JEC Composites Innovation Awards Ceremony 2024 - Equipment, Machinery & Heavy Industries

Equipment, Machinery & Heavy Industries category
Finalists
Automatic Composites Moulding System
Synthesites (Greece)

First Carbon Chassis for Large Agriculture Machine
AgriLight – Research Group (Germany)

Maximum Mass Reduction of Cutting Tools
DITF (Germany)

WINNER
Maximum Mass Reduction of Cutting Tools
Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf (Germany)
ditf.de
Partner: Leitz GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)

A new modular cutting tool for woodworking machine is developed exploiting the mechanical advantages of CFRP. More than 50 % weight reduction and an increase in working speed of over 50 % is achieved.

Instead of replacing the metallic tool body with CFRP, new design principles were analyzed using numerical simulation. Following the principle of optimal load sharing, the virtual development resulted in a modular tool design, with triangular components that absorb the centrifugal forces and an outer shell that accommodates the bending and torsional loads. Load optimized orientation of carbon fibers leads to maximum stiffness and strength of the tool body. The final result features maximum weight reduction and increased productivity without compromising product quality.

Key benefits:
• Modular lightweight design with CFPR parts can replace standard cutting tools.
• New design exploits fiber strength and stiffness leading to rigid tools.
• Over 50% mass reduction and 50% higher speed and productivity possible.
• Scalability of design leads to a high application range.
• Usage with standard adapter and cutting knives, high processing accuracy.