FORGING FUTUREFORGE
Above: The Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) at the University of Strathclyde
Below: A CGI image of the AFRC with FutureForge extension to the right
manufacturing and hot edge detection will be
one of the key areas of FutureForge. The
programme will develop a reliable and
automatic system, to measure the geometry
evolution of hot forged parts during the
process.
Researchers will also gain a better
understanding and description of the
manufacturing process and the material
response, the integration of monitoring
system into industrial process, accurate
process modelling – integrated into
microstructural models and data collection
and implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions.
Perez explains the programme will also
collect data on a 500-ton hydraulic press,
integrating data from different equipment and
systems with one data for one-time stamp
and visualisation will be in real-time via an
HMI screen.
Another element of the research
programme will be a fully immersive
manipulator simulator that will act as a
training tool for open die forging operators,
producing the working conditions in both the
physical world by replicating components and
digitally constructing the working
environment. “This brings huge safety and
productivity bene ts to the training of highly
skilled operators,” says Perez.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Once FutureForge is in full operation in June
2021, it will open up a raft of new
opportunities to develop partnerships with
manufacturers at all levels and across
different industrial sectors.
The AFRC will work with companies in the
aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, energy,
nuclear, and rail industries helping them gain
competitive advantage and develop new hot
forging opportunities.
“Possible forging ideas and partnerships
include the manufacturing of high integrity
parts such as turbine disks and
developments of forging strategies for the
next generation of alloys,” says Perez.
High integrity forging is primarily about
converting a material’s microstructure and,
therefore, the properties of metals to achieve
desired and even tailored strength, durability
and life.
He adds: “Others
projects will
look at the
integration and
validation of new
technologies and products on
forging process and engagement with
the forging supply chain.”
The facility will also enable the AFRC to
combine forging with other manufacturing
processes, such as additive manufacturing,
so using hybrid processes.
Other opportunities also exist, as
FutureForge will help to increase the
understanding of microstructural
development, from conversion process to
nal component and tackle the reduction in
forging non-conformance and processing
stages.
Perez notes other key areas that the
facility will help accelerate are the digitization
of hot forging process – or the digital
passport and in process modelling and
advanced microstructural modelling.
INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
The AFRC has a membership scheme that
includes companies in Tier 1 and Tier 2
levels, who will be using FutureForge to
make use of the forging facility and some
companies have already signed up to be
part of the project.
Indeed, Transvalor, a leading software
developer in manufacturing process
modelling, has joined the AFRC as the rst
Tier 1 partner in support of the facility. The
two have teamed-up to strengthen research
and development projects and provide costeffective
solutions for manufacturing
best-quality forged products.
The French rm provides process
simulation expertise and deep insight into
material behaviour resulting from
manufacturing process and will integrate
with the AFRC’s established materials and
metal forming and forging expertise, giving
it new opportunities for applied research
activities and access to a wide range of
industrial partners.
Transvalor ( www.is.gd/cmCDoY ) will
provide technical expertise and access to
its software – Digimu and Forge – for
microstructural modelling within the closed
die forging process. Forge is a software
solution for the simulation of hot and cold
forming processes, used to help
companies produce
forged parts for a
variety of industrial
sectors, while Digimu
simulates microstructure
changes during metal forming
processes.
The company boasts a wealth of
experience in industrial sectors, such as
aerospace, automotive, energy, heavy and
metal. Managing director Emmanuel
Chenot says: “This new relationship has a
de nitively strategic nature for Transvalor
as it gives the opportunity to sustain
applied research activities and
collaboration with distinguished industrial
partners in the eld of metal forming and
metallurgy.”
FutureForge and the programmes it
supports will generate data on the
traditional hot forging process that, despite
its long history, is still not fully understood.
More updates about the development
will be revealed in the rst half of 2021.
24 January 2021 | www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets
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