The ARRIBRAVE platform (Automatism for Rapid Instrumented Planing of the Laboratory with Experimental Value) is a tool dedicated to the in situ study of the physical phenomena involved in cutting metallic and composite materials. This platform has been developed by a research team at LaBoMaP.
A historic machine redesigned for cutting-edge research
The result of the renovation of a historic edging machine, ARRIBRAVE has been transformed into a highly instrumented test bench capable of reproducing orthogonal cutting with great precision. This €400k project, which began at the end of 2023 and will be completed in May 2026, was led by Jihane Arbi, Hélène Birembaux, and Frédéric Rossi, members of the Materials and Processes Laboratory (LaBoMaP).
ARRIBRAVE provides LaBoMaP researchers with a genuine in situ observatory for studying chip formation and the fundamental mechanisms of machining. The material doesn't lie! But you still have to ask the right questions, and above all observe and listen to it, explains Frédéric Rossi, senior lecturer. ARRIBRAVE was designed as a true experimental data factory, not just a simple test machine. Transforming a historic machine has enabled us to create a controlled, robust, and shared tool that serves the entire team and addresses fundamental questions about cutting.
State-of-the-art instrumentation, fully integrated and automated
The platform allows users to explore the main phenomena related to cutting: surface conditions, cutting forces, heat flows, friction, work hardening, and microstructural alterations.
These analyses are essential for improving the surface integrity of machined parts, optimizing tool life, and enhancing the reliability of predictive models.
ARRIBRAVE stands out thanks to its cutting-edge, fully integrated and automated instrumentation, which guarantees the acquisition of synchronized and highly reproducible multiphysical data. This approach optimizes the efficiency of experiments and allows researchers to focus on high value-added scientific analysis," says Jihane Arbi, senior lecturer.
A wide range of sensors and observation methods
ARRIBRAVE brings together a wide range of sensors and observation tools: force sensors, piezoelectric and semiconductor gauges, high-speed visible and infrared cameras, image correlation systems, and chromatic coding confocal sensors.
These multi-scale measurements enable kinematic and thermal fields to be cross-referenced. The data collected feeds into and validates numerical and hybrid models (Abaqus, FEM, inverse identification), contributing to work on the fatigue and integrity of machined parts.
An asset for LaBoMaP collaborative projects
Thanks to its ability to link fundamental physical phenomena and industrial performance, ARRIBRAVE is a key tool for LaBoMaP and its partners.
The platform is currently being used in numerous collaborative projects, strengthening the laboratory's expertise in understanding and mastering machining processes.
