“Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine.”
– Alan Turing
1. That Last Step
Making metrology faster is probably the holy grail of process improvement. Automated metrology can simplify and speed up the measurement process, replacing the need for manual labor. This technology is more accurate, reliable, and cost-effective than manually collected data.
2. Make Filters Great Again
I go through a lot of filters at home, which annoys me. Can we take two cool things, put them together, and convert something annoying to cool? Yes. 3D printed hydrogel materials are pretty cool. A research team at North Carolina State University did just that: 3D printed hydrogel to filter carbon dioxide. The hydrogel contains an enzyme that turns water and carbon into bicarbonate.
3. Dark Warehouses
Manufacturing equipment consumes a tremendous amount of power. Shifting to fully autonomous warehouses – dark warehouses – adds a new complexity to power management. I hope you appreciate the plot twist because I know where your mind went based on the title.
4. What Do Birds, Waterjets, and 3D Printing Have in Common?
Nests. Additive is great for single complex parts. Nesting helps to save time and leads to faster production, as well as allows for complex assembly parts to be printed in a single pass. There are a couple common errors that can be avoided. Simulations are more important since the financial risk has increased.
5. AI Can Be for everyone
AI is often seen as a tool for the Googles and Apples of the world. The application of AI in automation and process improvement is a way for small to medium-sized companies to improve their processes. I also like their example of using robots to change the workholding.
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