Industrial Machinery Digest - July 2023

North America’s Manufacturing Resource for Industry Professionals Since 1986

Connecting with Rahul Garg - VP Industrial Machinery and SMB Program, Siemens Digital Industries Software

AI Discusses AI

An Update on the CHIPs and Science Act of 2022

3D Laser Scanning Enables Unique Reimagining of 1863 “The Freedman” Sculpture

The Hidden Harms of Heat Stress: A Primer on Prevention and Protection

Powering the Robotic Revolution: Women in Advanced Manufacturing

Automated Dosing of Coolants and Lubricants in Grinding Machines

Can You Make This Part?

News

#AI #Robotics #AdditiveManufacturing #AdvancedManufacturing #Sustainability

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AI is here to stay. In some capacity we are all going to be using a derivative of AI - if you use any number of personal assistants, you already have been exposed to this new technology. Check out our New Tech article entitled “AI Discusses AI” in which we interviewed an AI service.

Summer is flying by - and the heat outside continues to dictate how we work. It doesn’t seem like there is relief in sight, which means you should take the time to read our contribution on “The Harms of Heat Stress: A Primer on Prevention and Protection” in our Safety & Maintenance section. Heat in the manufacturing workplace is a serious issue and must be considered and managed to maintain a safe working environment.

you will find much more in this month’s edition, including Industry News clips addressing AI, Sustainability, Additive Manufacturing, and Advanced Manufacturing.

Our Business 4.0 section highlights the latest advances in metrology through application of 3D scanning lasers. This article discusses how a famous piece of art could be reworked using these advanced capabilities, which also create the file formats and rendering to be fed into many different 3D printing applications.

We attended the Siemens Realize lIVE 2023 event in l as Vegas to learn more about digital transformation, and the role that PlM, cloud, and SaaS plays in increasing clock speed of product realization. We were fortunate enough to be able to sit down with Rahul Garg, VP Industrial Machinery and SMB Program, Siemens Digital Industries Software, and discuss a wide range of PlM, collaboration, and digital enabled capabilities in this space. Our Talking Shop article captures the discussion and provides a great view into the evolution of this space.

Sarah Melish contributed an excellent article that showcases our theme for this month’s Manufacturing Showcase, Women in Manufacturing. Entitled “Powering the Robotic Revolution: Women in Advanced Manufacturing,” Sarah highlights several women that are making big contributions in the robotics sector through their roles within yaskawa America, Inc. - Motoman Robotics Division.

Industrial Automation this month features an article that discusses an automated solution for coolants and lubricant dosing in grinding machines. Our Workforce Development article is an update on how the bold vision of the CHIPs and Science Act is (or isn’t) being realizedspending, impacts on a couple of states, and a quote from a writer that is watching this from the view of American Scientists.

As new competitive features are added, and software content increases, managing the configuration of products and derivatives increases in complexity. ConfigIt co-founder Henrik Hulgaard shares his views in Industry Insight.

Managing is one thing - but you still have to make the configurations. Vertical plays or the new concept of Concentric Acquisitions are discussed in our Process section this monthhighlighting the business process of collaborative development and delivery.

Stay cool during this scorching summer, and keep building!

Trey Bell – Editor in Chief trey@indmacdig.com

#AI #Robotics

Alphasense Core becomes Core Research

Sevensense’s research-oriented development kit rebranded Sevensense Robotics has unveiled a new name for its stateof-the-art multi-camera visual-inertial sensor. Alphasense Core is now Core Research. The development kit, tailored for research applications in the computer vision field, was rebranded to honor its user base.

Core Research consists of five high-sensitivity cameras and a synchronized IMu. It offers multi-camera support, synchronized visual-inertial data, high-sensitivity image sensors, and robotics-specific exposure algorithms. It can be used to research Visual AI applications. Since its launch in 2019, the development kit has received major international recognition and has been used by a number of research teams. Thanks to the release of Core Research, in 2020 Sevensense Robotics won the RBR50 Innovation Award.

In 2021, the team CERBERuS -formed by researchers from the Autonomous Systems l ab at ETH Zurich, the Norwegian university of Science and Technology, and Oxford university-, winner of the DARPA Subterranean Challenge, equipped their legged robots with Core Research. Moreover, since 2021 the construction hardware manufacturer HIlTI uses Core Research as a dataset recording device for their annual Sl AM challenge.

Sevensense has also announced it has outsourced the sales of the rebranded development kit to its resellers MyBOTSHOP and ARGO. MyBOTSHOP distributes robotic components and systems to universities and research institutes. Their focus region is Europe, and they also offer worldwide shipments. ARGO is a specialized trading company for innovative technology originating from outside of Japan. Their focus region is Japan.

#Additive Manufacturing

SPEE3D Chosen by uS Navy to Develop SuBSAFE Manufacturing Materials With Its Patented Metal Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing (CSAM) Technology leading Additive Manufacturing Technology to Produce On-Demand Parts for NAVSEA Maritime Project that Meet Strict SuBSAFE Compliance Standards

SPEE3D, a leading metal additive manufacturing company, announced that the uS Navy has chosen its metal cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) technology to develop materials as a part of a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) project related to Expeditionary Maintenance and Sustainment that achieve Submarine Safety Program (SuBSAFE) quality standards. SPEE3D was subcontracted through the Applied Research l aboratory of the Pennsylvania State university (ARl / PSu), a leading NAVSEA partner in cold spray technology development and transition.

The partnership marks the first time a cold spray additive manufacturing technology will be investigated as a manufacturing method for SuBSAFE-compliant applications. Working together, the uS Navy, ARl / PSu, and SPEE3D will develop an entirely new method to rapidly manufacture existing parts for use in critical submarine systems.

SuBSAFE is a u.S. Navy quality assurance program designed to ensure the safety of its submarine fleet. All work done and materials used on those systems are tightly controlled to ensure the material used in their assembly and the methods of assembly, maintenance, and testing are correct. The uS Navy and ARl /PSu are investigating SPEE3D’s CSAM technology to determine if it meets the rigorous engineering, quality, and safety requirements with the benefit of rapid part production.

With SPEE3D’s capabilities, submarine parts could be manufactured in hours instead of months with a proven technology that has been tested extensively by the uS, uK, and Australian militaries. In addition, SPEE3D is platformagnostic and can manufacture a variety of metals, including aluminum 6061, aluminum bronze, and copper.

“We are honored to be chosen and trusted by the u.S. Navy to participate in this groundbreaking project,” said Steven Camilleri, Co-Founder and CTO at SPEE3D. “We have worked successfully with the u.S. Navy in the past and understand the unique challenges they face with the need for manufacturing capabilities that are fast, reliable, and easily deployable.

3D Printing Software Integrates 3D Manufacturing Format

Software pioneer CoreTechnologie has integrated the 3MF 3D manufacturing format into its 4D_Additive printing software. The German-French software company CoreTechnologie (CT) has joined the 3MF industry consortium and optimised the latest version of its 3D printing software 4D_Additive for the 3D manufacturing format 3MF (3D Manufacturing Format). The integration of the 3MF open source file format into the 4D_Additive software is another step to strengthen the increasingly important industry standard for additive manufacturing.

Bridge between CAD Data and Additive Manufacturing

The 4D_Additive software is a modern technological bridge between CAD and additive manufacturing that supports all major 3D-Printing methods. The tool reads and writes also the modern 3MF data format. The open 3MF printing format makes it possible to send 3D models and production data for additive manufacturing independently as well as crossplatform to different software, hardware and service providers.

Based on CoreTechnologie's expertise in interoperability, 4D_Additive also enables the reading and writing of all common 3D data formats and offers automatic functions for 3D nesting as well as high-precision slicing of tessellated and accurate CAD B-Rep models. The software was developed

for professional use and is suitable for both experts and beginners thanks to a user-friendly, intuitive and ergonomic graphic interface.

Additive Manufacturing with High Accuracy

CoreTechnologie's software enables direct processing as well as correction and optimisation of CAD models to ensure a seamless as well as automated workflow for all major 3D printing processes. CT CEO Armin Brüning says: "We are excited to be part of the 3MF consortium and to bring the unique capabilities of 4D_Additive, especially in terms of using accurate B-Rep CAD models for the additive manufacturing process. The industry is ready to embrace this technology, which brings precision and traceability of the established CAD standard as well as manufacturing information such as 3D dimensions and tolerances to the additive manufacturing process."

The potential applications for the new technology are diverse and range from the aerospace and automotive industries to medical technology.

Further information is available at www.coretechnologie.com/ products/4d-additive.

Mazak MegaStir Becomes Exclusive Tooling Supplier for MElD Solid Deposition Technology

Mazak MegaStir has signed an agreement making it the exclusive supplier of tooling for MElD Manufacturing’s solid deposition technology. As a pioneer in friction stir welding (FSW) technology, Mazak MegaStir will provide its hard metal expertise along with tooling specifically developed for the MElD process that also incorporates the use of friction as part of its solid deposition process.

Mazak MegaStir, according to Dale Fleck, General Manager of Mazak MegaStir, has the unique ability to provide the complex tooling with the high-strength capability necessary to commercialize MElD’s solid deposition technology. The tooling is made from ultrahard materials such as PCBN and carbide and withstands the extremely high loads and forces necessary for the process. like Mazak MegaStir’s FSW process, solid deposition is also a solid way of joining, but as part of an additive process for the joining of stacked material layers to produce/build structures. As these layers are deposited, the Mazak MegaStir tooling, operating with applied pressure and frictional load, spins and joins the layers together. The tooling mounts into deposition heads on CNC machine platforms with the ability to feed the metal material down through the center of the head and the tooling.

MElD Manufacturing is based in Christianburg, Virginia, and its MElD process is capable of printing large metal parts at a scale not yet achieved in the metal additive market. As a solid-state process, it can produce high-quality materials and parts with low residual stresses and full density with significantly lower energy requirements than more conventional fusionbased processes.

Because the MElD process occurs in the solid state, it also produces materials that are not susceptible to porosity, hot-cracking or other common problems that plague melt-based technologies. MElD is a single-step process that does not require time-consuming follow-up processes such as hot isostatic pressing (HIP) or sintering to improve the quality of the deposited material.

Mantle is Awarded the SME Additive Manufacturing Start-up Technology Award for Its Innovative 3D Printing Solution for Tooling

Mantle, the leader in metal 3D printing for toolmaking, announced today that it has won the prestigious Additive Manufacturing Start-up Technology Award for its innovative metal 3D printing technology. SME, formerly known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, selected Mantle and delivered the award at the 2023 RAPID + TCT conference, North America’s largest Additive Manufacturing event.

