Obsolete parts for older trains can be difficult to obtain. Some parts can also be very expensive to purchase and sometimes ad hoc solutions and special tools are required. In these cases, it may be beneficial to produce replacement parts or tools in-house. Mantena aims to develop further in this area and has now initiated a research project on the reconstruction (“reverse engineering”) of components.
Recently, Mantena held a kickoff meeting with the project partners: Sintef, APIteq AS, Fieldmade AS, and the Norwegian Railway Directorate. The project is called “RevEngRail,” which stands for “3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering algorithms in the Railway Sector,” and is supported by the Research Council of Norway. Mantena is the project owner.
“Mantena will improve the processes in this area. That is our objective with this project. We will create a roadmap, showing the path from the need for a replacement part to the delivery of a fully manufactured and certified component,” says acting project manager Petter Lefoka.
The project will also conduct and publish a pilot study in a recognized journal, in order to test the new process among experts in academia.
Sintef will develop algorithms to automate the steps in the data processing chain from a 3D scan to a CAD drawing and production basis. APIteq and Fieldmade will create an automated solution for 3D scanning, which will be tested at the Ventilloftet in Grorud. APIteq are experts in 3D scanning. Fieldmade specialize in additive manufacturing and alternative logistics management. They will assist Mantena in developing the process. The Norwegian Railway Directorate will also contribute to the project.
Petter Lefoka has been project manager for the preliminary project and will function as project manager until Henrik Mathiesen returns from paternity leave. Other key individuals in the project at Mantena include Daniel Stigen (Mantena Engineering), Anders Rene Gundersen (Team Leader at Ventilloftet), John-Egil Kjelsrud (Department Head at Ventilloftet), and Terje Hullstein (Technical Director). Tron Ranvik has also played a central role in the startup phase.
Read more about the preliminary project at forskningsradet.no