IK4-IDEKO adds a new doctor to its staff and continues its commitment to the training of its researchers

As part of its commitment to promote the scientific and technological training of its research team, the  technological centre, a benchmark in Advanced Manufacturing, has added a new doctor to its staff.

The researcher in the Machining and Production Systems line at the Elgoibar centre, Jorge Alvárez, obtained his Doctorate from the University of Mondragon on 25 May, after writing a thesis on new methods for the optimisation of grinding processes.

This academic recognition takes the number of doctors on the IK4-IDEKO team to 26; the centre continues to work on the inclusion of profiles of excellence as a crucial element in boosting its positioning in the field of Advanced Manufacturing.

Moreover, this commitment to strengthening the technical profile of the technology centre’s specialist team makes it possible to meet the requirements demanded by the Basque Government of the centres that form part of the Basque Science, Technology and Research Network (RVCTI).

The research work presented by Álvarez is called “Application of variable speed techniques for optimising the grinding process” and proposes the use of variable speeds of the principal parameters that govern the grinding process with the aim of increasing productivity and improving the final quality of the parts.

The new cycle definition methodology designed by Álvarez avoids the limitations and instabilities inherent in the process and is equally applicable both to centreless grinding and cylindrical grinding.

Furthermore, this system provides a new efficient and accurate calculation system for the analysis of chatter suppression through the application of variable part speed, with which the optimal variation amplitude and frequency parameters are obtained to meet this objective.

In this way, IK4-IDEKO seeks to move forward in its Advanced Manufacture specialisation, which is characterised by technology transfer to the industrial production environments.

The technological centre, created in 1986 to address the technological challenges of machine tool manufacturers, has a staff of more than 100 researchers and works on seven different lines of research: Strategic Innovation, Machining and Production systems, Dynamics and Control, Intelligent Software, Manufacturing Processes, Inspection and Measurement, and Design and Precision Engineering.