The AM Start-up Technology Award recognizes businesses with unique technologies that solve existing manufacturing problems with a unique technical approach. Mantle was selected as the winner of the award for its groundbreaking TrueShape 3D printing technology, which significantly reduces the cost and lead times to produce precision tooling while allowing for better tool designs and solving skilled labor shortages.

The AM Start-up Technology Award is a highly competitive award that attracts some of the best and brightest start-ups in the 3D printing industry. SME, an organization committed to promoting and supporting the manufacturing industry and the creator of critical toolmaking content such as Tooling u, screened numerous start-ups before selecting Mantle based on the criteria of:

» Technical feasibility: the technology has been demonstrated or is feasibly sound

» uniqueness: the technology solves an existing problem with a unique approach

» Market potential: the technology serves a large market and can make a meaningful impact

» Messaging and communication: the company has a clear value proposition and messaging

Mantle announced the availability of its production machines in September of 2022 and has quickly established itself as the leader in metal 3D printing for precision toolmaking. Mantle has already been adopted by major OEMs, molders, and toolmakers who have benefited from the reduced time to market, improved part quality and lower cost production that come from using Mantle technology.

#AdvancedManufacturing

Machinery Manufacturer Norwalt Opens Facility in Tampa, Expanding Footprint and Capacity

New plant increases company’s floorspace by 25%, with room for adjacent buildouts to accommodate growth in medical devices and other niches.

Norwalt, a specialist in custom-built automation and line integration machinery for complex manufacturing applications, has commenced operations at a new production facility in Tampa, Fl . A satellite site to the company’s primary plant in Randolph, NJ, the new facility increases Norwalt’s overall production floorspace by 25%, and features buildout potential for adjacent areas moving forward.

For Norwalt, the expansion is rooted both in current necessity and near-future opportunity. In recent years, the company has seen an unprecedented growth surge, prioritizing additional space to continue to meet expedited equipment delivery timeframes. With Norwalt anticipating future growth, the Tampa plant also provides ample elbow room to accommodate additional business.

Mirroring the New Jersey facility, the Florida plant will be utilized for the full gamut of Norwalt’s conceptto-completion capabilities set. The company's engineers design, construct, validate and install premium production equipment whose functionalities include – but are by no means limited to – packaging and product assembly, post-mold automation, modular automation cells and robotics systems. Norwalt serves customers in a wide array of sectors, from medical devices and food & beverage applications to personal care and household items.

Among these sectors, Norwalt views medical device and diagnostics as one particularly primed for growth. The industry depends upon pristine, tight-tolerance plastics components and products manufacturing, a niche that aligns well with Norwalt’s core engineering expertise. The company has ample experience designing solutions for pipette and vial inspection and assembly, medical valve and personal device assembly, and diagnostic test kit assembly.

“While we’ve incrementally added floorspace to our New Jersey headquarters over our five decades in business, the Tampa plant marks our first dedicated secondary facility,” said Keith Harman, Director of Business Development for Norwalt. “In an ever-evolving manufacturing environment, demand continues to surge for automation and line integration machinery that minimizes downtime, maximizes efficiency, and tackles otherwise labor-intensive tasks.”

3D Laser Scanning Enables Unique Reimagining of 1863 The Freedman Sculpture

3D laser scanning from NVision made possible a remarkable “collaboration” between two sculptors separated by 160 years. The Southlake, Texas company’s precision scanning enabled artist Hugh Hayden to create a new, 3D-printed, version of John Quincy Adams Ward’s groundbreaking sculpture The Freedman using a digital copy of Ward’s 1863 original as a model. NVision’s scans provided Hayden with a 3D computer-aided design (CAD) file of the sculpture’s highly detailed surface geometry, which he then digitally reworked to create a Freedman for the 21st century.

Hayden’s work is part of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art’s (Fort Worth, TX) exhibition Emancipation: The unfinished Project of liberation exploring the ideas of freedom and emancipation both then and now through the work of seven Black contemporary artists alongside historical artwork. Ward’s sculpture from the Carter’s collection, an homage to freedom inspired by lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, was stylistically trailblazing in the 19th century. Departing from the conventional depictions of AfricanAmericans as powerless it instead presents a classically posed African-American figure not in a state of subjugation but on the cusp of freedom, his chains of enslavement broken. Created in 1863 as the Civil War raged, the then-uncertain status of full emancipation is reflected by the presence of shackles that remain on the man’s wrists.

“In preparation for our current Emancipation: The unfinished Project of liberation exhibition, we wanted The Freedman to inspire living artists to create their own work,” explains Maggie Adler, Curator of Paintings, Sculpture, and Works on Paper at the Carter.“ To that end, we invited seven emerging and mid-career Black artists to react to and engage with some of the issues embedded in Ward’s work.” The artists were encouraged to explore Ward’s sculpture through the lenses of their own lives and produce a corresponding artistic statement.

Each artist took the Carter’s prompt in a different direction, with contributions including sculpture, photography, and paper and textile fabrications–but Hayden offered a unique approach: he wanted to make a 3D-printed mold of The Freedman for the modern era, revising Ward’s work to show the original figure in a more contemporary setting.

This presented a tremendous challenge. Traditional casting methods–such as those Ward himself used to copy his sculptures–were ruled out, as creating the mold could compromise the appearance of the museum’s bronze cast and also run the risk of accidentally damaging it in

the process. And no form of manual measurement could accurately capture the complex surface geometry and expressive character of the statue.

To create the duplicate that would serve as the basis for his re-creation, Hayden needed the complete set of the sculpture’s dimensional measurements. But how do you nondestructively measure such intricate curvatures and other details–including an engraved tribute to the first black union regiment on the right manacle–with the required degree of precision?

The museum contacted NVision, a leader in 3D non-contact optical scanning and engineering services with an extensive history of helping sculptors digitize their creations for preservation and duplication. “NVision has made a name for itself in helping much of the art world achieve its objectives,” says Adler. Sculptures from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New york,Ny) the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture (Mercerville, NJ), the Nasher Sculpture Center (Dallas, TX), and “Balloon Dog'' creator Jeff Koons, have all been digitized by NVision.

With the supervision of Carter curators and conservators, NVision scanned the 19 ¾” x 14 ¼” x 10 ½” sculpture using a HandHeld scanner, a powerful portable laser-scanning device capable of accurately capturing 3D geometry from objects of almost any size or shape in precise detail. The scanning was completed in less than half a day. “The NVision team was extremely sophisticated in both making sure that every fraction of an inch was measured and that no harm come to our statue,” says Adler.

Hugh Hayden (b. 1983), American Dream, 2023, plastic, Courtesy of the Artist, © Hugh Hayden . Hayden’s reimagined sculpture places the original Freedman figure in changed circumstances

The HandHeld scanner used by NVision can capture 60,000 separate spatial measurements per second with an accuracy of +\- 0.025 mm or 25 microns, which is +/- one-thousandth of an inch. (For comparison, the thickness of a human hair is about 70 microns.) This makes it the ideal method to collect data on the complex geometry of sculptural art.

The scanner is attached to a mechanical arm that moves about the sculpture, freeing the engineer to capture the data rapidly and with a high degree of resolution and accuracy. As the laser sweeps the sculpture’s surface, the scanner generates a “point cloud” consisting of millions of points, each with x,y,z coordinates and i,j,k vectors. Every individual point represents a specific geospatial location on the sculpture’s surface. The final point cloud defines the object’s surface shapes and dimensions with an accuracy that outstrips other measurement technologies.

The scanner’s integrated software converts the point cloud to an STl (Stereolithography) polygonal file while intuitive software allows real-time rendering, full model editing, polygon reduction, and data output to all standard 3D packages. The STl file is used to create a 3D IGES/ STEP/Parasolid model, which is then converted into the required CAD format.

“NVision created a rendering of The Freedman that is accurate to within a fraction of a human hair, “ says Adler. “Mr. Hayden proceeded to alter the scans in ways that are meaningful to him to make the sculpture his own and 3D-printed the results in white plastic.”

“This project was analogous to reverse engineering projects we do for the aerospace and other industries,” says Steve Kersen, president of NVision.

“Those scans provide engineers with 3D CAD files they can use to revise product designs. In this case, it allowed a 21st-century artist to put his own stamp on a sculpture originally created 160 years ago.”

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NVision’s scans provided Hayden with a 3D digital model of The Freedman’s detailed surface geometry, viewable from every perspective and scale, which he digitally reworked to create his reimagined sculpture

FEATURING:

We connected up with Rahul Garg, VP Industrial Machinery and SMB Program, Siemens Digital Industries Software, for a live interview during our attendance of Siemens Realize lIVE 2023. Realize lIVE brings together users, suppliers, customers, and media to discuss, innovate, and realize how digital transformation can impact our world today. Our interview with Rahul

#NPI #ENGINEERING #BOM #CLOCKSPEED

TB - Thanks for meeting with us. Some background on me - the first 14 years of my career was with Andersen Consulting and then Accenture. Back in the 1990s this software space was Product Data Management (PDM), and evolved to Product l ifecycle Management (P l M) in the late 90s, early 2000s. I was a global P l M partner for Accenture, and was fortunate enough to get exposure to the commonality of the problem set. Probably the only guy in here that has worked on 3 different PDM package installations - way back - Sherpa, Metaphase, HP WorkManager - and evaluated many others through hands-on POCs, including CMStat and MatrixOne and Pro PDM. Working with clients on how to managing information, driving accelerated NPI cycles, enabling Integrated Product Teams, identifying Configuration Items, and defining the strategies for management of the relationships between all those items was a relevant topic to all industries, and fraught with common problems.

RG - None of those problems have changed.

focused on Siemens© current positioning in the digital solutions space with a focus on requirements through manufacturing through support, spanning the entire product lifecycle.

I took the interview through a wide range of topics, but all with the intent of providing insight to our readers of what is available today in this space.

TB - That’s what I told my publisher. None of the context has changed. But 25 years ago, it was like crossing the chasmbeing in the front of the adoption cycle - and now it doesn’t seem like pushing a boulder up a hill. It seems like its more of a steam rolling effect, more mainstream.

RG - It’s more mainstream, and companies are recognizing, like Brenda (Brenda Discher, Head of Communication, Siemens Digital Industries, and SVP Business Strategy and Marketing, Siemens Digital Industries Software) mentioned, the need for more clock speed. Getting products to market faster has never been more important. How fast can they get this done? They know the need and don’t have a choice. How fast can they get a development implementation done? How fast can they get all the things done they are envisioning?

TB - What do you think has enabled this set of capabilities (Siemens Xcelerator, cloud strategy with SaaS approach) to support clock speed? Before or “back in the day”, we were talking about speed to market and Integrated Product Teams. Just managing metadata was a big deal, and managing the associated files for an ECO, or ECN through

TALKING SHOP WITH: Rahul Garg — VP Industrial Machinery and SMB Program, Siemens Digital Industries Software

release was a huge process - then you had to reconcile as-designed, as-built, as-shipped BOMs. What is enabling us to go through the full lifecycle now at a faster and more effective rate, across multiple companies even? Maybe this is the vision of Siemens Xcelerator.

