Towards a lean automation interface for workstations

Methods and principles of Lean Production have become the major concepts to create highly efficient processes since the early 1990s. Due to its high effectiveness by reducing complexity and focusing on value-adding tasks, the Lean concept is still successful. Nevertheless, its changeability to produce highly customised products is limited. Industry 4.0 describes the vision of a smart production which can meet these future market requirements. Enablers are innovative information and communication technologies and the integration of all production entities into a common digital network. Lean Automation is the application of Industry 4.0 technologies to Lean Production methods in order to combine benefits from both domains. First proprietary Lean Automation solutions exist, but to enhance changeability in production, a common, unified communication interface is required. This paper presents the ongoing work towards an interface for digitising Lean Production methods using Cyber Physical Systems.     

Testing of timber structures and building boards

RILEM Recommendations57-TSB RILEM/CIB Joint Technical Committee

Testing of timber structures and building boards     

Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Expansion Coefficients of the Lanthanum Rare-Earth-Element Zirconate System

To enhance the insulating properties of a thermal barrier coating, one has to focus on new materials with lower intrinsic thermal conductivity than established yttria-stabilized zirconia. Substances with pyrochlore structure were investigated. Starting from lanthanum zirconate, substitutions of the lanthanum by other trivalent rare-earth elements were made, and the thermal conductivity and the thermal expansion coefficient of the manufactured materials were measured. A complete substitution of the lanthanum led to increased thermal expansion coefficients, whereas the partial substitution did not show an appreciable effect. The thermal conductivities of the modified materials were lower than that of the pure lanthanum zirconate for temperatures <1000°C for all amounts and elements of substitution. A comparison of the observed values with calculated values of the thermal conductivities showed a relatively good agreement.     

Solubility Studies of Sodium Azide in Liquid Ammonia by In Situ Ultrasonic Velocity Measurement

Ultrasonic velocity measurement data has been established as a simple and convenient tool to determine different thermodynamic properties of liquids and solutions. Such measurements were carried out in situ to determine the solubility of NaN₃ in liquid ammonia within a defined temperature range. Different mixtures of NaN₃ in ammonia were prepared and the ultrasonic velocities of these mixtures were measured within this temperature range in order to compile calibration curves. Further, these calibration curves were used to calculate the solubility in a saturated solution.     

Einsatz von Proteinen als Bindemittel für Holzwerkstoffe

Even after three decades of intensive investigations, biogenic binders based on natural polyphenols (lignin, tannin), polysaccharides (starch), proteins and natural resins/waxes do show very little presence and are miles away from being profitably used. Investigations presented herein deal with how to use both natural proteins and protein-hybridised binders for the production of wood-based panels. As a result it can be seen that with the sole use of native proteins the requirements of a modern wood-based panel technology, especially in terms of economic production cannot yet be met. However, a part-substitution of synthetic binder components by proteins is about to meet the demands of availability, production speed and required panel properties of today’s production.     

Polymer microvalve with pre-stressed membranes for tunable flow�Cpressure characteristics

A novel, inexpensive, polymer-based valve approach is presented that offers the combination of a check valve’s rectifying properties with the possibility to actively control the flow rate in the forward (open) direction. An elastic membrane with an incision is clamped between two rigid polymer plates and expands when pressure is applied in the forward direction allowing fluid to pass. In the backward direction, expansion of the membrane is not possible and flow is prevented. Varying the clamping force influences the expansion capability of the membrane due to its elasticity and thus enables control of the flow rate.     

Einführung in Informationssicherheitsmanagementsysteme (IV): Vereinfachte IT-Risikoanalyse

Zusammenfassung  Zum Abschluss unserer Serie wollen wir an einem praktischen Beispiel zeigen, welche grundlegenden Arbeitsschritte bei der Einführung eines ISMS bzw. seiner jeweiligen Teile zu absolvieren sind. Dipl.-Ing. Detlef Kilian ist Senior Consultant bei der Controlware AG in Hannover.