With the aim of creatinga complete production cell for additively manufacturing aluminum components used within the automotive and aerospace industries， 这NextGenAMproject已经在德国北部的瓦雷尔建立了第一家试点工厂。
The pilot plant will operate from the facility of project partner高级Aerotec, a subsidiary of multinational aerospace organization空中客车集团。Industrial 3D printing solutions providerEOS和汽车制造商戴姆勒还共同参与了NextGenam项目的开发。
戴姆勒·艾格（Daimler AG）的总监贾斯汀·艾希勒（Jasmin Eichler）表示：“通过这个合作的发展前项目，我们正在迈向整个过程链中金属3D打印的成本效益的重要一步。”
“该项目为未来在汽车系列生产过程中实现更多数量的基石 - 具有相同的可靠性，功能性，寿命和经济性，与传统生产中的组成部分相同。”
Building a smart factory
In 2017, German partners高级Aerotec, Daimler, and EOS jointly initiated the NextGenAM project要检查金属3D打印过程的阶段，例如机器和后处理之间的材料运输，以开发用于串行生产智能工厂系统的自动解决方案。
该自动化解决方案旨在减少使用数字数据收集的复杂系统，即行业4.0。
EOS的首席技术官Tobias Abeln博士指出：“自动生产线中AM过程的集成是我们技术在系列生产方案中广泛应用的重要里程碑。”
The NextGenAM pilot facility
The new purpose-built pilot facility comprising of variousEOS M 400-4工业金属3 d印刷four-laser系统at the center of the production chain. These systems are equipped with compatible modules including连接到独立设置和拆箱站的粉末站。
This allows automation for filling and emptying processes involving aluminum material. Furthermore, setting up the system for a new build job, as well as unpacking the built components from the powder bed can be carried out independently to increase productivity. The 3D printed components are also transported between stations under protective gas in a container using a fully automated guided vehicle.
In addition, post-processing has been automated through a mobile robot. This robot transports the build platform with the parts from the setup station into a furnace for subsequent heat treatment. The same robot then removes the platform carrying it to a 3D optical measurement system for quality assurance. Finally, the build platform is separated into parts with a saw preparing the components ready for further use. This streamlined process enables the production of complex, lightweight and robust components.
Premium Aerotec首席执行官Thomas Ehm博士补充说：“在这个项目中，我们已经成功地大大降低了每个部分的生产成本，从而为大型数字3D打印工厂创造了经济观点。”
This automated process chain will be tested over the next few months through production data and component audits.
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Featured image shows the pilot production chain at Premium AEROTEC in Varel, northern Germany. Image via EOS.
