Navy Times By: Glenn S. Daehn 12/13/2019
Now a new manufacturing method dubbed “robotic blacksmithing†has the potential to revolutionize the way high-quality structural parts are made, resulting in a new class of customized and optimized products.
I am part of a loose coalition of engineers developing this process, a technique I believe can help revive U.S. manufacturing.
Robots plus blacksmithingMetal implements made by blacksmiths oftentimes have legendary strength because the working of the metal, like kneading of dough, makes its structure finer, more homogeneous.
As the material is shaped, it develops directional strength, much like wood is stronger along the direction of its grain. However, no human blacksmith can deal with parts the size of aircraft landing gear or have the reproducibility and stamina to make the parts needed for our economy.
The idea of robotic blacksmithing is to extend the blacksmith’s art with new digital capabilities. Parts are shaped by repeatedly and incrementally forming a piece of metal which is precisely positioned into a press. This powered press or hammer system will interchange tools depending on the shape needed.
By automating the process of shaping a part, but using the basic approach of a blacksmith, a machine can treat larger parts and be more efficient and reproducible than a human ever could.
The system must be able to know the shape, temperature and condition of the material at each location of the part being formed. Then it must be able to control the temperature to produce the right structure and properties. The press must squeeze the component where needed with robotic control, deforming the part bit by bit. And, a computer must make decisions on how to move and strike the part next in order to optimize shape and properties, often learning from how previous parts were made.
More:
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/12/13/how-robot-blacksmiths-will-make-our-planes-subs-and-ships/
