SMARTALADRINE PROJECT, LED BY THE NICOLAS CORREA GROUP, RECEIVES FUNDING TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR SMART ECO-MANAGEMENT OF CUTTING FLUID IN MACHINING OPERATIONS

Hypatia GNC Accesorios, belonging to the Nicolás Correa Group, is heading up the SmarTaladrine project. The project participants include ENRIEL, a company specialising in the distribution, monitoring and control of lubricant status; MECANIZADOS ESPECIALES, a consolidated company in the machining sector; Grupo de Investigación en Inteligencia Computacional Aplicada de la Universidad de Burgos (GICAP-UBU): experts in the development of AI-based tools (Artificial Intelligence) for solving real problems; and Fundación Centro Tecnológico de Miranda de Ebro (CTME), specialists in IoT technologies (Internet of Things) and communication with machine tools.

Refrigerant fluids and lubricants (cutting fluids) play a key role in the machining process. For companies that perform machining tasks, having a cutting fluid performance model that anticipates issues arising (bad smells and presence of micro-organisms, corrosion in the machine or in the parts, faulty surface finishes, etc.) can provide a considerable economic saving and significantly reduce their environmental impact.

The general aim of the SmarTaladrine project is to design and develop an innovative solution that creates a model of cutting fluid performance and outlines the relationship between cutting fluid and the surrounding conditions and machine variables, enabling safer actions on these. This smart supervision is thanks to the incorporation of models capable of learning to adapt to the problem (Machine Learning) and gathering and integrating heterogeneous, complex data from different sources (Big Data): status of the fluids in different situations and moments, environmental conditions and status of the machine.

Two types of solution will be developed, to adapt to the different circumstances of potential users: embedded in the machine for new acquisitions and as a modular accessory, for machines already in operation, facilitating their in-house or outsourced management.

Implementing the monitoring and advanced management of operations in smart machines will mean a revolution of production in terms of innovation, and cost and time savings. Supervising operations in smart machine manufacturing will bring many advantages over conventional production and manufacturing, enhancing flexibility, productivity and sustainability.

Thus, the result of the SmarTaladrine project is a smart solution that adapts to the needs and expectations of machine tooling companies in order to efficiently and sustainably manage cutting fluid, which is such a key element in their work. This preventive maintenance solution will enable further advancements in the design and development of high-tech machine tools that contribute to the ecological and digital transition of the industrial sector and in the implementation of advanced smart lubricant management services.