【3D Printing Case Study】Three Keys to a Smart Production Line: How a Major Computer Manufacturer Does It!
Advantech is a leading manufacturer of intelligent systems and industrial control products globally. Renowned companies such as Mitsubishi Electric, Omron, and IBM all use Advantech's products, which are widely applied in everyday life. Amidst the waves of IoT and Industry 4.0, "Enabling an Intelligent Planet" has become Advantech's development vision. With the introduction of new technologies, their engineering and production teams have made significant progress.
(Advantech has a dedicated 3D printing design center internally.)
Opportunity for Transformation
Using new technology to manufacture new technology has always been a major challenge in industrial transformation. In the past, production line auxiliary tools were designed and produced by outsourced manufacturers, which not only presented "Know-How" issues in terms of technology, making it difficult to consolidate professional expertise, but also required over a month for manufacturing, communication, and negotiation. The practicality of the samples often struggled to fully meet demands and was limited in many aspects.
(After designing the required tools directly using an internal 3D printer, immediate corrections and testing can be performed, significantly reducing waiting time.)
Independent innovation helps accumulate design experience for engineering units, enables internal development and manufacturing, and eliminates concerns about technology leakage. Furthermore, from design conception to 3D printing, it only takes one week to complete and provide for production line testing, with the average cost being only 1/40 of outsourced production.
(With successful experience, internal parts and structural housings, in addition to fixtures, can also be adjusted or repaired as needed.)
Small Batch, Diverse Products, Rapid Line Changeovers
Taking the panel product TPC-1251T as an example from the video, the main production process involves three workstations: assembly, testing, and packaging. To meet the demands of small batches and diverse products, the production line must operate with high flexibility and rapid changeovers, while maintaining stable production speed and quality.
(Advantech's advanced automatic mixed-flow multi-machine testing platform, leading the industry.)
Providing operators with appropriate auxiliary tools has become key to systematic production, further driving the demand for independent development and manufacturing. "Introducing Ultimaker 3D printers is to enable direct 'co-work' between fixture design and development and the production line, quickly and directly meeting the production line's needs through collaborative efforts," emphasized Advantech Senior Engineer, Lin Hong-yu.
(Advantech strictly demands product quality and has a cleanroom for product cleaning.)
Emerging Model
To date, the Ultimaker 3D printer has produced over 300 fixtures for them, saving approximately 1500 days in outsourcing cycles and over two and a half million New Taiwan Dollars in costs. The greatest value lies in facilitating effective cross-departmental communication and testing through immediate tools, helping the entire production line quickly complete various products.
(Tools designed for individual products via 3D printers can accelerate standardized operating procedures. All three workstations—testing, production, and packaging—require 3D printing fixtures.)
"After introducing 3D printers, we can directly inspect the physical product on the production line and communicate and modify it according to needs to meet production line requirements," emphasized Zhu Jian-yu, Advantech Process Engineer. In addition to existing production processes, 3D printing tools are also used for new product development and the introduction of new designs.
(Advantech's large curved touchscreen in gaming testing.)
From the initial introduction to its current development, countless products have been produced internally using 3D printing auxiliary tools. This almost fully integrates the internal smart production line into a complete, end-to-end process, allowing full control over technology from independent design to manufacturing.
(Advantech's engineering and production unit leaders collaborate to improve production processes, promoting internal design, manufacturing, and intelligence.)
We are delighted to see more and more Taiwanese companies using Ultimaker 3D printers to improve production processes, and we are very grateful to Advantech for providing this interview and manufacturing journey, giving viewers a glimpse into the key behind-the-scenes of their production process! Do you have similar needs? In addition to 3D printers, in recent years, more and more desktop equipment suitable for in-house manufacturing, such as vacuum forming technology, CNC, and laser processing, have gradually emerged. You can now immediately reduce costs and secure orders for your office or production line!
See ten devices at once at the 3D Printing Exhibition
．Exhibition Dates: 2019/8/21 (Wed) - 8/24 (Sat)
．Exhibition Hours: 9:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM (Saturday until 4:00 PM)
．Exhibition Venue: Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2, 4th Floor, Booth S423
Follow our Facebook page to stay updated: https://www.facebook.com/3dmart.com.tw/
Advantech