Use case Berger Holding GmbH & Co. KG: Ball screw drive and edge cloud environments
Edge cloud environments offer enormous potential for new business models in the manufacturing industry. Large volumes of data generated during production can be processed and distributed in a decentralised manner to deliver immediate added value. The use case of Berger Holding GmbH & Co. KG's use case within the ESCOM research project uses a ball screw drive to demonstrate how microelectronics and sensor technology can provide valuable data on the condition of the component during the production process.
The ESCOM research project is tasked with making this data edge-capable and integrating it into a secure, resilient data and service ecosystem. This technology should make it possible to carry out condition analyses and process optimisations in order to prevent unplanned machine downtimes and reduce waste.
Two digital service models for ball screws:
- Status analysis:
- Regular comparison runs determine the condition and the remaining running time (RUL) of the ball screw.
- Sensors transmit the measurement data to an edge device, which is analysed using an AI service.
- Machine users receive a condition report describing wear and RUL to enable timely maintenance and avoid costly breakdowns.
- Process optimisation:
- Data on components and machining processes are uploaded to the asset administration shell and analysed.
- Optimisation suggestions for specific processes and product recommendations for replacing the ball screw are provided.
- Component manufacturers such as Berger benefit from cross-company data exchange in order to optimise ball screw drives in terms of lubricant consumption and maintenance and to determine requirements in the field.
Combining ball screws with edge cloud environments promotes a sustainable and efficient production process that both reduces costs and increases the quality of the manufactured parts.