Browse by Editorial Category
Browse by Edition Date

December 2018

Skip Navigation Links.
Expand Applying TechnologyApplying Technology
Expand Automation Equip and SystemsAutomation Equip and Systems
Expand ControlsControls
Collapse Current NewsCurrent News
Effective Machine Guarding Solution
Allis Roller Joins Exclusive World Class Manufacturing Program
Bremen Castings Inc. Receives ISO Certifications
Bystronic Breaks Ground for New Advanced Experience Center
CAMplete Solutions Partners with Haas F1 Team
COE Press Equipment Hosts Utica High School Students on Manufacturing Day
Coldwater Machine Expands Automation Sales with Parmerison Corp. Agreement
Cutting Tool Consumption Grew Yearly and Monthly in August
Durr Receives Largest Order in Its History from Toyota
ESAB Acquires Gas Control Equipment
Aluminum Extrusion Technology Seminar Announced
Duplex Milling Machine
Forest City Gear Adds Metal Alloy Analysis to Gear Inspection Capabilities
Germany Chamber of Commerce Organized Visit to HELLER Machine Tools
Hurco Distributors Recognized for Achievements
New Hampshire Honors Hypertherm for Excellence in Work-Based Learning
Industrial Innovations Partners with Die Maker Solutions
Integro Named FANUC Authorized System Integrator
Jrlon Inc. Acquires RotaDynes Engineered Products Division
Kapp Technologies Koepfer America and Penta Gear Metrology Collaboration
KASTO Expands in North America with Technology Center
New Lightweighting Innovation Projects
Remote Machine Monitoring Solution
Tooling Tech Groups Majestic Industries Received IATF Certification
Marposs Acquires Blulink
Matsuura USA Announces Partnership with Custom Mold and Design
MC Machinery Systems Inc. Announces Black Rock Machinery as New Midwestern Laser Distributor
MCC Receives Donation from Gene Haas Foundation
MicroCare Achieves ISO Certification
Grand Opening of Mitutoyo M2 Solution Center
NIMS Debuts Testing Platform
North American Tool Appoints Pittman Industrial Marketing
Northrop Grumman Expands Ohio Facility Adds Manufacturing Jobs
Northrop Grumman Expands Presence in Salt Lake County UT
Sixth Annual NTMA Southwest Conference Feb. 8-10
Seco Tools and IMS Software Join OMIC Research and Development
ONCAP Acquires Walter Surface Technologies
U.S. Navy Gains Efficiencies with New Data Exchange System
Metal 3-D Printing and Simulation-Driven Design
Solutions for Improved Secure CNC Networking
Five Hours Saved on a Single Laser Run
SLCC Opens Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center
Tool Repair Center with Larger Capacity
Feature-Added Blanks Shorten Production Time
Timken Completes Acquisition of Rollon Group
Weldcote Metals Inc. Opens New Manufacturing Facility
Expand Lasers in MfgLasers in Mfg
Expand Literature-Web TutorialsLiterature-Web Tutorials
Expand Metalforming-Fabricating-WaterjetMetalforming-Fabricating-Waterjet
Expand People In The NewsPeople In The News

show all editions →

Click here to watch Tutorial Videos >

New Lightweighting Innovation Projects



LIFT - Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow, a Manufacturing USA institute, has launched its third round of technology projects.

This round of projects will total more than $6.5 million in combined federal and industry investment to enable a number of critical lightweight solutions.

"We are very pleased to launch these new projects with our partners to invigorate new innovation in lightweighting," said Nigel Francis, CEO and Executive Director, LIFT. "At any moment in time, there are nearly 600 industry and academic experts working on LIFT-related projects to revolutionize lightweight manufacturing here in the U.S., and these projects are an example of that work."

The new round of projects and partners involved include:

  • High-temperature gas forming and simulation - Led by GKN Aerospace, along with other industry members Interlaken and American Axle and research partners Notre Dame, University of Michigan and EWI, this $1.87 million project will develop hot metal gas forming technology and predictive analytical modeling capability, with the goal of improving dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties of complex lightweight formed components. The predictive models resulting from this project will also enable systemic improvements in the overall design process, expected to reduce production costs by decreasing tooling development time and the number of iterations needed to produce an acceptable production part.
  • Systems approach for evaluation, selection and implementation of chromate-free coating systems for aluminum alloys: Led by United Technologies, along with industry partners Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Materion and research partners Michigan State University and the Ohio State University, this $900,000 project will develop an alternative to coatings relying on hexavalent chrome for corrosion resistance of selected aluminum alloys. This environmentally friendly approach will expand the use of lightweight materials. The technology for this project relates to the understanding and methodology for assessment of undesirable interactions and early-onset corrosion of selected aluminum substrates for several "non-hexavalent chromium" coating chemistries and combined systems.
  • Knowledge based automated assembly of complex structures: Led by GKN Aerospace, along with industry members United Technologies, Lockheed Martin and Comau and research partners Notre Dame and EWI, this $1.45 million project will demonstrate the ability to automatically weld complex thin sheet metal structures. To date, automated welding of complex sheet metal shapes has proven extremely difficult. This project will develop a fully automatic robotic gas tungsten arc welding capability where the weld parameters can be continuously adjusted along the length of the joint to accommodate suboptimum and variable fit-up.
  • Friction stir welding (FSW) of complex structures: Led by Boeing, with industry members GKN Aerospace and MTI along with research partners EWI, University of North Texas and PNNL, this $881,00 project will advance the FSW process for hermetically sealed joints, offering the opportunity to replace vacuum brazing or use of sealants and adhesives. The project will deliver optimal processing methods and test data of components in butt, lap and integrated butt-lap configurations. The project will provide a database of mechanical properties of FSW specific to sealed joints that can be used by designers on future applications.
  • Friction stir welding of dissimilar and complex aluminum-based materials: Led by Boeing, with industry partners GKN Aerospace and Materion and research partners University of Michigan, University of North Texas, Case Western Reserve University and EWI, this $1.44 million project will expand the use of friction stir welding to advanced metal matrix aluminum composites. The team will utilize experimental validation of modeling results with subsequent optimization of both tool geometries and processing conditions. Those results will be used to establish recommended practices for these material/geometry combinations. The approach will be validated on a demonstrator application.

For more information contact:

LIFT

1400 Rosa Parks Blvd.

Detroit, MI 48216

313-309-9003

www.lift.technology

< back