M.Sc. Maximilian Kelch

Since when are you at XCMG European Research Center GmbH?
In August 2016 I started as a development engineer at XCMG. But I already had the chance to work for the company during an internship, my bachelor thesis and also my master thesis. This means since November 2013 I know the company and gather important practical knowledge every day.

Which task influenced you the most in the time at XCMG?
One of the most interesting times was definitely my master thesis. I am still looking back to this time together with colleagues from time to time. I had the task to design a gearbox test rig and also build it up together with the transmission department, which was still quite small at this time. The special charm on this task was, that the test rig was meant for a prototype, where I was involved in the concept during my bachelor thesis already. Furthermore the team was expecting important test results in a quite short period.

Was there any particular technical challenge on this test rig?
The test rig had two main technical refinements. On the one hand we could realise – with the help of FEM simulations – a special mechanical connection to assemble our gearbox on the test rig. With this connection it was possible to remove the gearbox from the test rig without loosening all the actual fasteners. If we needed to inspect the gearbox or change the oil we always saved useful time. On the other hand we selected a torque sensor from the shipping industry, which allowed us to measure quite different output torques without any losses in the relative measuring tolerance. The sensor is sitting on the outside of a big shaft, which we can replace. With some small changes in the control settings the sensor is prepared for a new output torque range afterwards. This gives us the opportunity to test quite different sized gearboxes on the same test rig with the same relative measuring tolerance. We only exchange the connection shaft and not the expansive torque sensor itself.

What happened afterwards with the test rig?
The test rig was designed for planetary reducers and was already in two different projects involved, where we could benefit from the flexibility in output torques which I mentioned before. We already tested prototypes where the output torque was nearly three times bigger than in the beginning. But in the following projects of our team we had a completely different type of gearboxes or drivelines. This meant that we could not benefit from the layout of the test rig itself, but the main components are still in use in our test facilities included in other test rigs until today.

How is your current position in the company in the meantime?
Today I am already 4,5 years one of the development engineers here at the ‘Competence Center Transmission & Driveline’, which has grown a lot in the meantime and is not only responsible for the gearboxes itself but also for the entire driveline. My tasks are extremely wide-ranging and reach from concept development, gearbox- and gear design, CAE, lifetime calculations over technical drawing generation, part order, prototype assembly and test rig operation to only name the main parts of my job. Furthermore my responsibility in the company had increased step by step. From time to time I am supervising students and am one of our safety assistants in the company. Here I work very close with the general management and the external occupational safety specialist. Every day I have here the chance to gather some practical knowledge on a completely different level.

Where do you see XCMG European Research Center GmbH in the future?
The development facilities here in Krefeld have extremely much potential. We have a very good mix between well experienced experts together with young engineers, which are willing to transfer their fresh knowledge from university directly into technical solutions. Furthermore the technical equipment is on a very high level, what makes the work here very efficient and guarantees that the project outcomes are always on high quality. The facilities are designed to still grow more and will definitely also do in the future, while the quality of the research will always be improved.

Test bench setup 1

Test bench setup 2

Test bench setup 3

Finished test stand