RG - yes. So to me, I think there are two or three reasons why that urgency is pushed over the edge now, as compared to 3 or 4 years ago. COVID was one huge factor. Everyone’s eyes opened up. “I’ve got to do something different.” COVID was the catalyst and the problems had been there. “I need to figure out how to make my products more competitive.” The only way to make them more competitive is adding more automation and adding more software into it. So its not just looking at a mechanical product, its bringing it together into a holistic view. It’s not something I can just do with spreadsheets.

One of our customers in Germany used to actually literally manage all of the I/O interfaces in a spreadsheet. They make gear grinding machines. In the gear grinding machine they make, they had something like 200 PlC control points, and every one of those control points was managed in a spreadsheet. Every time they would make a change, the spreadsheet had to be updated.

TB - And the version of that specific PlC code had to be managed along with all the other pieces.

RG - They did that for 15 years in a spreadsheet. And you can only go so far….

TB - it was a damn good spreadsheet though, let’s be honest.

RG - [l aughing]…yes, but they were so afraid that if anything was to happen…and they had 20 engineers working on different parts of that code, and they were trying to get these machines out the door faster. So how are you going to ensure all the changes made by those 20 engineers is copied into that spreadsheet so that when a machine is shipped everything is accurately comprehended by that spreadsheet and it represents the as-shipped version? ultimately you find later on that what was shipped was something very different than the spreadsheet - and we don’t have that code anymore. It’s gone.

TB - So really the provision to accept and embrace increasing software content is one of the enablers of clock speed? Configuration management now is not just the hardware bill of material. It is across all these other systems.

RG - All the other systems. The configuration management, the disparate teams working together. Before COVID, so literally, this company I’m talking about had large engineering rooms in one facility. you could still go talk to

the other guy in the other corner to get an issue sorted out. During COVID, it is like you have to make a phone call, have to create a Teams session, that whole interaction process making sure it got setup and was where it was supposed to be, and things were beginning to fall apart.

you shipped a machine and you did not know what was on the machine. Now it is setup at a customer’s site and there is a problem. So how do you fix that problem? you don’t know what is on that machine because the code that you have got is very different than what is on the machine. So it is like “How do I fix that”?

#CONFIGURATIONMANAGEMENT

#SYSTEMSENGINEERING #AI #ANALYTICS

TB - These are still configuration management issues today.

RG - yes.

TB - It hasn’t really changed except there is a recognition that you have to look at it from a systems view.

RG - A complete systems view, number one. And across the company lifecycle. The configuration is actually changing, and changing around more rapidly. Previously you worried about the configuration only during the development cycle, as you are building it. you didn’t care as much about what is

happening later on. Now that the machine is in operation as well, there is a different configuration than what was setup and what was built. That machine, pointing back to the example case, has a lifecycle of 10-15 years. So now the lifecycle of that equipment has also grown a lot more and how do you make sure that all the changes have been incorporated properly.

TB - I’m assuming that your products have the ability to track what is added to the machine when it is in the field, or new software upgrades.

RG - yes. As-designed, as-built, as-maintained, as-updated. All of that gets tracked.

TB - So think a little bit about what we talked about. What kind of provisions are being made for support in the field? What is the strategy? What are you guys envisioning? I heard audio problem logs [Ed: in one of the presentations, Siemens discussed the partnership between Microsoft Teams and Teamcenter, and how it would enable advanced in-field support capabilities].

RG - I think the only reason that Tony [Ed: Tony Hemmelgarn, CEO and President of Siemens Digital Industries Software, presented earlier in the day about the Teams and Teamcenter capability] spoke about that is to show an example of how AI is being used to capture issues.

TB - So it has a big role right? AI.

RG - It has the potential for a big role. I think we are all trying to find the right application that can be used with it. That was just an example of something they put together for Hannover Messe to show how something very simple as Teams and Microsoft are integrating with the rest of the engineering and development systems. Teams is a very simple user interface and all audio systems are a very simple interface. you can easily talk into your phone and capture the issue, and boom, it gets sent to an engineer that can solve it, and the engineer is tracking it on a physical system. So that was just a simple example. Having said that, we have a whole IoT-based solution as well that is tracking and monitoring what is going on in the background.

TB - you have analytics that are running,

RG - Absolutely.

TB - you have real-time monitoring that is taking place.

RG - Exactly.

#DIGITAL TWIN #PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE #DATA PRIVACY

TB - In the field this is not a design digital twin this is something different.

RG - An operational digital twin. In this operational digital twin we have the ability to monitor any type of parameter you want from temperature to vibration to noise. All pre-indicators to potential problems. For instance, if there is some noise that is going to lead to some vibration which is then going to lead to some temperature impact. The moment you sense some vibration, you know it's going to lead to some temperature impact as well. And that temperature is going to lead to something not working right. It is going to heat up and it's going to break.

William Strickland [Publisher] - So now you are catching it ahead of time. In real-time.

RG - you got it.

TB - you can look at trends to determine where the system is headed. This is similar to the function of a JV between Accenture and GE focused on aircraft prognostics for jets, that analyzed QAR files from airplanes to get tail number, model, and fleet-based trends. Predictive diagnostics. I see predictive maintenance everywhere now though, it isn’t new anymore.

RG - It’s not new anymore. The challenge is the adoption curve. How quickly can you get it to be used by the industry, and just the challenges of operational level details. The

technology is there. Now, how do you operationalize it? A simple example in a lot of the capabilities that we talked about, so many of our customers on the industrial machinery side many times don’t sell the equipment directly to the end user. There are distributors in-between as well. These distributors are also the ones providing a lot of the service.

TB - So they are kind of like a Value-Added Reseller (VAR)?

RG - Exactly a VAR. And they are local service guys. If something breaks down you need someone who is going to come in and change that code or change that belt, whatever may be the case. That guy needs to be informed as well. And the OEM needs to be informed, the guy who made the equipment. And then the end-user is concerned as well. “wait a second, I don’t want to have all my data going to all these different companies on how I am using this machine, what I’m actually doing with it..” Those are some of the operational level concerns that people are still trying to work through.

you know one of our customers they actually make industrial water pumps and those industrial water pumps are used by cities and by governments in some cases to get water out of lakes and wells or wherever there source, and push them in different networks. So these are massive industrial pumps. The cities are not willing to share that

data easily because of security and regulatory concerns and approval authority. Who has the approval authority to say, “yep, all this data we have, as the mayor I can go give it to this other company.” And who has the authority to buy this? Who knows what customer data, what privacy or security issues I need to sort through. The citizens of the city have not approved sharing their information about how their water usage is happening today, with some pump manufacturers.

#SIEMENSXCELERATOR #SYSTEMSDESIGN #VERTICALSOLUTIONS

TB - I’m going to shift gears. I want to talk about Siemens Xcelerator for a little bit. As complexity of products increase, and software content increases, and new business models crop up, the entire requirements management piece becomes more urgent and important, yet in the past it has been broken. Where is Siemens on addressing requirements flow down and how do you track against requirements?

RG - yes, Tony briefly touched upon it, and you are going to hear a lot more about it tomorrow [Day 2 of RealizelIVE], about the whole concept of model-based systems development. The idea behind that model-based

a requirements process…and make sure you capture all of the requirements.

TB - And they’re indexed! [both laughing]

RG - Actually in our systems they are broken up into objects. Those requirements objects can then feed the rest of the development process. If you design for an electrical requirement, and this product needs to go to Brazil, you have to have an electrical requirement for Brazil which is very different than an electrical requirement in for instance the united States.

TB - So the object inheritance means I can have an electrical requirement at the top level, then my instances for Brazil electrical requirement or united States electrical requirement can be slightly different, but still inherit the overall electrical design requirement. It is an objectoriented approach.

RG - you got it. That electrical requirement now is to shift all of the wiring to support the 220 requirements of Brazil, will drive not not just the electrical wiring requirements but even the routing of those wires because they may need to be routed differently. Motors will need to change, it’s just not the wiring. The motor driving the WIMTS is your opportunity to engage with leaders and experts in the Manufacturing & Technology industries, explore the industry’s most innovative and disruptive technologies, and gain insights on new industry trends to help prepare you for the future. All under one roof!

that motor now? When it comes in it’s going to have some different specifications. It may have different size and dimension specifications. Those size and dimension specifications will require the Mechanical Engineer, who is creating the mounting points for that motor, to look at that motor differently. Maybe it is the same, we do not know, but at least they will need to look at it. Essentially that one requirement for electrical will phase down to all these different people, as to how that one requirement is going to lead to some different specifications on the mechanical side, on the electrical side. And based on that determining how the performance will be changing. What is the torque we are going to get in this new motor and is it sufficient for what these guys are trying to do, because the parts they are going to make are going to be of some different or new steel quality? All of that will need to be traced through the product life cycle.

TB - Including the testing that ties back and confirms everything right?

RG - That's right. And we have a very, very strong approach to that. We are recognizing that this needs to be adopted more extensively across industries. I would say in the past this approach was led primarily by the Aerospace industry because of their regulatory requirements being so strong. They had to make sure that the regulatory requirements are

well captured, documented, and those requirements are well fed to the rest of the process. We have been working with many of the defense and aerospace companies and that is getting us to a view that these same challenges are there in other industries.

TB - Healthcare is a great example. you have to keep track of a Device Manufacturing Record for instance. I guess they call it that now, a DMR. An FDA requirement when you build out a device. If you have good requirements tracking your are half-way home.

RG - This something that we have put a lot of focus on as a company, and there is a complete process behind it.

TB - So I’m trying to understand where Siemens Xcelerator fits in this. Is it kind of the backbone for the data management and transactional sharing, maybe even workflow - although Teamcenter is probably the workflow….

RG - let me try and simplify it.

TB - Is it the glue that everything external can plug into?

RG - Exactly. It’s not just external but internal as well.

TB - When I was doing stuff for Raytheon way back

as a consultant, they had this concept of an Object Request Broker. Is that what Siemens Xcelerator is? Is it kind of like that?

RG - It’s not going down to the object request broker, but the intent is to make that glue work inside the applications. Teamcenter is the object request broker, what is providing that back-end integration process. This portfolio of capabilities, portfolio of solutions, portfolio of technologies, that's what we call Siemens Xcelerator.

TB - Everything that “sits” on top? l ike one level above the operating system?

RG - yes, it’s at the application level.

TB - I wrote some iPhone apps and was just trying to put that into perspective.

RG - Sure. It’s the glue to bring all the apps together.

