MIPS Project Detail:
Company
Company Description:
Stress Indicators was established with the goal of innovating and developing visual indication systems to meet the needs of commercial and industrial users. The company’s proprietary Visual Indication technology can be implemented into a wide variety of applications and products.
Stress Indicators’ SmartBolts® product enables users to visually check that critical bolts are properly tightened. The technology accurately displays bolt tension by measuring the elongation of a bolt and converting it into a visual indication.
MIPS Project
Assembly Automation for High Resolution SmartBolts
Project #
4621
|
MIPS Round
46
|
Starting Date:
Aug 2010
MIPS Project Challenge:
In 2011, Stress Indicators was pursuing a new, high-resolution model of its indicating bolt product, called the HR SmartBolt. While Stress Indicators could manufacture individual HR SmartBolt units successfully, the process had difficulties. HR SmartBolts must be assembled while the bolt is under a controlled tensile load. The components must be installed while under a load and must cure before the load is released. The process was slow, requiring hand work and craft, plus yield rate was poor and product performance was not consistent. This MIPS project funded the study of the steps of the process and development of improved methods and systems to resolve these manufacturing challenges.
Project Scope:
Researchers analyzed all aspects of the HR SmartBolt components, materials and assembly, and then tackled systems design. Sub-systems were prototyped, built, tested and improved until performance goals were met. All sub-systems were then integrated into a fully functional production system.
Results:
UMD researchers provided the company with a working model of an automated HR SmartBolts assembly system and a complete set of drawings for a full-scale machine. Stress Indicators evaluated the performance of the model to determine how to set up production of SmartBolts and create a new production process.
When Stress Indicators began its MIPS project, the company was introduced to a student that went on to become the company’s first employee in June, 2010.
Principal Investigator:
Chandrasekhar
Thamire
Senior Keystone Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Project Manager:
Smriti
Popenoe
Director, Strategy and Planning
Technologies:
Mechanical Machinery
