Flexible manufacturing of components with high material-efficiency through knitting of metal wire

The project intends to examine the hypothesis Three-dimensional formed thin gauged components can be produced by knitting of metal wire. Driving forces to focus on the hypothesis are possibilities to produce light-weight components with very low material consumption and for flexibility in production volume as well as possibilities for local production. New design possibilities will be part of the project.
The project is expected to result in establishing possibilities and limits for metal knitting of three dimensional products, production of at least one physical demonstrator and definition of research topics for a ground-breaking project on manufacturing technology.
The group dedicated to work with the hypothesis consists of competence from industrial production, metals and textile production. Researchers come from Swerea IVF and Textilhögskolan i Borås.
Activities will include theoretical evaluation of metal knitting, demands from possible applications, prototyping, evaluation of possible sub-sequential processes such as surface coating, heat treatment and joining