ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING 4.0 & AUTOMATED PARTS READY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

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Hello 2018, I am so glad that you have arrived.
As many know 2018 is positioned to be a historical year for additive manufacturing and its adaptation by the masses. This will be achieved through continued cross platform technology integrations and overall product advancements where end user experience factors have been brought into overall system designs, delivering solutions that meet basic user interfacing as well as increased production demands required due to the personal production paradigm shift that is and will continue to occur.
With the introduction of Additive Manufacturing 4.0 principles Print Cells and Fully Automated production systems are soon to take the stage removing the guesswork out of all things related to 3D printer system usages ultimately offering hassle free complete 3D File to Ready for Use Finished Part solutions. The application of these principles cuts down on the manual processes associated with printer overturn from job to job as well as addresses the necessary controlled steps of proper post processing prints thus delivering a perfectly produced part every time. Additionally this paradigm change in automated production reduces per part cost and increases production efficiency with the removal of human activities, increasing the overall technology usage and application experience.
The 1st wave of this is being seen in the arrival of Printing Cells, specifically systems like the Form Cell from Formlabs. This is a category that I would refer to as “Production Chain Cells” where several printers are strung together, driven by software intelligence, and operated solely by robotics managers. Formlabs has taken the quality and reliability of their Form2 desktop SLA 3D printer and have integrated it into a fully automated production system that pairs up to 5 Form2 SLA desktop printers with an automated washing system which is fully encased within a controlled and monitored A.I. environment. Backed by the Formlabs Dashboard users can benefit from PrintQueue indexing and statistical data integration capabilities.

Welcome to the world of Fully Automated Production

The focus of Additive Manufacturing 4.0 at its core concentrates on user friendly, easy to use personal production systems that are being made accessible to all levels of society. Through the introduction of autonomous technology integrations, time consuming print processing requirements are now being included in one step production systems. This movement is being led by Digital Wax System (DWS) which introduced the world’s 1st Fully Automated Production Systems in the XCell SD/HD/PD 3D Printers at FormNext 2017, the largest 3D printing meeting on the globe. The XCell SD/HD/PD line of 3D Printers are fully automated SLA systems offering a completely built-in work cell which brings an all in one 3D File to Ready to Use Parts system to the market. Backed by the well known printing quality of DWS and the introduction of XPOD Smart Cartridge Resin Technology, a system which retracts any unused resin post print back into the cartridge for a mess free working environment, these systems offer complete automation of Printing, Washing, & Curing of models and appliances with rapid speed and outstanding precision. The XCell line of 3D SLA printers from DWS delivers hassle free perfectly finished parts every single time.
Digital Wax System XCell: http://www.dwssystems.com/xcell
As it is well known that I specialize in Dental / Medical applications of Additive Manufacturing I must point out that DWS has developed a Dental / Orthodontic specific version of the XCell in the 6000PD to meet the demands of all dental practitioners and laboratories. See specs below:
XCELL 6000PD: Orthodontic applications, arches for thermoformed aligners, dental models, biocompatibile surgical guides, medical imaging, models for direct casting, models for dies, partial frameworks, crowns, bridges, temporary restorations, models for implant analogs.
Keep in mind that as Additive Manufacturing continues to mature and material properties expand, it is most definite that we will continue to see personal production cells evolve. The horizon of Additive is uncapped leaving the makers of the world to apply its advantages and create change in all sectors.
Follow closely as this is only a glimpse of what’s to come for additive manufacturing in 2018.


*THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGIONALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 3, 2018 – HARRISON, TRAVIS; “ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING 4.0 AND AUTOMATED PARTS READY SYSTEMS”; LINKEDIN ARTICLES (HTTPS://WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/PULSE/ADDITIVE-MANUFACTURING-40-AUTOMATED-PARTS-READY-SYSTEMS-HARRISON/) 

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