TB - The common requests, the common data, the commonality of how apps get what they want, and then the framework or structure that actually helps these things talk to each other, and allows these things to “talk” to each other.

C-FRAME PRESSES

• Heavy Gauge Steel Design

• Press Bed bolted on, not welded, to prevent distortion.

• Large press bed to accommodate a variety of tooling other than just punching.

• Pump, motor, valve and reservoir are all easily accessible for maintenance.

• Large rectangular tubes used at base of machine to give safe, instant portability.

RG - It is becoming more important in the Cloud and SaaS work. We are in the process of transitioning a lot of our applications which are running on the desktop in an independent mode, and getting them to work in the Cloud.

#SMBVALUEPROPOSTION #SINGLEVENDORSOLUTIONS #INTEROPERABILITY

TB - So the SMB space, small-medium business space, what is the value proposition for SMB? From my perspective this allows a company or person to “plug-in” and become part of a team, or part of a collaborative network where they couldn’t do that before.

RG - There are multiple things in the SMB space which we are doing, which is already making it very easy for small and medium sized companies to start adopting our technology. I will give you an example. Number 1 is this cloud-based portfolio of capabilities, which makes it very easy to use without having to invest a lot of money up front.

TB - The subscription model?

RG - yes, the subscription model. It makes it very easy for the SMB space. Keep adding users and only pay by the month or by the year. This allows a company to move along as its operational needs grow. Number 2, the big thing is we are seeing more and more of is the SMB companies would rather deal with one vendor versus many, many vendors and having to buy through many, many different people. Siemens is probably the only company that has all of the necessary capabilities under one “roof.” It makes it so much easier for them because a larger enterprise company can buy more technologies from different independent entities and work through the process of bringing all of those integrations together.

TB - Interoperability issues are a huge challenge.

RG - Huge. As an SMB company, you don’t have to worry about that when you start working with Siemens, because we have already done that integration. We have already built those capabilities. The SMB company just starts figuring out how and when to start using those different capabilities. To me that is a big factor, having one single vendor. And areas where we do not have capabilities, we have done a lot of partnerships. Tony spoke about one of them today, IBM, where they are making some capabilities that we do not have. We have built those necessary integrations so you as a customer don’t need to worry about how you are going to bring that capability in. One of the other partners he did not talk about was Salesforce.com. Salesforce has a big CRM solution. We have built an integration between our PlM

systems and Salesforce. So as an independent company, if you are trying to manage your design information for a specific customer, and you are trying to manage all your customer relationship information in Salesforce, now you can see them all together.

TB - Just based on a serial number someone provides?

RG - Exactly.

TB - That is fantastic.

RG - To me I think from an SMB perspective there are a lot of things we are doing that make it very easy for smaller sized companies to start adopting our solutions. We are also industrializing our solution. For example…

TB - Security?

RG - Security and cybersecurity is something we have baked into our core processes. When I say industrialize the word I should have probably used was “verticalized.” The needs of the medical industry versus an aerospace company versus an automotive company. We are tailoring the solution to the specific needs of that industry. There is a lot of work we have already done in that regard, and we continue to work on that. We

have specific solutions for medical companies, we have specific solutions for machining companies, even for automotive suppliers, and for aerospace suppliers. It enables an easier transition for those companies when they are able to say this is already the best practice and all these companies in this space are already using it, so I might as well use this instead of figuring out how I should do this. It has been tried, it has been tested, it has been developed, let me start using it.

The adoption curve is greatly reduced. The best practices are already built in there. The processes are already built in there. Start using this process it works. For the 15-25 years of experiences that we have had in industry, now we have incorporated that into our SaaS solutions so it makes it very easy for them to start getting ready and getting online very quickly. Which is what SMB companies want right? They don’t want the headache of trying to go learn…

TB - They don’t have an IT shop. Most don’t have a CIO with a staff where they can go and build all these extensible connections. They need to get stuff done. GSD.

RG - Exactly. That’s a good one.

TB - Thanks Rahul for your time. you hit all of your topic areas, and we appreciate speaking with you.

The Hidden Harms of Heat Stress: A Primer on Prevention and Protection

Everyone knows what it feels like to be too hot. But far fewer people truly realize just how costly and dangerous excessive heat can be. Indeed, heat stress is a critical concern for individuals working or participating in activities in hot environments. Heat stress happens when the body’s innate cooling mechanisms struggle to properly regulate a safe internal temperature, which leads to a wide range of adverse effects that can be life-threatening. This article aims to shed more light on heat stress and to provide practical strategies for preventing heat stress and for protecting your workforce and workplace from its dangerous and deleterious impact.

What is heat stress?

Put simply, heat stress arises when the body's heat generation exceeds its capacity for heat loss. High temperatures combined with high humidity and physical exertion can intensify the risk. Several other factors contribute to heat stress, including ambient temperature, radiant heat sources, clothing, individual physiology, and hydration levels. Heat strain, on the other hand, is the body’s response to heat stress. And an individual’s heat strain is dependent on several factors as well: physical fitness, acclimatization, medical conditions, age, general health, weight, hydration levels and medications.

Why is it dangerous?

Heat-related illnesses can range from mild conditions, like dehydration and heat rash, to potentially lethal conditions, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion occurs as a result of excessive water and salt loss through sweating. And, clearly, heat exhaustion becomes even more dangerous if the affected person is operating machinery or performing risky tasks that require attention to detail. It is critical to recognize the symptoms of heat stress because it is generally treatable without medical attention. untreated, however, heat stress can quickly worsen to full-fledged heat stroke – which is a medical emergency. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: rapid heartbeat, profuse sweating,

extreme weakness or fatigue, dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting, elevated body temperature, headache and thirst.

Heat stroke, a medical emergency, occurs when body temperature rises to a critical level (greater than 104° F). This can cause death and/or permanent disability and immediate medical attention should be sought if any of the following symptoms are experienced or witnessed: temperature over 104° F, confusion or loss of coordination, hot/dry skin or profuse sweating, throbbing headache, seizure or loss of consciousness.

Heat stress (and its concomitant medical conditions – heat exhaustion and heat stroke) isn’t just dangerous and potentially deadly; it also causes reduced productivity and increased cost. uncomfortably hot facilities also promote increased absenteeism and workplace injuries, which naturally lead to negative employee morale and overall productivity.

Clearly, heat stress poses significant risks to the health, safety and comfort of individuals exposed to excessively hot environments. That said, with proper awareness and precautions, the dangers of heat stress can be mitigated. Prioritizing workplace and workforce comfort and safety is essential to ensure good health, well-being, and productivity in these overly hot environments.

How fans can help

Fans can be an effective, affordable, and efficient tool in combating heat stress. Part of their effectiveness flows from this truth: Fans cool people, not rooms. They create airflow that quickly evaporates perspiration from the skin, which carries away excess heat. Fans also reduce the thickness of hot, humid air that builds up around workers. These mechanisms improve heat dissipation and allow a person’s natural cooling ability to function properly. In general, fans help mitigate heat stress and improve heat dissipation through these mechanisms:

» Evaporative cooling – As air moves across the skin, it enhances the rate of moisture (sweat) evaporation, which helps dissipate excess body heat.

» Increased air circulation – Moving air reduces the local humidity around the body, preventing buildup of heat and moisture. Fans also improve air circulation within a space, which helps disperse stagnant, hot air. Finally, this air circulation promotes the exchange of heat between the body and surrounding environment, enhancing the cooling effect.

» Heat distribution – In a confined space, fans help more evenly distribute cool air from air conditioning systems. This reduces ‘hot spots’ and ensures a more consistent temperature, which improves comfort and lowers the risk of heat stress.

» Psychological comfort – Fans also provide a psychological cooling effect, which creates a sensation of air movement and reduces the perception of heat even if the ambient temperature remains largely unchanged.

While fans can be greatly effective in managing heat stress, it’s worth noting that they are most beneficial when air temperature is lower than ‘normal’ body temperature (99° F or lower). In extremely hot and humid conditions, fans might not be enough to provide adequate relief, and other cooling options (like air conditioning or seeking shade) should be considered. Additionally, fan usage should be combined with proper hydration, appropriate clothing and other preventive measures outlined in this article to ensure comprehensive protection from heat stress.

Why Big Ass Fans?

Big Ass Fans, the world’s leader in developing, designing and delivering airflow solutions for commercial and industrial settings, specializes in building HVl S (high volume, low speed) fans that are purpose-built to provide the most effective and efficient air movement on earth. HVl S fans achieve this through:

» Enhanced airflow – HVl S fans move large volumes of air at low rotational speeds, which creates a gentle breeze over a large area and promotes even better air circulation. This increased airflow helps evaporate moisture from the skin, enhancing the body’s innate cooling process.

» Thermal equalization – In large enclosed spaces, temperature variation occurs when hot air rises and cooler air falls. A Big Ass fan can help break up this stratification by circulating air, creating a more uniform temperature throughout the space, reducing ‘hot spots’, and improving comfort levels on the lowest level of a facility where workers reside.

» Comfort zone expansion – The large diameter and slow rotation speed of a Big Ass fans create a wide comfort zone. Expanding the comfort zone allows more people to benefit from the cooling effect and reduces the risk of heat stress in larger spaces.

» Energy efficiency – Despite their size, Big Ass Fans are designed to operate with low energy consumption. Compared to traditional high-speed fans or air conditioning systems, Big Ass Fans provide effective cooling with reduced energy usage. This can result in energy cost savings while still maintaining a comfortable environment.

Since 1999, Big Ass Fans has been a trailblazer when it comes to innovation, research, and development of big fans (and small ones); and its dedication to safety and commitment to solving airflow problems is unmatched in the industry. Big Ass fans are purpose-built to provide cooling power, improved air circulation, energy efficiency, and unrivaled durability with an ultimate goal of providing uncompromising comfort, even in the most extreme environments.

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Powering the Robotic Revolution: Women in Advanced Manufacturing

By Sarah Mellish - Marketing Content Specialist, Yaskawa America Inc. – Motoman Robotics Division (Yaskawa Motoman)

In the robotic automation community, it is quietly understood that it takes a “village” to build and sell a robotic system. From piece part fabricators and peripheral suppliers to robot manufacturers and automation integrators, a strong supply chain paired with a highly skilled network of professionals is integral to a successful end user robot experience. For yaskawa America Inc. – Motoman Robotics Division ( yaskawa Motoman), the sentiment is the same; it takes a dedicated team of experts throughout the organization to execute a strategic plan that yields and maintains high-quality robotic systems for long-term customer success.

Helping to make this happen is a growing internal workforce of women. Part of the 30% percent of women that make up the advanced manufacturing workforce1 , these talented professionals specialize in unique fields, enabling the design, assembly, implementation and support of robotic systems. From leadership positions to hands-on assembly, every role is significant to empowering customers along their robotic automation journey and achieving maximum return on investment (ROI).

