Digital Manufacturing Technologies Research Articles

TRIBOLOGY INTERFACE OVER DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND ENVISAGING TRIBOLOGY WITH PATENT LANDSCAPE — A QUEER REVIEW

Digital technologies sustain today’s world. Every part of the world is working towards digital technologies, which none of us can eliminate. Enormous growth is achieved only by unexpected acceleration by digital technologies, including the Internet of Everything (IoE), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deep Learning (DL), and many more. These technologies started occupying all the engineering sectors, including manufacturing. This paper focuses on tribology analysis related to manufacturing concerning various digital manufacturing technologies. The paper narration includes Tribology using digital technologies wherein the journals and patent landscape analysis abet them. In trend, Tribology utilizes all these technologies today and envisages its growth with the predominant technological invention in the border view. The survey of various literature reveals that only three digital technologies, including AI, ML, and ANN, are used by tribologists around the globe. Other Technologies like Evolutionary Algorithm (EA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Interference Systems (ANFIS) are not used predominantly.

Do industrial robots matter for corporate environmental governance? Evidence from Chinese firms

PurposeThe connection between digital manufacturing technologies (Industry 4.0) and the environment has sparked discussions on firms' disclosure of negative information on pollutant emissions and the pursuit of positive environmental outcomes. However, very few studies explore how it relates to a firm's robot usage and its mechanism. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of robot penetration on firms' environmental governance in China.Design/methodology/approachThe ordered probit model (and probit model) are employed and empirically tested with a sample of 1,579 Chinese listed firms from 2010 to 2019.FindingsThe study reveals a negative relationship between robot usage and the disclosure of negative indicators and a U-shaped relationship between robot usage and positive environmental outcomes. Among the sample, nonstate-owned enterprises (SOEs) display unsatisfactory performance, while heavily polluting industries disclose more information on pollutant emissions. The robot–environmental governance nexus is conditional on firm size, capital intensity and local economic development.Originality/valueThe study proposes a fresh view of corporate environmental governance to assess the environmental implications of robot adoption. It also contributes to identifying the curvilinear, moderating and heterogenous effects in the robot–environment nexus. The results provide rich policy implications for the development of industrial intelligence and corporate environmental governance in the circular economy (CE) context.

Integration and Development of Reverse Engineering and Digital Manufacturing Technology

Integration and Development of Reverse Engineering and Digital Manufacturing Technology

Preliminary study of knowledge transfer aspect in the creation of a framework for education and training of digital manufacturing technologies

Digitalization is changing the industry. As this change accelerates its speed, it also requires a transformation process where knowledge transfer between industry and research institutes play a significant role. There is a need to be more fluent, flexible, and efficient in order to get the latest research results into industrial implementation as quickly as possible. The challenge in knowledge transfer is that its speed in the current stage is too slow compared to the speed of development and changes required by digitalization of traditional manufacturing industries. The motivation for this study is the gap in knowledge transfer. One emerging digital transformation is the establishment of modern digital manufacturing technologies, e.g., additive manufacturing (AM). There are different approaches to supporting the industry in this transformation. Knowledge transfer can happen, for example, through education (e.g., master students) and industrial training, but also the fluent transfer of the latest research results from research institutes to companies is needed. University education needs to support the requirements of the manufacturing industry by providing future experts with skills to smooth the transformation process and bring novel technology applications, such as AM, to industrial-scale use. The article discusses how university education can support future competence-building in the industry. Similar needs are also present in industrial training, which universities often provide. Both education and training need to be improved from fundamental approaches to explain how this new knowledge should be created, i.e., how knowledge transfer happens most efficiently. The outcome of this article is the basis of the framework for education and training of digital manufacturing technologies by using modern learning methods and tools. More detailed pedagogical and knowledge transfer models can be developed and applied when this framework is created.

3D Printed Proto Type Model of Pelton Turbine Runner

Nowadays, different methods are used in the renewable energy sector for the fabrication of prime movers. A broad classification of the latest additive manufacturing technologies is discussed with ten different parameters like material used, speed, part size, accuracy, application, surface finish, complexity, costing, strength and weakness. Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is also referred to as digital manufacturing technology. 3D printing technology creates physical objects from a geometrical representation by successive addition of materials. Polylactic acid material will be cost-effective to develop the laboratory scale prototype Pelton turbine model. The fused deposition method gives durable products with plastic filament material. FDM provides an optimum condition for the manufacturing of curved surfaces. A step by step process is emphasis for the digital printing of 3D Pelton buckets, runner and shaft. Difficulties associated with the orientation of the Pelton bucket is overcome by using mechanical support structures.

