There are high expectations that the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) will be able to escape its dependence on foreign countries worth 300 billion won per year by successfully localizing the technology for the drivetrain of machine tools' arms and legs.

The Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute announced on the 3rd that it has succeeded in developing domestically the 'CNC system drive system' technology, which is the core of the machine tool (mother machine), another machine that makes machines.

The 'CNC (Computer Numerical Control) system' is an electronic module that processes numerical information through a computer and automatically controls all functions of a machine tool, including position, speed, and rotation. It plays a role similar to the CPU in a computer.

The Achilles heel of our country's machinery industry development is its high dependence on overseas countries for key components. In particular, the domestic technology environment is poor to the extent that more than 95% of machine tool CNC systems are imported from Japan and Germany. As we enter the era of the 4th industrial revolution, where ultra-precision machine processing is becoming more necessary, the domestic production of CNC systems is expected to determine competitiveness in the field of national strategic technology.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, KERI, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, 10 universities including Yonsei University and Dankook University, and 8 CNC technology suppliers have joined forces with domestic academia, industry and research institutes to carry out the 'Manufacturing Equipment System Smart Controller Technology Development Project' worth 85.5 billion won starting in 2020.

As the material, component, and equipment industries were hit by Japan's export regulations in 2019, and there was a move to include the machine tool sector in the list of export banned items, the need for technological independence in CNC systems was raised.

At that time, the Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry published a report stating that if Japan blocks the export of CNC systems, machine tool manufacturers in the Changwon National Industrial Complex and Masan Free Trade Zone would be hit hard.

Accordingly, the project began with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 'Manufacturing Equipment System Smart Controller Technology Development Project' worth 85.5 billion won, and has recently been receiving a lot of attention as it has achieved good results.

Among them, the drivetrain technology that KERI is in charge of plays the role of the arms and legs of the CNC system and is considered a very important and difficult field, accounting for more than 70% in terms of price. The drive system must maintain a constant speed and position, including the motor and drive, no matter what material is cut or what load is applied.

In addition, the work precision is at the level of tens of micrometers, and errors that cannot be confirmed with the eyes or hands must be measured using lasers or 3D scanning equipment.

KERI, which has accumulated precision control research capabilities in the field of electromechanical systems for over 10 years, has succeeded in developing domestic products that meet all the demanding conditions required by the drive system, and is also successfully conducting verification at the work sites of Hyundai Wia and DN Solutions, leading machine tool companies. It currently boasts ultra-precision machining quality that is not inferior to existing advanced imported products, and is receiving great attention from the industry by increasing reliability, thereby increasing the possibility of commercialization.

KERI Precision Control Research Center Director Kim Hong-joo said, “Most national strategic industries, including existing manufacturing, future mobility, and robots, are based on precision machinery, so the technological competitiveness of the equipment and devices that process them will determine the country’s future competitiveness.” He added, “Machine tool drive systems are key components that determine the productivity, precision, and quality of processed products. By developing domestic products, we can reduce technological dependence on foreign products and expect an import substitution effect of approximately KRW 300 billion per year.”

The research team plans to develop the precision of the drivetrain to the nanometer level through continuous research and various corporate verifications. In addition, the goal is to present upgraded smart drivetrain technology that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology, and to verify industrial robots driven by this.

Meanwhile, KERI is a government-funded research institute under the National Research Council of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and ICT.