Modular plug-in mechatronic devices for vibration suppression in manufacturing equipment
In today's competitive Manufacturing Equipment market, the requirement for products combining high performances, low Life Cycle Costs (LCC) and environmental sustainability is a driven criterion. Within this sector, CeSI-Centro Studi Industriali has assumed a key role at national and international level in the development of innovative products combining high performances, flexibility and quality. Strongly committed to innovation CeSI has built a solid network with European Universities and Research Organizations to provide its customers with forefront solutions to improve machining performances.
In this framework CeSI is working to develop a novel solution to minimize vibrations, an issue that can seriously compromise the quality of the workpiece, currently addressed only with costly, custom-made solutions.
In MARS project an innovative, flexible, modular, plug-and-play mechatronic device based on piezoelectric stack actuators is proposed: AViA (Active Vibration Absorber), able to reduce vibration up to 70% in the frequency range of 50-500Hz, and to:
•Increase productivity by up to 20% (machine can work with more demanding parameters, reducing machining steps and cycle time)
•Reduce LCC by up to 15%
•Improve part finishing
•Double tool lifetime, reducing its wear
•Reduce scraps, and therefore environmental impact 
AViA will be sold as add-on kit, composed by:
•Mechanical HW to be installed on the Machine Tool 
•Electronic HW and control SW
•Application Program Interface to support the user-friendly configuration of the device
Thanks to AViA, CeSI expects to increase its turnover up to +150% in 3 years after the beginning of commercialisation.
The main objectives of MARS is to confirm this forecast, and to evaluate the technical feasibility of developing scalable modules, able to meet a wide range of requirements, investigating at the same time the market, examining the business opportunity and proposing a suitable commercialisation plan.