3D digital manufacturing technologies, materials, and artificial intelligence in art

3D digital manufacturing technologies, materials, and artificial intelligence in art

The unequal implications of Industry 4.0 adoption: evidence on productivity growth and convergence across Europe

ABSTRACT Do new manufacturing technologies of the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) boost TFP growth? By adopting a distance-to-frontier framework, this paper explores whether the adoption of (advanced) digital technologies affect the sectoral TFP growth rates across manufacturing industries of 14 European countries, during the period 2009–2019. We rely on a novel measure of adoption of I4.0 technologies (namely, advanced industrial robots, additive manufacturing and industrial internet of things), exploiting highly detailed (8-digit level) information on imports of capital goods embodying such technologies. Our results suggest that adopting new digital manufacturing technologies of the I4.0 brings quantitatively important and statistically significant contributions to sectoral TFP growth rates, although these are mostly concentrated in countries close to the technology frontier. In turn, these technologies seem to have hampered the process of convergence between European technological leaders and laggards over the last decade.

Research on Digital Manufacturing Technology of Key Components of Artificial Knee Joint

The surface of the artificial knee joint manufactured by 3D printing technology is rough. This study uses advanced multi-axis machining technology to study how to improve the manufacturing accuracy of the artificial knee joint surface, and uses five-axis machining CAM software to analyze the process of three-dimensional model of the artificial knee joint and to compile tool path, create a five-axis special post-processor, convert the tool path point file into the NC program for machine tool processing. In order to ensure the safety and efficiency of the processing procedure, a Mikron HEM-500U machine tool simulation platform was built in the VERICUT simulation system for simulation processing verification, and then the blank prototype obtained by 3D printing was processed in a five-axis machine tool to meet medical clinical use requirements.

The State of the Art in Digital Construction of Clay Buildings: Reviews of Existing Practices and Recommendations for Future Development

Under the trend of digitization and global carbon reductions, clay construction has increasingly attracted attention due to advantages such as an excellent thermal performance, low carbon emissions, and high cost-effectiveness. In this article, an in-depth investigation is conducted into the potential, challenges, and future in the development of digital manufacturing technologies for clay architecture, especially 3D printing, robotic construction, and prefabrication systems. It is revealed through a review that digital clay construction is under rapid development and likely to provide a viable solution to achieving global carbon neutrality, which is conducive to addressing various regional issues. The key findings from this review are as follows. Firstly, as a flexible, precise, and low-carbon industrial solution, 3D printing lays a foundation for the extensive research on materials, equipment, and algorithm optimization. Secondly, the use of machine construction methods such as modern rammed earth technology and drone spraying is effective in improving efficiency and lowering costs. Lastly, the prefabricated building system shows its potential in renewing and developing the rammed earth architecture culture. These findings indicate a massive potential of digital clay construction to support sustainability efforts in the future.

Horizontal integration for steel fabrication compliance process

In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital and internet-based manufacturing technologies in the context of smart production have become the future trends in the industry. Businesses have to upgrade their manufacturing systems to retain their market position. Considering the tremendous amount of data produced during the process, data management becomes a critical and fundamental aspect of the revolution. The main objective of this research is to devise a practical approach to achieving horizontal integration of data between stakeholders in the steel industry and build an audition system to extract and collect data from non-destructive testing reports. The audition system included a database management system for high efficiency and secure storage of data in the database and a graphic user interface to establish real-time data connectivity between the database and users. The system is tested under a simulated industrial environment. Further functionalities and testing are still needed to achieve the horizontal integration of data throughout the entire Steel Industry.

Can digital innovation improve firm performance: Evidence from digital patents of Chinese listed firms

Within the context of the digital economy, digital innovation has emerged as a significance driving force to enhance firm value. This paper uses the A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2016 to 2021 as a sample to test the impact of digital innovation on corporate performance and its mechanism. We find that digital innovation can positively improve firm performance by improving labor productivity, reducing operating costs and enhancing competitive advantage. Further research shows that digital innovation is more likely to improve firm performance in high-market, large-scale, state-owned enterprises and regions with high marketization. Digital industrialization can strengthen the positive correlation between digital innovation and firm performance. Industries involved of digital product manufacturing and digital technology application play a greater role in the economic effect of digital innovation. Finally, location-oriented policies promote digital innovation. This paper contributes to the research on the measurement of digital innovation and its economic consequences, constructs a framework for the impact of digital innovation on the economic effect of microenterprises, and provides reliable empirical evidence for the development of digital innovation.

