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Electrical erosion molding (EDM) is an unconventional machining technology widely used in the manufacture of injection molds for plastics injection molding for the creation of complex cavities and geometries. However, EDM productivity can be challenging, directly influencing mold manufacturing time and cost. This work aims to improve EDM productivity in the context of mold manufacturing for plastics injection molding. The research focuses on the optimization of processing parameters and strategies to reduce manufacturing time and increase process efficiency. Through a rigorous experimental approach, this work demonstrates that the optimization of EDM parameters and strategies can lead to significant productivity gains in the manufacture of plastic injection molds without compromising part quality and accuracy. This research involved a series of controlled experiments on a Mitsubishi EA28V Advance die-sinking EDM machine. Different combinations of pre-cutting parameters and processing strategies were investigated using copper electrodes on a heat-treated steel plate. Productivity was evaluated by measuring the volume of material removed, and geometrical accuracy was checked on a coordinate measuring machine. The experimental results showed a significant increase in productivity (up to 61%) by using the "processing speed priority" function of the EDM machine, with minimal impact on geometric accuracy. Furthermore, the optimized parameters led to an average reduction of 12% in dimensional deviations, indicating improved geometric accuracy of the machined parts. This paper also provides practical recommendations on the selection of optimal EDM processing parameters and strategies, depending on the specific requirements of plastic injection mold manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerospace industry faces the challenge of maintaining product excellence amidst intricate processes and demands for cost and time efficiency. Mathematical modeling emerges as a valuable tool for optimizing the engineering process and enhancing quality, with potential applications extending beyond aerospace to other sectors with high quality and safety standards. This study develops and validates a mathematical model specific to the aerospace industry, aiming to assess the impact of human resource expertise on product quality. Through a case study within an aerospace organization, an IDEF0-methodology-based mathematical model, coupled with weighted averages, was constructed to depict the comprehensive engineering process and quantify knowledge's impact on deliverable quality. Simulation data, gathered through human resource knowledge assessments and non-conformity analyses, revealed a direct correlation between technical knowledge levels and deliverable quality, consequently impacting final product quality. The proposed model serves as a tool for estimating potential deliverable error rates and pinpointing critical areas within the process that necessitate refinement. The research underscores the significance of knowledge investment and effective knowledge management strategies in upholding quality and competitiveness across industries with stringent quality requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This detailed paper explores the complex dynamics of Digital Manufacturing in Industry 4.0, with the explicit aim of addressing and remedying significant gaps identified in academic literature. The paper provides extensive insight into how technological innovations, including additive manufacturing, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Big Data analytics, are transforming industrial infrastructure and operations. By critically evaluating existing studies and current trends, the paper aims to elucidate not only the impact of emerging technologies, but also to reveal how they can be effectively integrated to increase efficiency and innovation capacity across various industrial sectors. The methodology adopted includes a thorough literature review, comparative analysis of relevant case studies and exploitation of current data, all with a view to developing pragmatic and actionable recommendations. Emphasis is placed on identifying and analyzing the key challenges that accompany the adoption of digital technologies, such as the substantial up-front investment required and the difficulties in preparing the workforce for the new technological requirements. The paper also explores how these challenges can be turned into opportunities to improve the industry's flexibility and adaptability to rapid market changes. The results highlight the significant benefits of implementing Digital Manufacturing, including process optimization, defect reduction, production customization and improved operational sustainability. The conclusions drawn emphasize the critical role of digital innovations in shaping the industrial future and recommend close collaboration between the public and private sectors to facilitate the widespread adoption of these technologies. Finally, the paper suggests that through continued investment in technology development and the implementation of well-designed integration strategies, Digital Manufacturing can lead to profound and sustainable transformations that stimulate economic growth and contribute to positive societal change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific paper explores the increasingly widespread use of collaborative and industrial robots in the industrial environment, highlighting them as a solution to challenges related to the high costs of human labor and associated management difficulties. The authors focus on the process of defining requirements for the implementation of collaborative and industrial robots, providing strategies based on mathematical management models. This approach translates into significant benefits for companies, such as cost reduction, quality improvement, and increased operational efficiency. Additionally, the paper proposes an innovative mathematical model for assessing total costs, budgeting, profitability, and electric power consumption associated with the operation of collaborative and industrial robots. This model allows for a comparison between the costs involved in using human labor and those associated with collaborative and industrial robots, providing critical information for technological investment decisions. The efficiency of this mathematical model is demonstrated through a practical application, where collaborative robots were integrated into a production environment and costs and efficiency were evaluated compared to the use of human labor and industrial robots. This scientific paper provides a systematic and efficient approach to