Factory 2050


The sky’s the limit


Greg Blackman visits the University of Sheffield’s Factory 2050 where Rolls-Royce, McLaren and Siemens, among others, are investing in research on digital manufacturing


W


alking into the circular glass building of Factory 2050, part of the University of Sheffield’s Advanced


Manufacturing Research Centre, you get a sense of what goes on at the facility from the jet engine on display in the entrance hall. Rolls-Royce, Boeing, BAE, Airbus, GKN


Aerospace, Safran, and Spirit Aerosystems have all invested in the site, built on an old Sheffield airfield, where engineers now work on new manufacturing methods that could produce the next generation of aircraſt. Boeing’s first European factory is at the end of where the runway used to be, and Rolls-Royce and now McLaren, the AMRC’s newest member, have facilities here. Kieran Edge, AMRC’s technical lead


for machine vision at the Integrated Manufacturing Group, showed me some of the work at Factory 2050. Tis includes an automated inspection cell funded by Rolls- Royce, a digital assembly cell that shows how augmented reality and collaborative robots can aid manufacturing, alongside many other manufacturing and machining work. It’s not


just aerospace projects; the AMRC also works in construction, medical, automotive and energy sectors. One of the demonstrators Edge showed me was a rig inspecting flat pack houses. It uses a pan-tilt-zoom camera and machine vision soſtware to identify holes for light switches, wiring channels, and other features. A 3D surface analyser is also positioned above the panel to check for warping in the wood. Te direction of AMRC’s research is driven


primarily by its members, of which there are two tiers. Te first tier of companies, which includes Boeing, Airbus, BAE, Rolls-Royce, McLaren and Siemens, contribute £200,000 a year in membership, although that is subject to change. Tey have a seat on the board and have input into the direction of research. Tese firms suggest projects, the IP from which is then shared among members so all can benefit. Te second tier of membership pay £30,000


a year, for access to the shop floor and the general research at the AMRC. Multipix Imaging is a tier two member; it provides 2D and 3D cameras, along with MVTec Halcon


@imveurope


www.imveurope.com


soſtware licences. Kuka is another tier two firm. Te centre boasts the world’s largest high- precision machining robot, the Kuka Titan, which was designed originally to pick up cars in automotive factories, but which the AMRC is using to machine aluminium and titanium. Te centre also gets funding from the UK


government, from high-value manufacturing Catapult funding – the digital assembly demonstration cell that uses augmented reality and collaborative robots is funded in this way.


Alysium cables have performed far beyond our expectations, providing outstanding reliability in a noisy environment where other cables failed. Justen Hyde (Emergent Design Ltd)


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