The factory of the future, digital factory, digital factory, or factory 4.0… the terms are numerous to speak of modernization of the industrial tool. These evolutions are made possible thanks to new key technologies such as IoT, big data, artificial intelligence, or augmented reality
And at the same time, tomorrow’s plant is much more than technology. It is a different way of organizing work to optimize its production process and anticipate hazards. So technology is a tool, but what key organizational needs does it address?
Your objective n°4 : Make some parts yourself
What’s at stake?
I designed a new piece, and now I need to make a model to check its style and handling. Or I have parts in small series to produce and I don’t have the in-house capabilities to do it.
How’s it going today?
The production of models and prototypes fits as well as possible into the workshop’s production schedule. And parts in small series are usually purchased from an outside supplier.
Tomorrow, how will it be?
By means of modeling and prototyping carried out on a 3D printer, at reduced scale or at scale 1, in plastic or in the final material. No need to disrupt the workshop schedule.
Small series parts are designed and manufactured in-house, on a 3D printer, at competitive costs. Indeed, additive manufacturing makes it possible to produce complex parts optimized topologically. This means that it is possible to manufacture lighter parts, with the same mechanical capacities as their old version. Lace in volume!
The benefits?
The design office saves time and reactivity in the production of models and prototypes. The workshop can manufacture parts itself in small series, at competitive costs because optimized topologically.
With direct additive manufacturing, we are witnessing a revolution in the sense that we are totally changing the way we think and design. For the first time, we no longer reason in process limitation but from the possibilities and functionalities that we wish to give to the part.
David Da Silva, Technical Manager Simulation at KEONYS
