Project Details

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Steam Delivery System for Cutting Tools

Company: Seco Tools AB

Major(s):
Primary: IE
Secondary: EE
Optional: CMPEN, ME

Non-Disclosure Agreement: YES

Intellectual Property: NO

Background: The steam-cleaning step is the final process for cutting tools before coating and is critical for tool performance. Currently, this process is fully manual and guided by basic rules, but variations and inconsistencies between operators and tools have been observed. Additionally, steam-cleaning is one of the most time-consuming preparation steps, making it a major bottleneck in the coating workflow. Project Scope: For this second iteration of the Capstone project, the main objective will be to design and build a functional steam delivery system that could be used in a large-scale production setting. Objectives: 1. Review the current process and define the key parameters required for a standardized and controlled steam delivery operation. 2. Design a prototype that securely delivers steam to tools of 4 mm to 15 mm diameter. 3. Build the prototype with a user-friendly setup for ease of operation. Deliveries: 1. Fully functional steam delivery system. 2. Technical documentation and system architecture. 3. User manual for operation and maintenance. Project Benefits: 1. Improved Process Control: Standardization of critical parameters ensures consistent cleaning quality and reduces variability between operators and tools. 2. Reduced Labor Time: Automating key steps minimizes manual intervention, shortens preparation time, and alleviates one of the major bottlenecks in the coating process.