implementing collaborative robots in industrial processes, benefiting from strategies based on mathematical management models and an original mathematical model for evaluating performance and associated costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article builds on the recognition that the extraction of minerals assumed over the last few decades a transcendence of geological space-time and a corresponding expansion at planetary scale. Little attention was devoted to the long-term but currently abandoned mines awaiting their potential reopening and can be said to find themselves at a juncture. On the one hand, they confront a complex heritage of past mining operations (including pollution), vivid memories surrounding past practices and their residents' work relationships. On the other hand, there is still the remote but distinct possibility of experiencing a mining renaissance, under the conditions of the so-called planetary mine. We ask what are the affective, cognitive and corporeal dimensions of the local experience of transitioning from the past practices toward an uncertain future of grand-scale mineral exploitation. Based on 39 semi-structured interviews conducted in the mining towns of Zlatna, Abrud and Baia de Arieș and surrounding villages, we address several topics that emerged from the interviews: hope and hopelessness, dependence on the mine and denial of pollution. Our findings provide a nuanced understanding of how bottom-up development can be conceived and what are the challenges of the current phase of planetary mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive exploration of an experimental device designed for determining friction coefficients between a circular bar and a set of wheels in a feed mechanism. In the realm of mechanical engineering, where efficiency is paramount, understanding and quantifying these coefficients play a crucial role in designing and optimizing mechanical systems. The research objectives encompass the development and testing of the experimental device, rigorous analysis of the results, and an assessment of its practicality and accuracy in discerning friction coefficients within advancing mechanisms. Originating from the practical necessity of designing a mechanism for advancing composite rods in manufacturing lines, this research delves into the importance of characterizing friction coefficients in bar element mechanisms. The methodology involves the implementation and testing of the experimental device under controlled conditions, data collection, and the application of analytical techniques to evaluate friction coefficients. The obtained results provide a nuanced understanding of friction coefficients in bar feed mechanisms, with implications for the design and optimization of mechanical systems. The conclusions emphasize the need for careful analysis of frictional forces to enhance the performance and durability of these mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines how the crisis phenomenon is discussed in the Romanian public communication environment. The authors argue that in the current context, where society is marked by multiple crises, the term “permacrisis” has become relevant, describing a state of permanent crisis affecting the society at multiple levels. The authors analysed how the topic of crisis has been represented in the Romanian media, focusing on articles published online between 2017 and 2022. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, the study highlights a significant increase in crisis-related mentions since 2020, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase indicates a shift in public perception and media discourse, suggesting the normalisation and acceptance of the crisis as a constant state. Four dominant themes associated with the crisis were identified in media discourse: the economic crisis, the health crisis generated by COVID-19, the domestic political crisis and the crisis generated by the war in Ukraine. These themes illustrate the different facets of the permacrisis in Romania, from the economic and social impact, to political uncertainty and the consequences of pandemics and geopolitical conflicts. The paper highlights the importance of recognising and understanding the phenomenon of permacrisis in Romanian society in order to develop more eff ective strategies for managing crises and building a more resilient society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper looks at the surface quality acquired during the laser cutting of metallic materials, with an emphasis on S235JR. We conducted studies on a FiberMak Momentum Gen-2 laser cutting machine to determine the effect of process settings on surface quality. We varied laser beam power and feed rate while keeping other parameters constant, such as nozzle diameter, CO2 pressure, and focal length. Results showed that surface quality is significantly influenced by these parameters. We identified two distinct zones on the cut surface: one with favorable roughness and another with less favorable roughness. Overall, increasing laser beam power led to improved surface quality, while increasing the feed rate resulted in a degradation of the surface. By analyzing the experimental data, we identified an optimal parameter combination for achieving high surface quality. These discoveries have practical applications in business and help to a theoretical knowledge of the laser cutting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotational molding is a unique process, with a high growth rate, which allows the use of geometries and materials adapted to particular needs. It is superior to other manufacturing methods in terms of low cost, break-even point and size of parts that can be manufactured. Rotational molding products are often a substitute, with a lower mass, for traditionally used materials. In this scientific paper it is analyzed the recent literature related to the field of rotational molding processes. It also addresses the issue of processing a rotational mold, with the main purpose of optimizing the cutting regime. In this context, it is highlighted the way of processing the surface of the outer mold based on deductions of direct observation criteria. The factors considered in this regard are the route, the type and diameter of the tool, the speed and depth of cutting - given that the goal is to achieve a minimum quality of the required surface obtained by technology and a minimum base time. At the end of the paper, the contribution of this research is highlighted along with the arguments presented in support of the statement that this rotational molding process is of particular interest because it has a great potential to meet many surface quality requirements, while reducing cycle times.