Q5D Receives Grant for Continued Development

Q5D, a manufacturer of wire harness automation equipment for additive manufacturing, has recently announced securing £918,169 in grant funding. This funding is intended to support the company and its partners in further developing the software that powers the CY1000 wiring automation robot, which was introduced earlier this year.

The grant is a collaborative effort involving Q5D, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, an independent research and technology organization, and Emixa, a digital transformation specialist and the leading Siemens Partner in Europe. Together, they aim to enhance the capabilities of the CY1000 5-axis CNC robotic handling cell, which streamlines the process of adding electrical wiring and terminations to products, resulting in significant productivity gains ranging from 5 to 10 times.

One of the key features of the CY1000 is its 'Electrical Function Integration' technology, which eliminates the need for costly and bulky wiring harnesses. This innovation not only provides greater flexibility to product designers but also helps in reducing manufacturing and supply chain costs and risks. Moreover, the machine offers precision polymer deposition and conductive ink deposition on complex-shaped surfaces, showcasing its versatility and advanced capabilities.

To ensure optimal performance of the sophisticated functionalities offered by the CY1000, a robust software system is essential. The recently secured grant will be utilized to advance the software development process to the next level. This includes enhancing three interconnected layers of software: Machine control, User Interface (UI), and CAD/CAM.

While Q5D handles the development of machine control and UI software components internally, Emixa has contributed by creating post processors for the Siemens NX CAD/CAM software. These post processors enable the creation of a digital twin of the hardware and generate the necessary machine code for controlling the system based on CAD designs.

Although the software is currently operational and can be utilized by experienced CAD/CAM engineers, there is a need to streamline the workflow from design to manufacturing and make the interfaces more user-friendly for non-expert customers. The ongoing project is dedicated to further refining the software to a level where it can be effectively deployed at the Manufacturing Technology Centre for use in projects with end-user companies, with the project scheduled to run until December 31, 2024.