Smart Sensor Monitoring in Machining of Difficult-to-cut Materials

The research activities presented in this thesis are focused on the development of smart sensor monitoring procedures applied to diverse machining processes with particular reference to the machining of difficult-to-cut materials. This work will describe the whole smart sensor monitoring procedure starting from the configuration of the multiple sensor monitoring system for each specific application and proceeding with the methodologies for sensor signal detection and analysis aimed at the extraction of signal features to feed to intelligent decision-making systems based on artificial neural networks. The final aim is to perform tool condition monitoring in advanced machining processes in terms of tool wear diagnosis and forecast, in the perspective of zero defect manufacturing and green technologies. The work has been addressed within the framework of the national MIUR PON research project CAPRI, acronym for “Carrello per atterraggio con attuazione intelligente” (Landing Gear with Intelligent Actuation), and the research project STEP FAR, acronym for “Sviluppo di materiali e Tecnologie Ecocompatibili, di Processi di Foratura, taglio e di Assemblaggio Robotizzato” (Development of eco-compatible materials and technologies for robotised drilling and assembly processes). Both projects are sponsored by DAC, the Campania Technological Aerospace District, and involve two aerospace industries, Magnaghi Aeronautica S.p.A. and Leonardo S.p.A., respectively. Due to the industrial framework in which the projects were developed and taking advantage of the support from the industrial partners, the project activities have been carried out with the aim to contribute to the scientific research in the field of machining process monitoring as well as to promote the industrial applicability of the results. The thesis was structured in order to illustrate all the methodologies, the experimental tests and the results obtained from the research activities. It begins with an introduction to “Sensor monitoring of machining processes” (Chapter 2) with particular attention to the main sensor monitoring applications and the types of sensors which are employed in machining. The key methods for advanced sensor signal processing, including the implementation of sensor fusion technology, are discussed in details as they represent the basic input for cognitive decision-making systems construction. The chapter finally presents a brief discussion on cloud-based manufacturing which will represent one of the future developments of this research work. Chapters 3 and 4 illustrate the case studies of machining process sensor monitoring investigated in the research work. Within the CAPRI project, the feasibility of the dry turning process of Ti6Al4V alloy (Chapter 3) was studied with particular attention to the optimization of the machining parameters avoiding the use of coolant fluids. Since very rapid tool wear is experienced during dry machining of Titanium alloys, the multiple sensor monitoring system was used in order to develop a methodology based on a smart system for on line tool wear detection in terms of maximum flank wear land. Within the STEP FAR project, the drilling process of carbon fibre reinforced (CFRP) composite materials was studied using diverse experimental set-ups. Regarding the tools, three different types of drill bit were employed, including traditional as well as innovative geometry ones. Concerning the investigated materials, two different types of stack configurations were employed, namely CFRP/CFRP stacks and hybrid Al/CFRP stacks. Consequently, the machining parameters for each experimental campaign were varied, and also the methods for signal analysis were changed to verify the performance of the different methodologies. Finally, for each case different neural network configurations were investigated for cognitive-based decision making. First of all, the applicability of the system was tested in order to perform tool wear diagnosis and forecast. Then, the discussion proceeds with a further aim of the research work, which is the reduction of the number of selected sensor signal features, in order to improve the performance of the cognitive decision-making system, simplify modelling and facilitate the implementation of these methodologies in a cloud manufacturing approach to tool condition monitoring. Sensor fusion methodologies were applied to the extracted and selected sensor signal features in the perspective of feature reduction with the purpose to implement these procedures for big data analytics within the Industry 4.0 framework. In conclusion, the positive impact of the proposed tool condition monitoring methodologies based on multiple sensor signal acquisition and processing is illustrated, with particular reference to the reliable assessment of tool state in order to avoid too early or too late cutting tool substitution that negatively affect machining time and cost

Cognitive Sensor Monitoring of Machining Processes for Zero Defect Manufacturing

The topic of this thesis, focused on cognitive sensor monitoring of machining processes for zero defect manufacturing, has been addressed within the framework of the international research project EC FP7 CP-IP “IFaCOM – Intelligent Fault Correction and self Optimizing Manufacturing systems” (2011-2015; FoF NMP – 285489) and the national MIUR PON Project on “Development of eco-compatible materials and technologies for robotised drilling and assembly processes – STEP FAR” (2014-2016). The vision of the IFaCOM project is to achieve near zero defect level of manufacturing with particular emphasis on the production of high value, large variety and high performance products. This goal is achieved through the development of improved methodologies for monitoring and control of the performance of manufacturing processes with the aim to detect abnormal process conditions leading to defects on the produced parts. The overall aim of the STEP FAR project is the study of issues related to drilling and cutting techniques of advanced lightweight components, such as composite material parts, and their relative assembly, using cooperating anthropomorphic robots. The use of innovative materials and processes developed in this research will lead to a reduction in weight and environmental impact in the construction and maintenance of primary aircraft structures. At least a 5% reduction in weight of the structures is foreseen without increase of costs (a possible rise in the cost of raw materials is compensated with the reduction of process costs). In aeronautical industry the reduction of the weight of the aircraft is becoming an increasingly important aim both for environmental requirements (lower emissions) and contraction of the management costs (lower fuel consumption). Therefore new structural architectures through the use of innovative materials and technologies have been developed. One of the innovative processes analysed in this project is the drilling via machining of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) stack-ups. In the framework of these projects, this thesis work is focused on the development of cognitive condition monitoring procedures for zero defect machining processes with reference to two different industrial manufacturing applications. The thesis is organized as follows: Chapter 2 reviews the general concept of sensor monitoring of manufacturing processes and provides a comprehensive survey of sensor technologies, advanced signal processing techniques, sensor fusion approach, and cognitive decision making strategies for process monitoring. In Chapter 3, the Strecon industrial case, as a partner of the IFaCOM project, is discussed and analysed. The STRECON end-user case is focused on improving repeatability and predictability of the surface finish produced by a Robot Automated Polishing (RAP) process. In order to establish a robust method for the detection of the polishing process end-point, i.e. the determination of the right moment for tool and abrasive paste change, STRECON sensor system selection focuses on monitoring the progress of the surface quality during the polishing process by means of variation in VQCs (Vital Quality Characteristics), i.e. roughness and gloss of the polished surface. The output data have been used to train a neural network. The employed NN learning procedure was the leave-k-out method where k cases from the training set are put aside in turn, while the other cases are used for NN training. In Chapter 4, the Alenia Aermacchi industrial case, as coordinator and partner of the STEP FAR project, is discussed and analysed. The Alenia Aermacchi user case is based on the analysis of drilling of stacks made of two overlaid carbon fibre reinforced plastic composite laminates. In this case, a neural network based cognitive paradigm based on a bootstrap procedure has been used for the identification of correlations with tool wear development and product hole quality. Finally, Chapter 5 reports the concluding remarks and future developments of this work