Quality of life of patients without teeth, which are prosthetized

BACKGROUND: High-quality rehabilitation of patients without teeth is one of the urgent problems in dentistry today. Owing to the growing number of older patients and the need for quality treatment, the most physiologically accurate complete removable dentures that meet the needs of patients and reduce negative effects after treatment must be manufactured.
 AIM: To determine and compare the effect of complete removable dentures, made by computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing methods, on the quality of life of patients without teeth.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical study involved 60 older patients (aged 60 years) without upper and lower teeth. These patients were randomly divided into two equal groups. In the first group, removable dentures were manufactured using digital technologies. In the second group, removable dentures were made by traditional technology. The quality of life of all patients before and after treatment was evaluated using the OHIP-14 questionnaire.
 RESULTS: More positive assessments were noted in the change in the state after prosthetics with full removable dentures made by digital technology. With approximately total equal indicators of the questionnaire, the best values of the clinical effect were found in the digital technology for making prostheses with 3.74 versus 1.19. When comparing individual categories, eating problems, communication problems, everyday living problems, and clinical performance were markedly higher with digital manufacturing technology.
 CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of treatment with prostheses made using digital technology is on average approximately 3.14 times higher (p 0.001) than that in orthopedic rehabilitation using prostheses made by analog traditional technology. Thus, better clinical results are obtained in patients using prostheses made by the proposed technology for making complete removable dentures.

The Role of Digital Technology in the Animation Curriculum

Digital technology is an important factor in promoting the development of animation, and the current animation classroom is also presenting a new appearance due to digital empowerment. Digital technology plays an important role in curriculum design, software teaching, and the use of digital production tools. The practice of animation courses is becoming increasingly enriched with the support of digital technology, including the production of ancient architectural restoration using digital twin technology, game production using virtual engine technology, and 3D printing using digital manufacturing technology, among others. Digital technology has also fostered the rapid development of online teaching, remote collaborative production teaching, and virtual VR teaching. This article discusses the role of digital technology in animation course teaching from multiple dimensions.

Neutronic and Thermal-Fluidic Analyses for an Additive Manufactured Reactor With SiC Matrix and TRISO Particle Fuel

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) is a transformational digital manufacturing technology featured with rapidity, customizability, precision, and economy, which is fundamentally altering the way components are designed and manufactured. AM enables the freedom of design, and makes full use of complexity of geometry which “comes for free”. Applying AM technology to nuclear industry can yield advanced reactor designs with function and structure matched for the best thermal, fluidic and mechanical performance. In this work, an AM-informed reactor core design with silicon carbide (SiC) matrix and tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) particle fuel is proposed and analyzed. The core is an integrated 3D-printed SiC bulk with helical cruciform coolant channels, and the UO2-bearing TRISO fuel particles are dispersed in the bulk. A multiphysics analysis framework for irregular geometry is developed to analyze and further optimize the reactor design. The TRISO particle positions are generated with discrete element method (DEM). The Reactor Monte Carlo code (RMC) and the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software star-ccm+ are used for the neutronic and thermal-fluidic analyses, respectively. RMC simulates the neutron transport to predict the effective multiplication factor and power distribution. star-ccm+ calculates the flow and heat transfer in coolant channels and heat conduction in solid matrix with the power distribution as the heat source. Preliminary results show that the power peaking factor FQ decreases below 1.65, the heat transfer area increases by 30.3% and the fuel peaking temperature decreases by 25 K. The optimized AM-informed design enjoys better neutronic and thermal-fluidic performance than those with regular geometry.

Personalised Production in the Age of Circular Additive Manufacturing

This research examines the opportunities provided by advances in digital manufacturing technologies for the provision of products designed to meet the needs of an individual consumer. The ability to co-create products with customers could enable mass personalisation to become a popular and fast-growing mode of production. Additive manufacturing, in both 3D and 4D printing forms, opens up new opportunities for circular economy-compliant production of such highly personalised products. Industry 4.0 has been seen by many as an agenda for the utilisation of interconnected digital technologies in industry, with a particular focus on manufacturing. Industry 5.0 seeks to address challenges that have grown in importance since the inception of Industry 4.0, such as the efficient inclusion of human worker skills in tandem with automation solutions, to address highly complex manufacturing scenarios while mitigating many of the environmental issues inherent with current manufacturing practices, while using circular economy principles. In examining the production of smart fabrics, this paper puts forward a framework for circular production of additively manufactured personalised products, co-designed with inputs from consumers.

Predicting Deposition Rate and Closing the Loop on Aerosol Jet Printing with In‐Line Light Scattering Measurements

Aerosol jet printing is a compelling noncontact, digital manufacturing technology for flexible, hybrid, and conformal electronics, but batch‐to‐batch variability and process drift inhibit systematic study and translation to production environments. Emerging measurement techniques for the aerosol volume fraction, a key parameter governing deposition rate, have shown promise for real‐time response, including a recent demonstration of human‐in‐the‐loop control. By integrating improved light scattering measurements with custom software, a robust environment for real‐time monitoring is established and fully automated closed‐loop control over the deposition rate during printing is enabled. The physical basis for scattering measurements as a feedback source is examined and the quantitative insight this provides for ink development and fundamental process studies is highlighted. Three candidate process variables for closed‐loop control, namely the atomizer voltage, carrier gas flow rate, and print speed, are then evaluated. The atomizer voltage demonstrates the best extended duration validity because it addresses atomization variability directly, but carrier gas flow rate and print speed provide faster and more deterministic responses. This methodology is then demonstrated for electrical properties using a silver nanoparticle ink, maintaining 98% of printed patterns within 10% of the mean resistance value over 3 h of printing.

