Members want to understand some of our assembly processes, what is needed and what can be changed.
AMA (which stands for "Ask Me Anything") is a type of Q&A session popular in online communities. During the session, people can ask the host anything about a specific topic. In our last session, Steve and Erin answered questions that users posted on Twitter (using the hashtag #UltimakerAMA) or on our community forum.
Steve works at Ultimaker's production facility in the Netherlands, leading our global Six Sigma projects, planning, purchasing, logistics, manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, and quality assurance teams. Erin works at FBRC8 North America. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the assembly, technical support, quality management, shipping, and inventory departments.
Big News: Ultimaker S5 Released
The latest Ultimaker release has changed our production process, generating a lot of interest. The Ultimaker S5 is a larger printer than our previous products, with a new volume of 330 x 240 x 300mm (Ultimaker 3 is 215 x 215 x 200mm). User @Dim3nsioneer asked: "What special challenges did you encounter during the production of the new Ultimaker S5?"
Steve answered this question. "The Ultimaker S5 is very large! It presented new challenges in how we move semi-finished and finished products. So, we developed a lift table that can be used as a trolley, making it easier and safer for the team to lift and move the S5 for the assembly process."
@cjs also asked about the new aluminum print bed and its challenges. "No challenges, only opportunities," Steve replied. "In this case, we are striving to achieve the highest quality for the aluminum print bed, which took a little longer than expected."
Processes and Procedures
@ultiarjan wanted to know if the S5 is installed on an existing conveyor belt, which opened up a discussion about how the production line works.
"We actually have each printer assembled by a trained operator, who is able to assemble every model of printer we produce," Steve said. They have work instructions for each printer and assemble one complete printer at a time. This is often a bit different from mass-produced production lines.
Erin also confirmed this: "Most of the printers are assembled by a technician working at a desk, and this is ESD safe. However, some parts of the printer are assembled separately in advance to help make the assembly process smoother."
Steve then explained: "The people who pick and fill production trays for assembly follow a two-part process. One process [involves] individual parts directly from the warehouse. The other process is pre-assembly, where we pick parts and then assemble [these] into a combined part."
@kmanstudios wanted to know how the Netherlands and North American sites stay in sync. Erin explained: "We have regular meetings to discuss upcoming changes or issues we find.
There is a continuous feedback loop between quality control and technical support during production. This means that any problem seen in the process can be investigated, the cause can be determined, the best course of action can be taken, and solutions can be discussed.
About All Assembly
Some users wanted to know more about how our printers are assembled. A question from @cjs about the average assembly time per printer led to an interesting response from Steve: "The total time – including picking, pre-assembly, quality control, and packing – ranges from 400-550 minutes. The Ultimaker 2+ is currently the fastest printer to assemble. The S5 is now faster than the smaller dual-extrusion Ultimaker 3 because the manufacturing engineering team has improved the assembly process."
He went on to explain some of the upgrades that reduced the S5's assembly time. "The assembly of the casing is a clear improvement, with self-locking flat-head screws offering speed and aesthetics. Now we can operate with an electric screwdriver with one hand, without having to hold and tighten the screw with both hands."
You can read the full AMA session on our community forum. Thanks to everyone who asked questions. We love to share all things Ultimaker, so follow us on Twitter for our next AMA!
Original link:https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/52641-how-are-ultimaker-printers-made-read-our-ama-recap