Acquisition of Advanced Manufacturing System for Smart Manufacturing Research
Abstract
Objectives: The overarching goal of this project is to enable Virginia State University (VSU) to purchase an advanced manufacturing system, including a DMU 50 3rd generation 5-axis high speed machining center and a CybertronPC CLX Set High Performance GPU PC workstation, for smart manufacturing research. The objectives of the acquisition are to: 1) significantly enhance VSUÕs current research capability in smart manufacturing with well-planned endeavors; 2) support and improve quality education across STEM programs at VSU; 3) increase the number of graduates in the engineering and technology program at VSU, and 4) build new research capability in development of advanced manufacturing technology desired by ONR and AFOSR. Methods: This equipment will enhance our existing advanced machining laboratory, which hosts one 3-axis CNC mini mill and one CNC lathe. The enhanced laboratory will integrate Internet of Things (IoT), cyber physical systems (CPS), data and information science into high speed machining processes, resulting in fully smart manufacturing capability. This equipment will be used to address the seamless data integration in cyber-enabled smart machining, which monitors and controls machining processes, via sensor fusion and big data analytics, to identify the correlation between cutting conditions, material properties, part dimensions and geometries, and part quality for manufacturing processes optimization. The consequential research supported by this acquisition will address challenges in: 1) Dynamic Data Driven Application System (DDDAS) based digital twin in manufacturing; 2) high performance cloud/fog computing for manufacturing; and 3) manufacturing cybersecurity. Educational research on manufacturing curriculum including Manufacturing Processes, CAD/CAM, Manufacturing Automation, Senior Project, and Data Analytics, will also be impacted by the equipment. Research and education infrastructures and tools, such as local and remote laboratory, virtual learning environment for cyber-enabled smart machining will be developed. The curriculum and lab will be transformative and accessible to learners at other institutions. The equipment, partner with awarded NSF HBCU-UP programs, will provide hands-on research and education training to over six hundred students in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, and Computer Science and Engineering at VSU. Benefited from this award, the next generation smart manufacturing specialists will be cultivated. Significance: Machining operations expend more than 200 billion US dollars annually in the United States. The quality and efficiency of machining process is of great concern to both machine tool manufacturers and users in naval and aerospace industries. In the Smart Manufacturing era, machining related industries have shown great interest on integrating data and manufacturing to improve productivity, to realize zero-defect with part quality, and to reduce manufacturing costs. If successful, VSU will benefit from: a) an infrastructure that cultivates and fosters future research and education in smart manufacturing; b) opportunities for underrepresented students to closely participate in research and development thus improving the retention and success rate of a HBCU engineering program; and c) workforce training program for military on-duty or veterans that VSU is actively participating. The cyber enabled smart machining laboratory to be developed under this grant will be open to local colleges, high schools, and technology education students during Manufacturing Day, National Engineers Week, Maker events, etc.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 04, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910464
Entities
People
- Zhenhua Wu
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Virginia State University