Activities of Research and Development Staff
Results
Results of Projects Carried Out at RCMT
RCMT’s research activities focus on topics defined and developed in collaboration with industry. The main long-term research programme for 2012–2019 was the Competence Centre project—Machine Tool Engineering (CK-SVT), supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR). The project’s mission is to enhance technical excellence, competitiveness, and output of major Czech manufacturers of machine tools and manufacturing technologies, and to strengthen the entire sector in the Czech Republic. Follow-up initiatives include the projects Machine Tool Engineering and Precision Engineering (SVTPS) and National Centre of Competence in Mechanical Engineering (NCKS).
List of outcomes of projects conducted at RCMT
Notable outcomes with significant RCMT involvement include the five-axis milling centre Kovosvit MAS MCU 1100, awarded the MSV Gold Medal in Brno in 2013. In 2017, the WeldPrint MCV 5X received the MSV Gold Medal in Brno - a unique result of RCMT’s collaboration with Kovosvit MAS on hybrid manufacturing using a patented process that combines WAAM additive deposition with subtractive machining. In close cooperation with TOS Varnsdorf, a new TOS Control CNC supervisory environment was developed to integrate advanced smart-machine solutions. An innovative advanced system for compensating machine thermal deformations was developed and successfully implemented on partners’ machines. A proprietary digital-twin software system was created to predict the dynamic behaviour of machine and workpiece during machining, successfully used to verify and optimize complex NC machining processes.
Other applied-research topics with successful industrial uptake include modelling and optimization of structural and thermal behaviour of machine frames, modelling and applications in servo drives and control systems, machine diagnostics and metrology, original optimization methods for technologies and NC machining, laser-technology applications, auxiliary measuring systems, in-process workpiece accuracy measurement and geometric error compensation, robotic applications, and additive and hybrid manufacturing technologies.
Traditional machine-tool topics have been progressively complemented and reinforced by automation, robotics, and smart manufacturing systems.