How Digital Twin Application Helps Machining Companies Optimize Part Production
Erdem Ozturk, Productive Machines
Huseyin Celikag, Productive Machines
Productive Machines is a startup company helping machining companies to manufacture their parts more efficiently. The team creates a replica design or digital twin of the machining process and then AI algorithms find the best parameters for optimal processing quality. Machining companies can use the web-based technology to input data on materials and tool parts, allowing them to machine faster, more cost effectively, and at a higher quality. As part of the MathWorks Startup Program, Productive Machines has access to MATLAB® at a startup-friendly price and engineering support from MathWorks experts. The partnership and MATLAB tools enable them to save resources, working as a small team to build out and validate their technology in order to raise more capital and grow their team.
Published: 3 Feb 2022
Productive Machines is helping machining companies to produce parts cheaper, faster, and at a higher quality. We work on the design of the machining process, so we are basically introducing our digital twin in that demonstrator to optimize the machining process of a specific part.
So, our technology is based on the replica of the process. It models the process itself, such as the cutting forces.
We have a digital twin of machining processes so we can simulate the potential problems before they happen. The digital twin is doing the simulations and the AI is basically finding the best parameters.
We use machine learning algorithms to train our algorithm, and then use the algorithm to give fast predictions based on the quality of the process.
Our solution is s web based solution now. Clients don't have to learn a new software, they will just provide the input.
You basically upload a couple of files, this can be the CAD file, the tool path, the material that you will be machining, and the tool that will be used in the process. Our digital twin can analyze the entire process, they characterize the forces, deflections, and any unwanted vibrations in the process, and point out the problems that could happen. And we can take countermeasures, and deliver optimized machining parameters that will be the tool path, optimum feed rates, optimum spindle speeds for a specific machine tool and for a specific material.
For start-ups, speed is really important, so you need to move quickly. MATLAB is really a powerful tool, especially in the research environment where you need to test something, because MATLAB has embedded functions and tool boxes that are available to us. So we can increase the productivity, increase the quality, and reduce the waste.