Fraunhofer IPK was there | Hannover Messe April 12 - 16

Wear and tear threatens the smooth operation of machine tools. The total failure of a machine is only the worst-case scenario. Modern production systems work so precisely that even the smallest deviations from good condition, such as imbalances in a spindle, can turn a workpiece into scrap. In addition, production processes are so tightly scheduled that malfunctions and unplanned machine downtimes can prevent on-time delivery and may result in compensation claims.

At Fraunhofer IPK, we are developing a solution for intelligent machine tool monitoring and maintenance which not only detects signs of impending failures during operation, but also interactively supports maintenance. With the help of inexpensive sensor technology and machine learning, even the smallest irregularities are identified before they become serious problems.

Previously available smart maintenance systems only monitor the machine status. Fraunhofer IPK‘s solution goes much further. The system addresses three scopes of tasks:

• Early detection and classification of irregularities and damage using machine learning and depiction in a traffic light system.
  
• Even smallest irregularities are detected before they cause damage.
  
• Service technicians are automatically notified and receive intuitive instructions to support service calls.
  
• This prevents a longer-term standstill in production.