Fraunhofer to Create Automation Process for Rotor Blade Production
1/24/2013
Manufacturing the rotor blades for wind turbines like this one, from REPower Systems AG, is still mainly a manual process. Now Fraunhofer Institute has embarked on a research project to find a way to leverage automation to cut more than 10 percent of the costs out of the current process. REPower is one of the partners on the project, called BladeMaker. (Source: REPower Systems AG)
I think this is a very well-intentioned and much-needed effort by Fraunhofer to try to inject automation into the blade-building process. Automation has already cut costs and reduced production times for other industries, and I think if the same can be done for turbine blades it would also help promote the use of turbines as alternative energy sources. Wind is an abundant and plentifull source of energy and more adoption (within reason due to economic impact of turbines) is one of the ways out of traditional energy dependence.
This is one of many pieces of the puzzle for renewable energy. Cost reduction -- particularly through elimination of manual labor for big parts like turbine blades -- is going to be important going forward.
That's very true, Charles, and Fraunhofer seems to have the reputation and the knowhow to make some inroads here. They've also partnered with industry leaders, so hopefully if they put all their heads together they can come up with some good ideas.
Fraunhofer sure has its fingers in a lot of R&D pies. This sounds like the clever and innovative stuff they've come up with in materials, as well as other automated manufacturing techniques from composite production for autos, to repair robots, to big 3D printers for car makers. Thanks for reporting this.
It is very surprising that this process isn't already automated but clearly reducing system cost (and total installed cost) is a must for nearly all renewable energy projects. Good to see work being done on this, an important step toward viability in the future.
Size has absolutely been an issue, no doubt about it. The servo system to handle the lenngth of a blade must have high resolution over a 150 foot, or more, length, a width of perhaps 25 feet, and possibly ten feet in the third direction. So just that part of the composite blade building system is a big deal. The other part of the challenge has been the low production rate, which has not been enough to support the investment for a fully automated system. That has been a real impediment.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Labs have observed a reaction in lithium-air batteries that could help improve the design of these cells for electric vehicles and other applications.
Healthcare might seem to be an unlikely target application for the Internet of Things technology, but recent developments show small ways that big-data is going to make an impact on patient care moving into the future.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
1 
