Engineering firmRenishawhas partnered with 3D printing robotics specialistAdditive Automationsto advance automated post-processing technology for metal 3D printed parts. The partnership will involve using collaborative robots (cobots), together with deep learning algorithms, to automatically detect and remove support structures in their entirety. The duo expects the project to reduce average part costs by up to 25%, making additive manufacturing a more feasible and cost-effective high volume production method.
Bryan Austin, Director of AM Sales at Renishaw, states: “Improvements in post-processing could bring AM to the forefront of new applications in medical and aerospace applications. An automated manufacturing process could make AM adoption more appealing to manufacturers operating large volume production lines.”
The SALSA project
As in the name, Additive Automations creates robotics systems designed to automate certain processes in the additive manufacturing workflow. The Sheffield-based start up started collaborating with Renishaw in August 2019, following a round of successful funding from UK and Canadian bodies. Since then, Renishaw has been aiding in the company’s growth with its technical and business expertise.
新项目是通过自动化（SALSA）将添加剂支持的分离，将使用精确的机器人技术和深度学习算法来数字化3D打印中最后一个高度手动的过程之一 - 支持删除。在项目开始之前，Renishaw提供了四个不同的3D印刷版本的添加剂自动化，因此它可以证明其支持删除技术的当前状态。这四个部分是为医疗，油气，汽车和工程工具应用而设计的。
一旦证明了撤离系统的功效和潜力，合作伙伴就决定了添加剂自动化的配件，以进一步推进技术。他们是为高有效载荷与大小比和原位力传感器而被选中的，这使得柯比特可以收集有关3D打印零件的实时几何数据。到Salsa项目结束时，Renishaw和添加剂自动化将能够将零件数据馈送到专用的软件程序中以生成数字双胞胎。基于数字双胞胎的计算，柯机器人将能够确切确定支撑位的位置，因此可以使用可连接的最终效果工具将其删除。
Robert Bush, CEO of Additive Automations, explains: “Automating support removal and finishing in AM completely changes the economics when scaling up AM, and for the first time makes it feasible for manufacturers around the world to adopt this technology in rapid production. The digitalisation of AM also comes with an increase in quality, traceability and repeatability. Given that on average almost two thirds of post-processing costs are from finishing and support structure removal, we believe automation can reduce costs by an average of 25 per cent per part.”
Automated post-processing in additive manufacturing
自动化后处理系统很少且相距甚远，因为它的市场大大落后于3D打印机。为了捕获和量化这些数据，印刷专家PostProcess Technologies最近launched the 2020 iteration of its annualAdditive Manufacturing Post-Printing Industry Trends Survey. The results are currently being tabulated and summarized, and will be made available in a comprehensive report in early September.
PostProcess has also recently collaborated with orthodontic laboratoryGreat Lakes Dental Technologiesto refine the company’s powder removal andsurface finishing process for 3D printed dental products. Using PostProcess’ RADOR Surface Finishing system, Great Lakes has since been able to streamline its workflow and post-process its SLS printed parts without any manual input.
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特色图像显示了添加剂自动化的cobot检测和删除支持结构。通过Renishaw的照片。
