2019年10月15日，制造技术中心(MTC) in Coventry, UK, opened a new innovation hub for metal additive manufacturing. Marking a new stage for theaward winningDRAMA project, the facility acts as a physical testbed for the integration of full, digitally-linked, 3D printing process chains in the aerospace sector. Its foundation has been supported by £11 million in investment from the UK government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
Invited to the inauguration, 3D Printing Industry was given a tour of the new facility, with the chance to speak with DRAMA collaborators about the current challenges to AM adoption, how this facility aims to tackle those head-on, and how the whole project is putting the UK on the map for 3D printing.
Sharing knowledge and creating UK excellence in AM
Commencing in 2017, DRAMA is a three year project focused on developing “Digital Reconfigurable Additive Manufacturing facilities for Aerospace.” For this purpose, it is split in two parts. On the one hand, DRAMA researcher are developing training courses to address the additive manufacturing skills shortage, in collaboration with the neighboring Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (AMTC). And, on the other side, the project has a whole digital element: creating an online knowledge hub for 3D FAQs, and a digital twin environment to help integration in factories.
在今年早些时候启动了一项试点培训计划后，创新中心是作为数据收集的物理引擎创建的，以支持戏剧的数字双发展发展。在此设施中，企业有机会在将其应用于自己的生产环境中，然后将其应用于3D打印过程。该服务是通过精选的包装为这些各方提供的，每个包装都量身定制，以帮助实现特定目的。举个例子，KW特殊项目（KWSP）选择了“工厂设置”包，要求戏剧在建立其新的340万英镑数字制造中心的帮助Silverstone Park。反过来，Hyde Aero Products是曼彻斯特的设计和制造服务，要求通过“商业案例”包来建立新的3D打印子公司，要求戏剧的帮助。
In return for DRAMA’s expertise and use of the new innovation hub, partners deliver proven case studies to the MTC that can help build its comprehensive data set, and attract new potential clients to the additive manufacturing sector, furthering industry-wide adoption.
As a demo facility, the metal 3D printing innovation hub at the MTC is segmented in to six parts: software, powder management, production, post-processing, inspection and material storage. A micro-factory of sorts, the idea with the facility is that clients will come in and be given their own dedicated area of the floor to carry out their 3D printing project. Any classified machine jobs can also be sealed off by the team to protect IP and handle sensitive tasks. In their work with the MTC, partners are provided with their own dedicated DRAMA engineers to help see the project through to completion. Once proven at this facility, the client can then make an informed decision about their next steps, e.g. integrating the process in their own factory, or producing parts through a third party.
A multi-pronged launch at the MTC, the DRAMA project made its free增材制造知识集线器live to the public this week. This online portal comprises two aspects, the “Knowledge Hub” documentation from the MTC’s National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM) about various 3D printing processes; and the DRAMA “Adoption Tracker” which provides a checklist of all the things a facility requires in order to integrate AM.
Combined, each of these new tools, both digital and physical, are in their own way aligned with the UK’s digital strategy: “to create a world-leading digital economy that works for everyone.” In turn, the hope is that such a strategy will strengthen the British economy “for the long term” particularly in light of the nation’s exit from the European Union.
Additive manufacturing: the time is now
Following these landmark launches, the MTC is seeking customers willing to uptake DRAMA packages. From here, the researchers will continue building their digital platform to be able to provide partners with the most advanced dataset in the industry, and build more comprehensive training programs for each area of the process chain.
Speaking frankly of what the future will hold for the project and additive manufacturing in general, Dr. Katy Milne, DRAMA’s Chief Engineer, commented, “We’re not sure how it will turn out [yet], but projects like DRAMA are all about readiness of the supply chain, making you aware, [and] giving you the tools so that you can take the right steps at the right time.”
In addition, she said, “Additive is also an opportunity, for things like maintenance, repair, new materials. Thermal management is a mature application in additive manufacturing and that will drive the electric revolution.”
“如果您尚未订婚，那么您真的需要很快就需要非常认真地思考。”
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Featured image shows Dr. Simon Weeks, CTO of the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) cutting the ribbon on the MTC’s new metal additive manufacturing innovation hub. Photo via The MTC
