IC2 · Intelligent and Customized Tooling

Intelligent and Customized Tooling (IC2) addresses the need for new technology and organizational models for the tooling industry. By developing a technological foundation and organizational models for intelligent tooling systems customized for user’s needs, the European tooling industry can increase competitiveness trough knowledge intensive tooling and increased customer value. IC2 will be a multidisciplinary research with hybrid manufacturing, coatings and tribology control, surface embedded sensors and new organizational models. IC2 will combine state-of-the-art additive and subtractive processes into a hybrid manufacturing cell. Such a cell will typically integrate the precision and performance of high-speed milling, grinding and/or polishing with the geometrical freedom of Additive Manufacturing Technology for the production of tooling inserts, cores, channels and cavities. Advanced coating technologies will be used to create intelligent surfaces featuring embedded sensors, high wear resistance and excellent friction properties control. These new technologies utilized trough new organizational models will allow the tool-ing industry to be more versatile and demand driven with symbiotic relations to the tool users. IC2 will have a large SME participation and substantial demonstrator activates in addition to cutting edge RTD activities. The results of IC2 is expected to be a new concept for Knowledge Intensive Tooling for the benefit of European manufacturing competiveness. The impact of IC2 knowledge intensive tooling will be substantial reduced time-to-marked, process tact times and tooling/manufacturing costs. The new technology enables new business models with full tool life cycle service and enhanced high value tools for the manufacturing industry. The Hybrid manufacturing enables rapid and high quality tool maintenance, while the sensors enables remote tool and process condition monitoring.