For Supervisor of Standard Engineering, lisa Tidball, the project load at yaskawa Motoman brings something exciting and interesting every day. “I come from a family of many engineers, and I grew up knowing that’s what I wanted to do,” states Tidball. “Being able to troubleshoot issues, evaluate new designs, and conduct product testing in a manufacturing setting is a lot of hard work come to fruition.” Her experience as an Engineering Co-op with yaskawa Motoman during college, as well as her Mechanical Engineering degree and Supervisory leadership training through the university of Dayton (uD), influence every aspect of her job – enabling her to multi-task and manage her dedicated team while executing diverse project deliverables.

With her last name stemming from a Slavic word variant that means robot or physical labor, Manager of Partner Business Development, Jean Rabatin, was destined to be in the automation industry. Inspired by her father’s thirty-year career at General Motors and his interest in hot rods, Jean’s affinity to work in manufacturing began at an early age. From tearing apart and reassembling big block Chevy motors in the garage to working at a steel rolling company out of high school, her curiosity for the way things are made continues. With over two decades of sales and management

experience in industrial automation, as well as a degree in Organizational Administration, she strives to connect with strategic partners to fulfill yaskawa Motoman’s mission: to efficiently deliver high-quality innovative robotic solutions that help customers and partners to be competitive globally, while providing the highest level of customer satisfaction in the automation industry. With a keen understanding that the industry is always changing, her best advice to other women is, “Not to assume manufacturing and automation are places for only men. There aren’t many ladies in the industry, but the ones that stick around definitely make an impact.” And, that is exactly what Jean continues to do through her work. Her dedication to innovation and continuous improvement is inspiring, helping partner companies assist end users in reaching their full potential.

Process Engineer, Mikayla Wear, started her journey to robotics in seventh grade when her science teacher started an all-girls FIRST lEGO robotics team. Igniting her innovative spirit, Mikayla continued to pursue her passion,

The robotics industry is full of diverse talent, including highly intelligent, capable women who continue to forge their own paths to fulfilling careers.

receiving a diploma in Mechatronics and Robotics from a career and technology center in southwestern Pennsylvania. While earning her Electrical Engineering degree from the university of Dayton, Mikayla completed an R&D summer internship through the uD yaskawa Motoman Robotics l ab, as well as a Technology Advancement Co-op with yaskawa Motoman, where she now builds and maintains tradeshow workcells and customer demos. Providing internal and external technical support, when necessary, is also part of her daily routine. When asked what her advice would be to young women looking to break into the industry she says, “Have a plan for what you want to do for your life and don’t do the bare minimum – get out there, find opportunities and grow your skills.” Mikayla has done this and leads by example every day, encouraging her coworkers to mature their knowledge and skills.

After nearly a decade with yaskawa Motoman, Assembler of Component Assembly, Sharon Moeller, is still glad she came to a crossroads, where she decided to pursue a career in manufacturing. “I tell people that I went from ribs to robots,” offers Moeller. “I wanted a change of pace outside of the restaurant industry, so I applied at yaskawa – which has been a great fit.” Daily, Sharon assembles wire for the robots and positioners that are typically integrated into larger robotic workcells. While she had no prior robot knowledge, the company provided the training needed to execute her job well. Today, Moeller assembles hundreds of wire types used in robotic systems and works alongside a team of assemblers that are integral to the production of yaskawa robots.

Enjoying the change of pace her manufacturing career brings, Materials Coordinator, Stacy Moeller, helps maintain fluid production. Responsible for scanning and picking parts for the production of sub-assemblies, positioners and interfaces, she is meticulous about her work. With this in mind, she has also taken on the responsibility of cycle count (aka: inventory), where she goes through every storage bin and drawer on a regular basis to ensure all parts are in their proper place. “My transition from working in the medical field to manufacturing has been a good fit,” says Moeller. “For me, it is less mentally and emotionally trying.” With the American robotics market continuing to show strong growth2, Stacy continues to stay busy walking nearly three miles a day while pulling parts.

For Manager of Quality and Methods Engineering, Dana Halverson, it was her love for math and science that prompted her to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State university. “I have always enjoyed seeing processes come together to produce products,” says Halverson. “My engineering degree trained me to think and problem solve, providing me the ability to do many different things.” With twenty-plus years of experience as a quality manager in various industries, Dana manages an internal team that is responsible for maintaining yaskawa’s ISO quality management system, as well as labor calculations for parts and assemblies. On any given day, she can be found seeking root causes and resolution for quality issues related

to processes and components, so that short- and long-term corrective actions can be implemented, as needed.

upon seeing her first robot in a factory, Robotics Instructor, Samantha Jarmusevich, knew she would one day pursue a career in robotics. After various operator, quality inspector and skilled trades positions, such as metal finishing and rework, she took it upon herself to attend college and become a certified welder in MIG, TIG, SMAW, OAW and OFC-A welding methods. Her drive to learn more about robotic programming prompted her to register for a yaskawa Academy class. “I paid out of my own pocket using my vacation time to attend a DX200 Basic Programming with Coordinated Motion class,” says Jarmusevich. “That course opened a door of opportunities in my life that I will forever be grateful for.” In fact, this training paved the way for her current job at yaskawa Academy – yaskawa Motoman’s IACET-accredited robotics training facility located at the company’s Miamisburg, Ohio, headquarters. From Basic and Advanced Programming (with or without arc welding), Maintenance and other specialty classes yaskawa offers, she puts her passion for teaching to use, passing her robotics and welding knowledge onto end users on a weekly basis.

The Future of Women in Automation

As the robotic revolution unfolds, women will continue to break barriers and have an undeniable impact in the field of automation, especially as the skills gap grows. likewise, this door of intriguing opportunity, and a satisfying change of pace for many, will continue to attract diverse, intelligent and capable female talent to design, manufacture and sell robotic systems. Just as these individuals (and many more) have worked hard to pave their own paths, the next generation of women is primed to follow in their footsteps. With more STEM-centric activities and workforce development education available, getting started on a career path to manufacturing and robotics is easier than ever. Those interested in pursuing a career should not hesitate and reach out to local schools or companies that can offer guidance.

1 Making a Place for Women in Manufacturing, U.S. Department of Commerce, 2021

2 Robot Sales in North American Manufacturing Up 12 Percent, IFR 2023

Robotics Instructor, Samantha Jarmusevich, teaching at Yaskawa Academy.

Optimum dosing, mixing, care and protection of water-miscible coolants

Vomat: New mixing/dosing and care system in KSS fine filtration

Modular system for long service life of emulsions and solutions in industrial grinding processes

Water-miscible cooling lubricants represent a cost-optimized alternative to their non-water-soluble counterparts in many grinding operations in the metalworking industry. To ensure that the emulsions and solutions can remain in the system for a long time, precise metering and mixing is crucial. In addition, it must be ensured that process-destabilizing contaminants are identified and removed at an early stage during use. until now, this was often a manual inspection and additional task that the machine operator constantly performed during the grinding process. A new system for dosing, mixing and maintaining water-miscible cooling lubricants from the filter specialist Vomat in Treuen provides a remedy. The Vomat system is made up of various modules, ensures the correct dosing and mixing of water and concentrate fully automatically before and during use, detects contaminants during the process and extracts them. A special distribution unit also allows the connection of several grinding machines.

Thanks to their high water content, water-miscible cooling lubricants have, among other things, a very good cooling effect. The additives optimize the physical, chemical and tribological properties of the cooling lubricant. Optimally dosed and mixed, modern emulsions and solutions thus make a significant contribution to process stability, reduced maintenance requirements and minimized coolant and ancillary costs in their simple as well as economical use in certain grinding applications. In addition, they increase workplace safety and sustainably conserve resources and the environment.

However, the application properties of watermiscible cooling lubricants can be quickly changed by various interfering factors: One disadvantage compared with non-water-miscible cooling lubricants is their poor resistance to microorganisms. Infestation by fungi, bacteria, yeasts, etc. reduces the durability and corrosion protection of the emulsions. The hygienic conditions for the operating personnel deteriorate. Cooling lubricants contaminated with germs can, for example, cause serious health problems after

contact with the skin. But a cooling lubricant with a high microbial load also poses a problem for the workpiece, tool and machine, since discoloration of the machined parts, shorter tool life and corrosion can be the result. In addition, water-miscible coolants lose stability due to infestation by microorganisms. This not only reduces tool life, but can also cause operational problems and machine downtime.

Stefen Strobel, Sales Manager at Vomat, says, "The service life of a cooling lubricant depends not only on product quality and the machining process, but also to a large extent on monitoring and the maintenance technology used, its scope and continuity. In order to use the water-mixed coolants economically and to achieve the desired grinding qualities as well as cost reductions, it is therefore imperative to maintain the service properties of the products used for as long as possible. Regular monitoring of the cooling lubricants with corrective measures is therefore necessary for use with long service lives and for the lowest possible risk potential for people and the environment. In this way, it is possible to react quickly and effectively, for example, in the event of mixture fluctuations and impurities, etc. This is not only important from the point of view of the lubricants themselves. This is not only important from the point of view of service life optimization. The user is also required by law to keep the cooling lubricant in perfect condition for the purposes of occupational safety and also to record its monitoring."

Increase process reliability and save time and costs

With a fully automatic maintenance system, Vomat now makes the use of water-miscible MWF even more timeand cost-optimized. The system has a modular design and

The entire mixing and care system.

can be integrated into the respective conditions of each grinding system as required.

The heart of the system is the fully automatic mixing and dosing system (MDS) with a tank size of up to 10,000 liters, which constantly regulates the defined ratio of water quantity and coolant concentrate with high precision.

Steffen Strobel: "During grinding, there are drag-out losses, and some of the cooling lubricant also evaporates, so that the quantity and mixing ratio of water and concentrate are constantly changing. This can negatively affect the usage properties and shorten the service life. It is therefore important that the machine operator continuously checks the mixing ratio and can take corrective action if necessary. Our MDS now takes over this manual process, including the prescribed logging. This saves time, costs and significantly increases process reliability."

In addition, the grinder can use an analysis module (AS) that identifies process-destabilizing contaminants, such as particles from the grinding process, and determines their content. A special extrusion system (ES) removes these contaminants.

Steffen Strobel: "Our new maintenance system is modular, energy-efficient and compact. It helps to significantly increase the service life of water-miscible cooling lubricants in grinding processes. And a special distribution unit even allows the connection of several

The fully automatic mixing and dosing system (MDS) with a tank size of up to 10,000 liters, constantly regulates the defined ratio of water quantity and cooling lubricant concentrate with high precision.

