Business View Magazine | March 2020

41 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MARCH 2020 Ledvon describes a process flow that starts when a camera mounted inside a machining center takes a picture of a perfect setup and stores it in the machine control. During machining, the operator can look at a controller with two screens, one for 3D simulation of the part and the other displaying operating parameters. The last step involves in-process inspection, where the part is measured —while it remains in its fixture — and the metrology system feeds data to the controller for potential adjustments. As a result, the part comes off the machine right the first time. The Digital Twin Using a digital twin can also help produce parts right the first time and enable high-mix, low volume production. A digital twin is a digital replica of potential assets and actual physical assets. It sounds futuristic, but technology now enables manufacturers to create or verify a digital twin using a real production part. For example, Grale Technologies has developed what it calls Automated Integrated Metrology (AIM) technology. Using laser scanning systems inside a CNC or 3D printer, AIM measures up to 800,000 points per second. It collects spatially registered data accurate to the voxel level (voxel is like a pixel, but for volume) to produce a self- reliant digital twin. Based on the marriage of the CAD-CAM files, part and process data, AIM enhances information integrity and boosts quality assurance, a very comforting thought for “mission critical” parts like aircraft turbine blades and medical components. In addition, AIM technology can also enable single part lot sizes and mini- batches to become profitable, broadening its appeal. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Modern manufacturing isn’t just spawning digital twins—it is building complete digital extended families. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is the connections between all the machines, sensors, instruments and devices in a modern workspace. These myriad connections allow for improved data exchange and analysis, ultimately leading to enhanced productivity. Connecting everything makes it all more efficient. For example, MetalQuest Unlimited, a 70-person manufacturing company in Hebron, Nebraska, has proven that a small-town company can compete on a global scale. Connected machines were the key. “We were IIoT before IIoT existed,” says Vice President Scott Volk. MetalQuest started monitoring its CNC in 2002 by connecting its vertical machining centers (VMCs) to a network that enabled Volk to monitor their efficiency. “Because we monitor, analyze and act on data, DIGI TAL MANUFACTUR ING TECHNOLOGI ES : READY TO IMPLEMENT AMT’s Emerging Technology Center and Exhibitors at IMTS provide expert resources to help visitors understand how they can implement Industrial Internet of Everything (IoT) technologies.