Page 42 - World Airnews Magazine March 2021

FEATURE

would add another (US) $64.5 billion place in the machine tool industry. In productivity without major invest-

throughout the decade. early stages we’ll see some of the ob- ments in new machine tools.

• Patrick Dunne Vice President Applica- vious applications becoming common- The goal is to improve factory process-

tion Development, 3D Systems place, such as predicting unplanned es using the latest in artificial intelli-

Many aerospace designers and maintenance events before they occur. gence, automation, and advanced work

engineers have grown up in a world The digital twin still needs develop- holding to bring down costs.

where 3D printing always existed and ment to achieve significant market The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to

consider it to be a standard mode of adoption. This technology will have an light the immediate need for manufac-
manufacture, not some emergent nov- impact in the not-too-distant future. turers to build greater responsibility,

elty. Engineers at the cutting-edge of Blockchain for manufacturing will pro- flexibility, adaptability, and capability

problem-solving are turning to additive vide secure communications amongst into their manufacturing operations

manufacturing (AM) tools to problem teams in a world where cyber-attacks and determine how well-positioned
solve and enable step changes in prod- are becoming increasingly pervasive. they are to respond to future disrup-

uct and platform performance. Automation will become a must in most ti ons.

The fundamental value propositions of shops. It can take many forms; it’s not The current disruption is an opportu-

AM are now widely known, under- just robots. Bar feeders, pallet pools, nity to learn, improve, and reshape

stood, and appreciated. It’s fast, flexi- and flexible manufacturing systems are manufacturing for the future. The

ble, massively reduces part count, and a few that increase productivity. result will be a more effective and

by embracing the philosophy of design In times of accelerated change, it’s efficient system operating at a greatly
for additive manufacturing (DfAM), important to resist the urge to over- increased pace.

engineers can access levels of optimi- complicate things. Get back to basics • Dr. Charles Krueger - CEO, BigLever

sation that are capturing the attention and ensure your foundation is sound. Software

of strategic leadership teams within Control the things in your control. Digital twins, or virtual representations

many of the aerospace primes. Some Focus on where you are in the contin- of physical systems, are emerging as

of these initial expressions of advanced uum of automation, using data, and a key trend in aerospace engineering
design engineering have triggered a understanding the drivers in your busi- and manufacturing. By having a digital

surge in creative thinking that’s now ness. 2021 will be a transitional year, rendition of each product deployed,
energizing the aerospace community. preparing manufacturing to once again organisations can further continu-

A small optimisation in design can lead our economy to prosperity. ously engineering initiatives, improve

have a surprising impact on overall • Timothy Wachs - President, Hainbuch efficiency and product quality, mitigate

system performance. Ultra-advanced America potential loss, and monitor deployed
cooling architectures designed into the We are all in unfamiliar territory, products.
external skins of hypersonic systems meandering through the path of Digital twins can be combined with

enable capability previously consid- uncertainty together. Each of us is artificial reality (AR) software to

ered impossible. struggling with how we find common simulate product variations and put
Letting recursive machine algorithms ground moving forward in our personal them through their paces to uncover

dynamically analyze and engage in lives and within our unique business potential incompatibilities or defects

structural design iteration is gener- challenges to get to the other side of before a product is developed.

ating complex structures lighter and the COVID-19 pandemic. Product line engineering (PLE) auto-

stronger than anything possible with A recent survey of manufacturers and mates managing product variation and
traditional approaches. Exploratory job shops throughout North America complexity across the engineering and

side projects are becoming standard showed that their number one priority manufacturing lifecycle. Feature-based

methods of design and manufactur- in 2021 is to improve ‘flexibility’ to PLE adds a model-based represen-

ing, and we expect to see AM become reduce non-cutting times. tation of the common and varying

a primary go-to for state-of-the-art Throughout 2020, the common theme features shared across the product line
optimisation. is many companies saw an opportunity with corresponding digital twins that

• Jim King President and COO, Okuma to evaluate their current processes to include all the features and materials

America Corp. identify where they were still relying contained in each product. For exam-

It’s time to take inventory of what on outdated processes and where they ple, a digital twin allows a manufactur-

we’ve learned and could make improvements to increase er to identify the exact configuration
what technologies of an avionics system to

will enable us to be quickly identify which

more competitive airplanes contain a

in post-COVID man- particular feature to fa-

ufacturing. cilitate fixes and improve
Virtual communica- quality control.
tion tools increase With Internet of Things

the speed of busi- (IoT) sensors, manu-
ness. It’s not only facturers can track the
possible to evaluate status, use, and perfor-
technology without mance of each product

sending staff and the overall product

on the road, it’s family. Continuous engi-

sometimes more neering can dynamically
desirable. Even ma- improve product fam-

chine runoffs can ilies with updates and
be accomplished enhancements, as well

virtually. as to effectively perform

Artificial intelli- predictive and preven-

gence (AI) has a tive maintenance. Q
World Airnews | March 2021
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