AI discusses AI

This month we discuss a new technology that many of you have experienced or heard about before- because this new technology is here to stay. Whether we embrace or resist, the transformation to a business environment where many decisions are impacted by the thoughtfulness of the nearest artificial intelligence chat or automated assistant or digital personal assistant is quickly becoming a reality. Or is it?

There aren’t many places in the IoT world where one can hide from the reach of AI. However, it may not be evident because there are situations where AI has been an ongoing presence for many years, just in a different form or under a different name. So, to get some real genuine perspective on AI, we decided to turn to what else - AI. The following article from this point is a reflection of AI on AI, with seeded questions we provided. We aren’t going to reveal which AI we used, except to say it is one of the larger available online services. It's up to you to fact check. The responses are in their entirety.

What are the biggest trends in AI in 2023?

AI: Democratization of AI is becoming more accessible to businesses and individuals, thanks to the development of low-code and no-code AI platforms. This means that anyone with an idea can now build an AI-powered application, without having to be a data scientist or engineer. Other specific trends include:

» Increased use of AI in healthcare: AI is being used to improve healthcare in a number of ways, including diagnosing diseases, developing new treatments, and

providing personalized care. For example, AI-powered systems can now identify skin cancer with the same accuracy as a dermatologist, and AI-powered chatbots can provide support and advice to patients.

» The rise of generative AI: Generative AI is a type of AI that can create new content, such as text, images, and music. This technology has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries, from marketing to entertainment. For example, generative AI can be used to create personalized marketing campaigns or to generate new ideas for movies and TV shows.

» Advances in natural language processing (NlP): NlP is a field of computer science that deals with the interaction between computers and human language. NlP is being used to develop AI systems that can understand and respond to human language in a natural way.

» The development of AI ethics: As AI becomes more powerful, it is important to develop ethical guidelines for its use. This is because AI can be used to make decisions that have a significant impact on people's lives. For example, AI-powered systems could be used to make decisions about who gets a loan or who is hired for a job. It is important to ensure that AI is used in a way that is fair and equitable.

AI is a rapidly evolving field, and it is impossible to say for sure what the future holds. However, it is clear that AI has the potential to change the world in a profound way.

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #IoT #NLP #GenerativeAI #LLM #AdvancedManufacturing

What is the most important innovation in AI over the last 6 months?

AI: There have been many important innovations in AI over the past 6 months, but one of the most significant is the development of large language models (llMs). llMs are a type of AI that can process and generate text, and they have been shown to be capable of some amazing things. For example, llMs can be used to generate realistic-looking fake news articles, write poetry, and even translate languages.

One of the most impressive things about llMs is their ability to learn and adapt. As they are exposed to more data, they become better at understanding and generating text. This means that they have the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with computers.

For example, llMs could be used to create more natural and engaging chatbots. They could also be used to generate personalized content, such as news articles or product recommendations.

» The development of llMs is just one example of the many exciting innovations that are happening in AI. As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more amazing things in the years to come.

» Here are some other important innovations in AI over the past 6 months:

» The development of new AI algorithms that are more efficient and accurate than previous algorithms.

» The development of new AI hardware that is faster and more powerful than previous hardware.

» The development of new AI applications in a wide range of fields, such as healthcare, finance, and transportation.

These are just a few of the many important innovations that are happening in AI. As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more amazing things in the years to come.

What do you see as the role for AI in manufacturing over the next 3 years?

AI: I see AI playing a major role in manufacturing in the next 3 years. Here are a few specific examples:

» AI-powered robots: AI-powered robots are already being used in manufacturing to perform tasks such as welding, painting, and assembly. These robots are more precise and efficient than human workers, and they can work 24/7 without getting tired.

» AI-powered quality control: AI can be used to inspect products for defects and to identify potential problems with the manufacturing process. This can help to improve quality and reduce costs.

» AI-powered predictive maintenance: AI can be used to predict when equipment is likely to fail. This allows manufacturers to schedule maintenance before a problem occurs, which can save time and money.

» AI-powered supply chain management: AI can be used to optimize the supply chain, which can help to

reduce costs and improve efficiency. For example, AI can be used to predict demand for products, to identify the most efficient routes for shipping, and to manage inventory levels.

These are just a few of the ways that AI is being used in manufacturing today. As AI technology continues to develop, I believe that we will see even more innovative applications of AI in manufacturing in the next 3 years.

In addition to the specific examples I mentioned, AI is also being used in manufacturing in a number of other ways, including:

» Designing new products: AI can be used to design new products that are more efficient, effective, and user-friendly.

» Optimizing production processes: AI can be used to optimize production processes, which can lead to increased efficiency and productivity.

» Managing inventory: AI can be used to manage inventory more effectively, which can help to reduce costs and improve customer service.

» Improving quality control: AI can be used to improve quality control, which can lead to fewer defects and increased customer satisfaction.

Overall, AI has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing. By automating tasks, improving efficiency,

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and reducing costs, AI can help manufacturers to stay competitive in a globalized market.

What is the difference between automation of equipment through code-driven decisions and AI use of equipment?

AI: The main difference between automation of equipment that has code-driven decisions and AI use of equipment is that code-driven decisions are based on pre-programmed instructions, while AI-powered decisions are based on machine learning and data analysis.

In code-driven automation, the equipment is programmed to make decisions based on a set of rules. For example, a robot may be programmed to pick up a part only if it is the correct size and shape. This type of automation is very efficient and can be used to perform repetitive tasks with high accuracy. However, it is not very flexible and cannot adapt to changes in the environment or the product being produced.

AI-powered automation, on the other hand, uses machine learning to learn from data and make decisions on its own. For example, an AI-powered robot may be able to learn to pick up different types of parts, even if they are not the same size or shape. This type of automation is more flexible and can adapt to changes in the environment or the product being produced. However, it is also more complex and requires more data to train.

In general, code-driven automation is a good choice for tasks that are repetitive and do not require a lot of flexibility. AI-powered automation is a good choice for tasks that are more complex and require the ability to adapt to changes.

Here are some examples of how code-driven automation and AI-powered automation are used in manufacturing:

Code-driven automation:

» A robot that is programmed to pick up a part only if it is

the correct size and shape.

» A machine that is programmed to weld two pieces of metal together.

» A conveyor belt that is programmed to move products from one station to another.

AI-powered automation:

» A robot that can learn to pick up different types of parts, even if they are not the same size or shape.

» A machine that can learn to adjust its settings to produce different products.

» A system that can predict when equipment is likely to fail and take preventive action.

As AI technology continues to develop, we can expect to see more and more AI-powered automation in manufacturing. AI has the potential to make manufacturing more efficient, productive, and competitive.

What is your view on Industry 5.0 and how is it being deployed?

AI: Industry 5.0 is the fifth industrial revolution, which is characterized by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other advanced technologies into manufacturing processes. The goal of Industry 5.0 is to create more intelligent, flexible, and sustainable manufacturing systems.

There are a number of ways that Industry 5.0 is being deployed. One way is through the use of smart factories. Smart factories use AI, IoT, and other technologies to collect and analyze data from machines and equipment. This data can then be used to improve production efficiency, quality, and sustainability.

Another way that Industry 5.0 is being deployed is through the use of collaborative robots. Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are robots that can work safely alongside humans. Cobots can be used to automate

tasks that are dangerous or repetitive, freeing up human workers to focus on more creative and strategic tasks. Industry 5.0 is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing. By integrating AI, IoT, and other advanced technologies, manufacturers can create more intelligent, flexible, and sustainable manufacturing systems. This can lead to increased productivity, improved quality, and reduced costs. Here are some specific examples of how Industry 5.0 is being deployed:

» Siemens: Siemens is a German multinational conglomerate that specializes in the production of industrial machinery and electronics. Siemens has been a pioneer in the development of Industry 5.0, and it has deployed a number of Industry 5.0 solutions in its own factories. For example, Siemens has deployed a smart factory in its wind turbine manufacturing plant in Denmark. The smart factory uses AI, IoT, and other technologies to collect and analyze data from machines and equipment. This data is then used to improve production efficiency, quality, and sustainability.

» General Electric: General Electric is an American multinational conglomerate that specializes in the production of aircraft engines, medical equipment, and power generation equipment. GE has been a major investor in Industry 5.0, and it has deployed a number of Industry 5.0 solutions in its own factories.

For example, GE has deployed a smart factory in its aircraft engine manufacturing plant in the united States. The smart factory uses AI, IoT, and other technologies to collect and analyze data from machines and equipment. This data is then used to improve production efficiency, quality, and sustainability.

» Rockwell Automation: Rockwell Automation is an American multinational corporation that specializes in the production of industrial automation products and services. Rockwell Automation has been a leader in the development of Industry 5.0, and it offers a number of products and services that enable manufacturers to deploy Industry 5.0 solutions. For example, Rockwell Automation offers a suite of products and services that enable manufacturers to collect and analyze data from machines and equipment. This data can then be used to improve production efficiency, quality, and sustainability.

» Dassault Systèmes: Dassault Systèmes is a French multinational software company that specializes in the development of 3D design and engineering software. Dassault Systèmes has been a major investor in Industry 5.0, and it offers a number of products and services that enable manufacturers to deploy Industry 5.0 solutions. For example, Dassault Systèmes offers a suite of products and services that enable manufacturers to create digital twins of their

products and processes. Digital twins can be used to simulate and optimize manufacturing processes, which can lead to increased productivity, improved quality, and reduced costs.

» PTC: PTC is an American multinational software company that specializes in the development of product lifecycle management (PlM) software. PTC has been a leader in the development of Industry 5.0, and it offers a number of products and services that enable manufacturers to deploy Industry 5.0 solutions. For example, PTC offers a suite of products and services that enable manufacturers to create digital twins of their products and processes. Digital twins can be used to simulate and optimize manufacturing processes, which can lead to increased productivity, improved quality, and reduced costs.

These are just a few of the many companies that are deploying Industry 5.0 solutions. As the field of Industry 5.0 continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more companies offering products and services that enable manufacturers to deploy Industry 5.0 solutions.

So you mentioned Digital Twin. What are the latest innovations in Digital Twin Simulation?

AI: Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical objects or systems that can be used to simulate their behavior and performance. They are increasingly being used in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and energy.

Here are some of the latest innovations in digital twin simulation:

» The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (Ml): AI and Ml are being used to improve the accuracy and efficiency of digital twin simulations. For example, AI can be used to identify patterns in data that would be difficult for humans to see. Ml can be used to automate tasks such as data collection and analysis.

» The use of cloud computing: Cloud computing is making it easier and more affordable to create and maintain digital twin simulations. Cloud-based platforms provide access to powerful computing resources and large datasets.

» The use of open-source software: Open-source software is making it easier for businesses and organizations to create and use digital twin simulations. Open-source software is often free or low-cost, and it is available to anyone who wants to use it.

