Casting Process Improvement by the Application of Artificial Intelligence

On the way to building smart factories as the vision of Industry 4.0, the casting process stands out as a specific manufacturing process due to its diversity and complexity. One of the segments of smart foundry design is the application of artificial intelligence in the improvement of the casting process. This paper presents an overview of the conducted research studies, which deal with the application of artificial intelligence in the improvement of the casting process. In the review, 37 studies were analyzed over the last 15 years, with a clear indication of the type of casting process, the field of application of artificial intelligence techniques, and the benefits that artificial intelligence brought. The goals of this paper are to bring to attention the great possibilities of the application of artificial intelligence for the improvement of manufacturing processes in foundries, and to encourage new ideas among researchers and engineers

Application of Machine Learning in the Control of Metal Melting Production Process

Abstract This paper presents the application of machine learning in the control of the metal melting process. Metal melting is a dynamic production process characterized by nonlinear relations between process parameters. In this particular case, the subject of research is the production of white cast iron. Two supervised machine learning algorithms have been applied: the neural network and the support vector regression. The goal of their application is the prediction of the amount of alloying additives in order to obtain the desired chemical composition of white cast iron. The neural network model provided better results than the support vector regression model in the training and testing phases, which qualifies it to be used in the control of the white cast iron production

The use of perineural catheters in pediatric population

Perineural catheters (PCs) provide prolonged effect of the peripheral nerve block, and through a percutaneously placed catheter, whose top is near the nerve or nerve plaxus, local anesthetic is titrated to the desired effect. Catheter placement is performed under the control of ultrasound and / or neurostimulator. After placement, tunneling is carried out to ensure the adequate position of the catheter. PCs can be placed on the upper extremities (an extended block of the brachial plexus using an interscalene, supra/infra-clavicular or axillary nerve approach), lower extremities (prolonged lumbosacral plexus block, femoral, ischiadic or popliteal block) and other perineural blocks (thoracic, ilioinguinal, paravertebral, tap etc.) PCs have an increasing implementation on pediatric patients with aim to provide intraoperative anesthesia, postoperative analgesia and chronic pain therapy. Numerous studies on pediatric patients have shown that perineural catheters improve control of postoperative pain and lead to reduced use of opioids, thereby reducing the risk of side effects. The most common use of PCs is in orthopedic surgeries, where they significantly regulate postoperative pain and allow early use of physical therapy, better post-operative recovery, and reduce time of hospitalization. With adequate training of parents, they can be used at home. Due to the small number of contraindications (allergic reaction to local anesthetics, infection on the site of placement, patient refusal), and improvements in clinical, economic and humanistic approach, PCs have an increasingly important application. PCs improve the control of post-operative pain, reduce the use of analgesics and opioids, reduce post-operative complications nausea and vomiting, reduce time spend in hospital, require less treatment costs and improve the satisfaction of children and their parents

Subcellular compartmentation of glutathione in dicotyledonous plants

This study describes the subcellular distribution of glutathione in roots and leaves of different plant species (Arabidopsis, Cucurbita, and Nicotiana). Glutathione is an important antioxidant and redox buffer which is involved in many metabolic processes including plant defense. Thus information on the subcellular distribution in these model plants especially during stress situations provides a deeper insight into compartment specific defense reactions and reflects the occurrence of compartment specific oxidative stress. With immunogold cytochemistry and computer-supported transmission electron microscopy glutathione could be localized in highest contents in mitochondria, followed by nuclei, peroxisomes, the cytosol, and plastids. Within chloroplasts and mitochondria, glutathione was restricted to the stroma and matrix, respectively, and did not occur in the lumen of cristae and thylakoids. Glutathione was also found at the membrane and in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. It was also associated with the trans and cis side of dictyosomes. None or only very little glutathione was detected in vacuoles and the apoplast of mesophyll and root cells. Additionally, glutathione was found in all cell compartments of phloem vessels, vascular parenchyma cells (including vacuoles) but was absent in xylem vessels. The specificity of this method was supported by the reduction of glutathione labeling in all cell compartments (up to 98%) of the glutathione-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana rml1 mutant. Additionally, we found a similar distribution of glutathione in samples after conventional fixation and rapid microwave-supported fixation. Thus, indicating that a redistribution of glutathione does not occur during sample preparation. Summing up, this study gives a detailed insight into the subcellular distribution of glutathione in plants and presents solid evidence for the accuracy and specificity of the applied method

Experimental identification of the degree of deformation of a wire subjected to bending

This study provides experimental verification of analytical results on maximum strain εmax in elements fabricated by bending a stainless steel wire around a cylinder with given dimensions. The method of measuring the thermal electromotive force (TEMF) of a thermocouple formed by joining the deformed metal specimen to a copper (Cu) conductor showed an increase in the thermal electromotive force coefficient (TEMFC) during heating with increasing degree of plastic deformation. For known values of plastic deformation produced by straining X5CrNi1810 stainless steel wire specimens of Ø2.8 mm diameter, the TEMF was determined as a function of the extent of deformation of the thermocouple consisting of the deformed steel wire specimen and the copper conductor. Based on the correlation (calibration curve), it was shown that the relative strain of the element fabricated by bending the same wire (made of X5CrNi1810 stainless steel, Ø2.8 mm in diameter) around the cylinder of Ø10 mm diameter is 23.8 %. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR35037

Optimization of the Gating System for Sand Casting Using Genetic Algorithm

The paper presents a methodology of optimization of the gating system for sand casting using the genetic algorithm. Software package for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) was used as the support to the design and verification of the optimized gating system. The geometry of the gating system of sand casting in excavator tooth holder was the subject of optimization. The objective was to maximize filling rate given the constraints posed by both the ingate module and Reynolds number. Mold filling time has been presented as a function of the ingate cross section and casting height. Given the conditions above, as the result of the optimization, a complete geometry of the gating system has been defined. Numerical simulation (software MAGMA5) has been used to verify the validity of the optimized geometry of the gating system

Unapređenje tehnologije livenja nosača zuba bagera vedričara

R. Slavković, S. Dragićević, Ž. Čojbašić, I. Milićević, M. Popović, S. Manasijević, N. Dučić, R. Radiša, Unapređenje tehnologije livenja nosača zuba bagera vedričara, Tehničko rešenje, korisnik: Koncern „Farmakom MB“, Induistrijski kombinat „Guča“ A.D., Guča, Prihvaćeno od Naučno-nastavnog veća Fakulteta tehničkih nauka u Čačku, Univerziteta u Kragujevcu, 2015

Intelligent system for automatic control of the process of filling the mold

This paper shows fuzzy and neuro-fuzzy intelligent systems for automatic control of mold filling employed in casting plants. The concept of precision mold filling presupposes three key points in the process, i.e., precise pouring of the stream into the basin, maintaining constant level of molten metal in the basin, and finally, elimination of overflow of molten metal from the mold. The possibility of using fuzzy and neuro-fuzzy controls of mold-filling process was tested on a laboratory plant. Instead of molten metal, water was used, due to the approximate value of the Reynolds number of steel (1560–1600 °C) and water at room temperature. Fuzzy and neuro-fuzzy controls of casting process were tested through many experimental attempts which have confirmed the possibility of application of these methodologies in the control of gravity casting process