The KRAKEN project, co-funded under the H2020 programme, is going to integrate various key technologies, such as 3D printing, robotics, 7DoF real time control, complex monitoring and advanced control algorithms, supported by an innovative CAM software, in one machine.
This will make Kraken the largest 3D printer and subtractive system in the world, both for metal and non-metallic materials, able to print high performance industrial products up to 20-meter long, with improved accuracy and better final quality.
The project is coordinated by Jose Antonio Dieste, Head of Mechatronics and Advanced Processes at AITIIP Technology Centre (Spain). It is in AITIIP’s premises where the first meeting of the project is taking place.
According to José Antonio Dieste “the project will face three challenges: to develop new 3D industrial technologies, new subtraction technologies and finally to improve the quality and control of the manufacturing process. All of this in one of the bigger fabricating frames. KRAKEN will be able to work with parts of more than 20 meters”.
The KRAKEN consortium, coordinated by AITIIP (Spain), is integrated by 15 partners from 8 different countries. The project will last 36 months and has a budget of 5.9M€, 30% of which is allocated to SMEs. Other partners who participates are Acciona (Spain), Vero Software (United Kingdom), Leica Geosystems (Switzerland), CSEM (Switzerland), Pininfarina (Italy), Vision Business Consultants (Greece), Autonomous Systems (Romania), Centro Richerche FIAT (Italy), Cecimo (Belgium), Espace 2001 SA (Luxembourg), Alchemie Ltd (United Kingdom), Arasol (Spain), TWI (United Kingdom) and Teamnet World Professional Services (Romania).
The KRAKEN concept was born after the end (November 2015) of the successful MEGAROB FP7 Project, coordinated by AITIIP, in which parts were machined and finished in an area up to 20x6x3 meters, allowing to separate part size and accuracy concepts, paving the way for the production of large parts in a single machine.
It is expected that the KRAKEN solution stimulates the creation of jobs in Europe through its implementation and replication in the short/medium term (150 new jobs inside the consortium and 600 more in the EU are foreseen during the 6 years after the project.).
More information: José A. López / +34 976 46 45 44 / jal@aitiip.com