These are just some of the latest innovations in digital twin simulation. As the technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and disruptive applications in this field.

Here are some specific examples of how digital twin simulation is being used today:

» Manufacturing: Digital twins are being used in manufacturing to improve product design, optimize production processes, and predict failures. For example, General Electric uses digital twins to simulate the performance of jet engines. This allows the company to identify potential problems before they occur, which can save the company money and improve the safety of its products.

» Healthcare: Digital twins are being used in healthcare to improve patient care, develop new treatments, and simulate the performance of medical devices. For example, the Mayo Clinic uses digital twins to simulate the behavior of the human heart. This allows the clinic to test new treatments and procedures without having to put patients at risk.

» Energy: Digital twins are being used in the energy industry to optimize power grids, improve the performance of power plants, and reduce energy consumption. For example, the Tennessee Valley Authority uses digital twins to simulate the performance of its power grid. This allows the company to identify potential problems and make changes to the grid before they cause outages.

These are just a few examples of how digital twin simulation is being used today. As the technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and disruptive applications in this field. And then we were done. I’m sure AI was tired and so was I. Interestingly, the AI has a need for affirmation at the end of every topic response which seems very human, don’t you agree?

Investment in Workforce Development – An Update on the CHIPs and Science Act of 2022

#semiconductor #CHIPs #engineering #opportunities

Back in our March 2023 issue we put together an article that discussed the CHIPs and Science Act of 2022. Specifically, Congress had previously passed, and President Biden signed into law the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act. This legislation authorized a series of programs to promote the research, development, and fabrication of semiconductors within the united States. The purpose of the CHIPS and Science Act was touted as intended to strengthen American manufacturing, supply chains, and national security, and invest in research and development, science and technology, and the workforce of the future to keep the united States the leader in the industries of tomorrow, including nanotechnology, clean energy, quantum

computing, and artificial intelligence. The CHIPS and Science Act is intended to make smart investments, with about $280 Billion available, so that Americans can compete in and win the future.

States look For A Piece of the Action

Certainly several states have seen this as an opportunity to “get on board” and pull business into their boundaries, with the hope of having federal funds get drafted in as well. Notably, on April 13th, the governor of Oregon, Gov. Tina Kotek, signed Senate Bill 4 - the Oregon CHIPS Act - into law, passing both the Oregon House and Oregon Senate with bipartisan support. This bill dedicates $190 million to grants and loans which will support semiconductor

businesses looking to expand to Oregon. Oregon is banking on the opportunity for these businesses to pull through significant federal funding. The Oregon CHIPS Act also funds $10 million for land site preparation funds. These funds are earmarked for communities to use in preparing land for manufacturing sites. An additional $10 million was designated for a university Innovation Research fund.

Not to be outdone, Texas has also picked up on revenue pull through potential by passing The Texas CHIPS Act, which allocates $698 million in incentives for funding chip design, manufacturing, and research companies in the state. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill on Jun 8, 2023 to help boost the semiconductor industry in Texas. Texas, Arizona, and New york are expected to see big benefits from the federal CHIPS and Science Act, with Austin, Texas anticipating significant growth and impact.

The Texas CHIPS legislation mandates the creation of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium and Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, which will manage and administer the disbursement of funds. Academic institutions will play a big role in establishing a public-private partnership to boost the chip industry in Texas (regional innovation consortia, which can grab some specific NSF funding, are expected to have significant involvement led by academia institutions). Texas A&M recently approved the creation of Texas A&M Semiconductor Institutes. The university of Texas at Austin last year proposed the creation of Texas Institute for Electronics (TXIE) around the time passage of the uS CHIPS Act gained steam. TXIE was proposed as the public-private partnership between the universities, Texas state and uS labs to promote chip production and research in Texas. TXIE does not seem operational yet, and the website (https://www.txie. org/) states “coming soon.”

In Arizona, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation better known as TSMC, is building a new

factory—or fab, in semiconductor parlance—in addition to another one announced in 2020. The Taiwanese company is more than tripling its original investment to $40 billion and says the two facilities will create 4,500 direct jobs. The biggest dilemma here is where are the people and skills going to come from? In its same research, J.P. Morgan Research says that global automotive industry will grow 3% in 2023meaning that semiconductor demand could get pushed up quicker with the growing footprint of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles (both having more software content so higher semiconductor computing need).

Spending Not Tracking

The CHIPS and Science Act calls for $280 Billion to be invested in semiconductor related ecosystem initiatives over the next 10 years. The law committed the nation not just to compete with China over industrial policy and talent, but to advance broad national goals such as manufacturing productivity and economic inclusion while ramping up federal investment in science and technology that will enable advanced semiconductor manufacturing. There are many key technology areas that are being driven for advancement in this ambitious law, including advanced manufacturing, AI and machine learning, industrial efficiency, and advanced materials science to name a few. Some of the specific funding intentions included manufacturing and industrial productivity, as well as workforce development and skill gaps. However, the pace of investment doesn’t seem to be tracking at the appropriate run rate levels to move the needle as quickly as an uptick in demand would dictate.

In an article from the Federation of American Scientists, originally published on May 17 in Brookings this year, authors Matt Hourihan, Melissa Roberts Chapman, and Mark Muro wrote, “… it’s become clear that this breakthrough is running into headwinds. In spite of ongoing rhetorical support for

the act’s goals from many political leaders, neither the F y 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act nor the Biden administration’s F y 2024 budget request have delivered on the intended funding targets.”

Perhaps this is due to the catch up in available capacity now the COVID supply-demand mismatch has been worked through the pipeline. According to J.P. Morgan Research, the semiconductor supply began improving in 2022 and is forecasted to continue through 2023.

Matt Hourihan from the Federation of American Scientists, who participated in writing the CHIPS update article, provided some great specific insight to IMD, as he sees a lot being left on the table and the initiative falling short of the bold vision originally communicated. "Congress did provide some nice increases in the F y 2023 omnibus for certain R&D and manufacturing programs, but even those boosts left a nearly $3 billion gap between CHIPS and Science aspirations and reality at the big research agencies. The harder challenge is going to be moving forward. The debt deal will significantly limit discretionary spending over the next two years, and that's going to make it very tough to ratchet up funding. We're already seeing the effects in appropriations: just this week House appropriators voted to hold Office of Science funding flat, while cutting several energy innovation, efficiency and manufacturing programs."

If you Qualify, leap Now

There is still significant funding available through Technology Innovation Partnerships and other programs at National Science Foundation and Department of Commerce. $53 billion alone has been set aside by the act to bring semiconductor factories back to u.S. shores, with a quarter of that sum earmarked for investment in research and job creation.

On yet another front, Congress has recognized the significance of the funding allocations, with two key senators sending a letter to the Depart of Commerce in late May, imploring that the allocation of semiconductor funding align with the economic and security interests of the united States. Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner and Senator John Cornyn said in the letter that the success of the program “depends on a strategic approach that aligns with our national priorities. We implore you to take time to go through every application and determine which ones are most worthy based on national security concerns.” The Commerce Department in late May said that they had received over 300 statements of interest covering 37 states seeking incentives and fund allocation related to the Act.

This bodes well for those manufacturing companies that are in the Aerospace and Defense sector and produce items or work with items having a large semiconductor content.

Can You Make this Part?

One-Stop Shops Maximize their Value-Add to OEMs through Concentric Acquisitions #VerticalSolutions #SingleVendorSolutions #ConcentricAcquisitions

OEMs depend on their vendors to be a trusted source for the design, tooling, manufacturing and assembly of key product components; however, this typically requires working with multiple vendors based on their specialization in metal or plastic parts and the value-added services they provide from coatings to assemblies. Establishing these trusted relationships and orchestrating parts needs across multiple vendors takes time, consumes considerable organization resources, and adds costs to OEM production.

The OEM’s expanding demand for supplier support has resulted in manufacturers positioning themselves to be one-stop parts shops offering a menu of complementary parts spanning different materials such as metal and plastic. A consolidated offering can help streamline parts sourcing for OEMs as well as better support them as their product needs evolve.

Pennsylvania-based PTR Group, a leading contract manufacturer of components and subassemblies, is one such vendor. The company has been strategically acquiring companies offering complementary parts manufacturing differentiated by material and product type to broaden the breadth of their overall parts portfolio.

PTR Group has used a growth strategy known in M&A circles as concentric acquisitions where a company acquires a company in the same or related industry but who do not offer the same products. The company can then realize synergies based on similar technologies, marketing, and distribution channels of the companies they acquire. Sharing resources and facilities across the companies can lower costs by achieving greater economies of scale which benefits their customers.

But PTR Group has taken the concentric acquisition model one step further. By strategically selecting the companies they acquire, they are able to additionally offer OEMs a range of complementary value-added parts and services that go beyond just manufacturing. This includes in-house part and tool design, tool build , complex assembly and testing. This depth of services goes across the different parts and materials they can manufacture enabling the company to provide a broad and deep menu of parts capabilities.

As a result of their acquisition strategy, PTR Group now manufactures a diverse range of parts including valve protection and compressed gas cylinder components and fittings, API and proprietary coupling thread protectors, and hydraulic valves, fittings and manifolds. They also custom manufacture metal components and subassemblies and are a leading supplier of high-precision thermoplastic injection

mold tooling, zinc die-cast mold tooling, and molded plastic components.

Can you make this part?

A common question asked by OEMs of their parts manufacturers is, “Can you make this part?” Often behind this question is an OEM’s perception that the parts vendor can only work with one material or provide limited or no value-added services. Now rather than losing a bid and causing the OEM to have to find yet another parts vendor, PTR Group is in a better position to fulfill the order need regardless of the parts material or specialized handling needs.

PTR Group’s concentric acquisition strategy has enabled them to meet the needs of Chicago-based Wheatland Tube, a division of Zekelman Industries, the

OEMs benefit even further when the single source parts model extends from design to manufacturing across a range of materials.

By strategically selecting the companies they acquire, they are able to offer OEMs a range of complementary value-added parts and services that go beyond just manufacturing.

largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America.

One of the first companies under the PTR Group banner is American Cap, which is one of the few remaining domestic manufacturers of valve protection devices and cylinder components for the compressed gas industry. The company is known for their cylinder caps, adaptor rings, neck rings, sleeves, lids, collars, shells, heads, foot rings, flanges, and spuds and also designs and manufacturers plastic valve guards.

“We started working with American Cap to ramp up our production of couplings,” said Jeff Kneubehl at Wheatland Tube. “That is what we knew them for.”

“We then asked them if they could also make our steel conduit couplings, said Kneubehl. “The answer we got back was, ‘ yes’. So when they proved they could, we came back again to ask about sourcing API couplings for our oil and gas customers and again the answer was, ‘ yes’. They now also supply larger merchant couplings for our residential water and gas customers.”

