A brand new AI-powered laser restore system for mining gear is being developed by way of a world collaboration led by Fraunhofer ILT. The mission, generally known as AI-SLAM (Synthetic Intelligence Enhancement of Course of Sensing for Adaptive Laser Additive Manufacturing), goals to automate the restore course of for worn mining instruments that might usually be discarded and changed.
The system makes use of laser materials deposition (LMD) expertise to revive broken mining gear by making use of exact steel coatings. Through the restore course of, chrome steel is melted at roughly 1300°C whereas tungsten carbide particles are concurrently deposited, making a sturdy protecting layer that resists each put on and corrosion.
The AI part manages 150 totally different parameters throughout the restore course of, dealing with the whole lot from preliminary harm evaluation to ultimate high quality management. A CMOS digital camera with line laser scanning captures the worn instrument’s floor geometry, which is then in comparison with the unique specs to find out the exact coating necessities.
The mission brings collectively experience from a number of organizations, together with Canada’s Nationwide Analysis Council, McGill College, and expertise corporations Braintoy and BCT. “All of the human operator must do is push the beginning button,” explains Max Zimmermann, mission supervisor at Fraunhofer ILT’s Laser Materials Deposition division.
The expertise addresses a number of technical challenges, together with sustaining the optimum ratio of tungsten carbide to metal and exact temperature management to forestall tungsten carbide from melting at its 2900°C threshold. The system’s AI displays your complete course of by way of digital camera feeds, detecting and responding to any irregularities throughout operation.
The AI-SLAM mission shall be demonstrated on the upcoming Hannover Messe Preview on February 19, 2025, with a software program demonstration accessible on the fundamental Hannover Messe occasion from March 31 to April 4, 2025, on the Fraunhofer sales space in Corridor 2.
Supply: fraunhofer.de
