Enabling students to embrace digital twin technology and lead the next generation of engineers

Operating based on three founding principles

The Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT) was founded on three principles: cultivation of high character, superb academic-industrial cooperation and technical innovation. Based on these principles, KIT uses a hands-on approach that enables students to actively learn and become technical experts.

Educational objectives

The manufacturing industry has supported the growth and development of society by using a mass production model but is now faced with a demand to switch to producing a wide variety of high value-added products in small quantities. That requires the effective use of limited resources and energy for establishing a sustainable society, as well as advanced technological innovation that is harmonized with the global environment based on the secure infrastructure of technology and information. KIT produces creative graduates who have fundamental academic and applied skills and a global perspective. Graduates are focused on four main technologies: mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, information and computer science and civil engineering, as well as technologies that integrate all four.

In the College of Mechanical Engineering, students learn the fundamentals of engineering, the foundation of Japanese industry. For example, the college provides students with an education covering a broad range of topics such as energy, MONOZUKURI, a Japanese term that encapsulates a philosophy of manufacturing and craftsmanship, emphasizing quality, precision and a dedication to continuous improvement, and material design. Their graduates establish careers in a variety of companies and organizations, working as technical personnel in the field. In the college’s research labs, the students are using kinematic machine tools and studying the digital twin.

Studying the digital twin

They use Siemens Digital Industries Software’s NX™ software to reproduce the operation of kinematic machine tools based on digital data. In the physical area they employ Siemens’ SINUMERIK, a computer numerical control (CNC) system, which is primarily used to control the kinematic machine tool.

“By using NX and a digital twin, the results from our research labs enable us to develop even more sophisticated machine tools and improve the accuracy of the data that machine tools provide,” says Yoshitaka Morimoto, vice president of KIT.

One area of focus for the students is controlling machine-feed speed with robot processing. The students use spindle torque for speed control. Slowing down feed speeds when performing cutting can reduce the load placed on machining. Accelerating feed speeds when noncutting tasks are performed can shorten processing times. They need to be able to verify the machining operation in a virtual environment. That’s why they use Mechatronics Concept Designer™ software. Virtual and physical operation are performed synchronously in real time, which allows them to do in-depth research in various areas.

NX, SINUMERIK and Mechatronics Concept Designer are part of the Siemens Xcelerator business platform of software, hardware and services.

Students also research methods for analyzing the external forces that act on the tips of machine tools. This makes it possible for them to determine processing conditions and tool wear, and to prevent accidents from occurring. The goal is to more accurately express processing conditions in a virtual model by importing an external force estimation model into the digital twin. Using SINUMERIK the students are able to automatically log machine operating conditions, and its log files can be easily analyzed using 1D analysis.

Simulation helps deliver efficient and high-quality manufacturing

In recent years, there has been increasing demand for products with advanced functionality and high levels of quality. In their research, students are using simulation for manufacturing processes and using computers to determine what impact process conditions have on manufacturing itself and on the properties of products.

They are examining how those findings can be used to issue optimized proposals. They believe their research will help make it possible to rapidly propose optimal conditions for manufacturing applications, producing efficient manufacturing and production. One of the features of NX is that it provides a wide range of speedy analysis functions, such as structural and thermal analysis functions, which students can use while performing design work. Students learn design processes using NX to perform analysis and reflect the results of these analyses in their designs. When these students graduate, they will be ready for a digital future because they’ll be able to use what they’ve learned as design engineers working on the front lines.

“By having students learn the design process of using NX to analyze and reflect the results in their designs, we hope they will be able to play an active role as front-line engineers when they enter the workforce in the future,” says Dr. Masahiro Seto, department of mechanical engineering, professor, KIT.