institute of Standards, NIST, Contact, Michael Baum, (301) 975-2763

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