Researchers at the University of Huddersfield are working on a £8 million project to produce “factory on a machine”.
The advanced research project will enable the UK manufacturing companies to integrate their existing machine tools with devices, ensuring complete accuracy, high efficiency and significant cost savings. The project will also provide environmental benefits by reducing waste.
Professor Jane Jiang is the project director and other members involved in the research project are Professor Liam Blunt, head of the Centre for Precision Technologies, and his colleagues Professor Paul Scott and Professor Alan Myers. The University of Huddersfield’s Centre for Precision Technologies (CPT) has received £3 million funding from a consortium comprising UK’s leading organization and firms, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has granted £4.7 million.
The conventional method of checking the quality of the part in a factory is to remove the part from the machine during the processing phase and then measuring it to ensure that it is of right quality and size. With advanced technology, the quality check is done without removing the part from the machine tool.
With the “factory on a machine” technology, the total manufacturing control will be reduced as the entire work is performed in the machine. For example, if a metal piece is inserted into the machine, the output will be a part that is completely finished and measured and comes out with quality documentation. This saves both cost and time and increases productivity without the need for additional investment.
Industries that will benefit from the “factory on a machine” device include optics and aerospace. Though the CPT owns advanced machines, it will purchase new equipment for the research project.