Information Technology and Digital Sufficiency for Building the Sustainable Circular Economy

Information technologies possess the significant potential to improve the efficiency of resources and optimize energy usage, as well as make a significant contribution to the sustainable circular economy (CE). The concept of digital sufficiency provides a framework for understanding how information technology can be part of significant achievements in the circular economy, especially when embraced by business companies. Moreover, the possibility of the implementation of closed-loop resources has become possible with the development of digital manufacturing technologies. However, the research of establishing the CE in SMEs, especially in fossil-energy-abundant countries, such as the Russian Federation, is quite limited. Our paper fills in this gap by studying the adoption of CE practices as well as the investments for promoting CE in Russian SMEs through such factors as the existence of R&D, bank loans, and access to grants at the national and international level. It achieves this based on the data sample of 314 managers of Russian SMEs. Our results demonstrate that the investment or existence of R&D in SMEs and knowledge of CE as well the governmental funding and access to wider markets all together tend to have a significant and positive effect on implementing and investing into CE in SMEs, while the administrative barriers yield a small but negative effect. These results might be helpful for the relevant stakeholders in order to identify factors catalyzing attention from both the SMEs engaged in CE transitions, as well as help the decision makers wishing to foster the transformation of the SMEs to a circular economy. We can conclude that supporting SMEs (both financially and via increasing their public awareness) to make their own transitions towards CE has a societal effect that can speed up a greener transition and significantly contribute to increasing energy efficiency.

Hybrid innovation logics: Exploratory product development with users in a corporate makerspace

AbstractAdvances in digital manufacturing technologies have not only altered R&D processes for new product development (NPD), but they have also opened new possibilities for user innovators to engage in traditionally closed innovation processes. However, incorporating external sources of user innovation—through design challenges or crowdsourcing, for example—can introduce competing logics into exploratory innovation processes. Using the lens of complexity, we conduct an ethnographic study of the competing logics at work in the NPD processes of a corporate makerspace launched by a large firm in the consumer appliances industry. The makerspace was founded with a hybrid logic, intended to combine the community logic of makers with the corporate logic of the parent organization. We analyze the conflicts that arose between logics and how the hybrid logic evolved through four iterations of the NPD process. We identify how managing multiple logics led to structural and identity changes, and we explain how two mechanisms—structural bridging and stakeholder identity linking—enabled the makerspace to innovate with a hybrid logic and overcome the constraints of a dominant logic on the NPD process. The results offer insights into dynamic organizational responses to complexity, how new business initiatives can be structured to act as exploratory units for corporate parents, and how corporate makerspaces can help incorporate external sources of innovation.

Advanced Manufacturing: Navigating the Path Forward

Abstract Highlights from a member survey and panel discussion outlining the challenges and benefits of advanced manufacturing for the materials community. The article covers research being conducted in academia and industry to develop and integrate advanced manufacturing techniques; methods for in-process monitoring and machine learning; and challenges in adopting new digital manufacturing technologies.

AI-Smart Factory: Design and verification of Korean SME AI smart factory using level diagnosis system

This paper presents a new AI-based smart factory construction model for SMEs based on the Korean manufacturing industry and proposes an effective construction process that implements the informatization, automation, and intelligentization characteristics of smart factories. The Korean AI-based smart factory construction process starts with the accumulation of digital information by attaching sensors to the manufacturing processs, and then creates a customized AI model for the company through cloud accumulation of sensor data and big data analysis through CNN techniques. The Korean SME Smart Factory is an AI-based smart factory through AHP analysis and smart factory level diagnosis system, which is a construction process, which means a consumer-oriented intelligent factory that combines next-generation digital technology and manufacturing technology beyond the existing level of factory automation (FA). Various products can be produced on one production line, and modularization is expected to change from mass orders to individual flexible production systems. The transition to smart factories is expected to dramatically improve the productivity of manufacturing, as well as realize energy savings and a more human-centered work environment. By monitoring and controlling manufacturing sites in a virtual space, it is expected to facilitate factory management and lead to improved quality and cost competitiveness. Keywords: AI Smart Factory, Level Diagnosis System, Korean SMEs, AHP Analysis