PREDICTRONICS CORP. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF203-CSO1

Description

As part of an overall smart manufacturing initiative, the Air Force is aiming to improve depot-level manufacturing. Unplanned downtime of critical manufacturing equipment, such as machining centers result in significant losses in depot productivity. However, a robust predictive maintenance solution that can identify the early signs of a failure, as well as predict and prevent the failure from occurring, would allow for more proactive maintenance and improvements in productivity. Based on our extensive experience, critical components that are typical monitored for machining centers include the spindle (spindle bearing), the linear axis (ball screw), and the cutting tool. In some cases, monitoring the coolant can also be beneficial. Predictive maintenance solutions for machining centers can be effective for reducing unplanned downtime, however, there are many challenges in developing and deploying solutions for machining centers, especially those operating in a depot setting.