In the end, Wheatland was able to source steel couplings designed for three individual markets working with a single vendor. Moreover the company was able to meet the quality standards that each market required.

“There’s no question what they’re doing for us is good,” he adds. “They do everything needed for couplings. Moreover, their specifications, identification, and inspection are way beyond what even we require.”

PTR Group’s foresight to pursue a concentric acquisition strategy has enabled them to grow their relationship with Wheatland Tube beyond couplings.

Through their selective concentric acquisition strategy, the company now has several leading companies under their umbrella, in addition to American Cap providing expertise in components and subassemblies from different materials and finishes.

Co-located in the same building as American Cap for greater efficiency, PTR Group founded ACCI Industries to provide long-term, continuous contract manufacturing services for metal components and subassemblies for OEM, industrial, government, and military applications. ACCI Industries focuses on the production of components requiring complex processing and precision assembly Their capabilities include CNC machining, stamping, deep draw, laser cutting, powder coating, and welded assemblies.

“PTR Group has in-house engineering and the capabilities of making [any metal part] we want. They’ve now made chip breakers for us and we’re currently working with them on chasers to cut the threads on a pipe,” says Kneubehl.

PTR Tool and Plastics provides precision-engineered and difficult to mold parts for the automotive, electronics, aerospace, telecommunications, consumer and disposable medical supply industries. The company designs and builds all their own tooling in house.

When Kneubehl discovered that PTR Tool and Plastics could provide the tooling he needed, Wheatland Tube began using them for a variety of sizes of plastic thread protectors for the ends of tubing and piping.

“They design it, make the tool, and also make the product. From the in-house design to the plastic injection mold, which they do right on site. So they do it all,” says Kneubehl.

Although Whetland Tube did no require their services, complementing PTR Group’s other concentric acquisitions is Premier Hydraulics – a Tier One preferred supplier of custom hydraulic components and assemblies to large OEMs in off-road, mining, agriculture, construction, forestry and heavy-duty trucking. The company specializes in customengineered products and can also create sub-assemblies or assemblies with combined components as well as producing standard hydraulic fittings, valves, manifolds, hose connectors, and flanges in very large quantities.

Before the emergence of advanced one-stop parts shops, Wheatland Tube had to find a vendor to engineer each different part before it could go to a machine shop or an injection molder.

“They provide the engineering and the manufacturing under one roof. They will also come to your place, determine the issues are you're having and give you suggestions on how to resolve them,” says Kneubehl.

“We no longer have to pay for the engineering and then run around town looking for someone to make it,” says Kneubehl. “An OEM can avoid issues where someone else doesn’t want to make a part because it’s not designed correctly or what you’re asking for is not efficient or physically possible. It makes the process so much more efficient. We don’t have to go back and forth a lot to get the end product.”

When the single source parts model extends from design to manufacturing across a range of materials, a parts provider can play a pivotal role in an OEM’s parts supply chain streamlining purchasing, fostering greater collaboration in parts design, engineering, manufacturing and assembly, responding to evolving parts needs through product design & manufacturing, and realizing cost savings through manufacturing synergies.

For more information on PTR Group and their services please visit https://www.ptrgroup-mfg.com or contact them at (800) 448-0501.

OEMs benefit even further when the single source parts model extends from design to manufacturing across a range of materials

Modern Configuration: Streamlining and Clarifying the Possibilities

By: Henrik Hulgaard, cofounder and vice president of product management, Configit

Increasingly complicated configuration workflows with a growing number of rules, dependencies and variants are a challenge for manufacturers today. This heightens the need for building and improving product models, as well as conducting thorough evaluations of all viable configurations and rule dependencies in a product model.

There is a demand for more sophisticated configuration technologies as a result of the rising pressure on existing configuration processes. It's essential to comprehend the various technologies and what configuration solutions are capable of if you want to convince customers that everything you sell can actually be built.

What manufacturers are

up

against Products are becoming more complex. There are millions of different possible configurations of a certain product in some businesses. Every one of these configurations has a unique set of details, including its price, documentation, CAD drawings and a Bill of Materials (BoM).

Manufacturers are attempting to control all these various configurations and make sure that they are only providing customers with options that are truly available. It

is quite challenging to maintain everything in a coherent, understandable and visible way across many functions. But managing the complexity of configurable products is not just about the physical product. It involves managing software aspects as well as aftermarket/servicing. Introducing software into products causes several issues, not all of which can be addressed using a configuration solution. For example, the software development cycle/versioning can be difficult to align with the traditional lifecycle of physical products as managed in a product life cycle management (PlM) system. However, a configuration system can ensure that software parameters that needs to be set when deploying the product are set according to the requirements specified as part of the configuration process. Identifying and configuring a particular product in the point-of-sale can also generate the configuration parameters that need to be set when the product is commissioned. A configuration system is also central when replacing parts or upgrading an existing machine with new capabilities, such as understanding how the machine was configured. This is a better starting point than understanding the parts-content of the machine.

Combination overwhelm

Many businesses are working with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to try to address this on the manufacturing side. Most engineering departments use a Pl M system of some kind. Both circumstances entail writing rules and testing out scenarios for particular configurations.

An automobile manufacturer might wonder, "What happens if I choose this variant, and I choose that size and this color?" They’ll receive a path that outlines their options and illustrates how a consumer might navigate this path. But there isn't any meaningful analysis being done.

Trial and error is neither viable nor sustainable when working with, for example, several hundred parameters. To cover more than a small portion of the potential combinations would take too much time and effort.

Most businesses in this position are left with no choice but to test a small number of probable outcomes and hope that will suffice – but issues could arise. Because of a rule change that unintentionally disabled the French market, for example, customers of one company couldn't order cars in France. The organization then had to spend time reviewing the incident and determining the cause. They found the cause and fixed it, but not in a strategic way.

Managing the complete product

In the ERP world, there’s the concept of Configuration Items (CIs), which is any item, service or other element that needs to be managed in order to ensure successful delivery of a service. As products and services become more sophisticated in meeting customer demands, as well as new business models like servitization and subscriptions, the number of software, service and other CIs that aren’t part of the core increases. For example, ensuring that the right software versions are delivered together with hardware, that the correct service and support plans are included. Increasingly, the analytics capabilities need to be included to ensure that customer KPIs are being met.

All of these items need to be considered part of the extended product model and managed as part of the configuration. Fortunately, the same concepts and rules can be applied to ensure that the right CIs are included in each customer delivery and managed across the lifecycle of the customer solution.

Working with configuration technology

What if there was a way to create and analyze viable configurations in a much more comprehensive manner without wasting many employee hours on trial and error?

What if everything could be carried out in a far more organized and centralized way?

With a configuration solution, it allows the ability to look at the individual rules, figure out how they affect each other, and then figure out what combinations are

possible. This method may also assist in discovering other intriguing data. An engineer may discover, for example, that not all expected combinations of engines and transmissions are allowed by the configuration rules.

The important thing, though, is that it helps identify these restrictions and exceptions before buyers can. This avoids situations in which a customer chooses a specific configuration, only to find out from the engineering department that it isn't feasible, forcing the sales representative to break the bad news to the customer.

A configuration solution enables a manufacturer to validate the BOM, ensuring that the "recipe" of parts is complete for whatever configuration is received from the sales team. BOM errors are easy to make and might be problematic for some configurations. And you might not be aware of this until you get to the manufacturing facility.

The outcome is that data is verified before sharing it, providing peace of mind that what an organization is providing is accurate – and internal stakeholders can identify rule flaws before customers do. A configuration tool also enables the ability to optimize and evaluate the potential options that customers are likely to select. Although most businesses have not yet reached this level of maturity, it would help eliminate some complexity by, for example, bundling choices.

The configuration model provides information about all valid configurations. If the model is combined with take-rates for each option in the configurator, organizations can calculate the probability of each part number in the BOM to be selected, allowing engineering to "cut the long tail" – basically eliminating those combinations that are unlikely to be selected and thus saving parts. But there can be reasons for keeping combinations around that rarely sell. For example, many automotive manufacturers keep base models available to offer a low starting price, though almost all customers select upgraded versions.

These capabilities are not only relevant to the core product, but to all the additional configuration items that need to be included to ensure that delivery to the customer is successful. The same optimization process can be applied enabling efficient management of all configuration items.

Configuration management: Mastering the possibilities

The configurability possibilities available in manufacturing today are far too complicated for manual, error-prone workflows. To minimize errors and duplicated work, all departments—engineering, production, sales and service—must collaborate from a single source of data truth. understanding the numerous capabilities and opportunities that configuration solutions provide is crucial for making sure that everything you offer for sale can be produced and be profitable. With the use of configuration technology, manufacturers can generate valid configurations more quickly and precisely.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

The Technology House Accelerates l arge-Scale Parts Production with 3D Systems’ Sl

A 750 3D Systems (NySE:DDD) today announced The Technology House (TTH), an Ohio-based contract manufacturer, has purchased an Sl A 750 to enhance its manufacturing workflow. 3D Systems’ latest Stereolithography (Sl A) printer offers unprecedented levels of throughput and reliability as compared to other available Sl A printers. The combination of the Sl A 750’s high-speed production, large build area, and broad materials portfolio is allowing TTH to expand the services offered to its customers. TTH is now able to help its customers push the boundaries of innovation — from prototyping to finished parts — for a range of industrial and healthcare applications.

The Technology House opened in 1996 as a 3D Systems customer with one Sl A 500 3D printer. Since that time, TTH has continued to integrate additional 3D Systems Sl A printers including Sl A 5000s, Sl A 7000s, and Vipers among other 3D Systems technology. After 3D Systems introduced the Sl A 750 in 2022, TTH chose to add it to their workflow due to its exceptional capabilities, including enhanced automation and efficiency that results in shorter lead times, faster post-processing, and improved part quality.

“We’ve been a customer of 3D Systems for over 25 years,” said lauren Good, VP, finance, The Technology House. “We’ve found their solutions, service, and overall partnership invaluable to our business. After our thorough evaluation of the competitive landscape, we chose to add the Sl A 750 to our manufacturing workflow not only due to its speed and accuracy which allows us to produce both large parts as well as fine feature detail, but also for the number of productiongrade materials that we can now offer. 3D Systems’ material portfolio expansion with the Sl A 750 allows us to offer better solutions to our customer base faster. We can complete jobs much more efficiently with very little post-processing. Having the Sl A 750 is helping us get more throughput out the door which means we are able to complete the job in half the time and offer a better cost to our customers.”

3D Systems’ Sl A 750 is designed to deliver the industryleading combination of print size, speed, accuracy, and resolution for final parts that possess unmatched finish and mechanical performance. The 3D printer delivers up

to 30% faster print speeds and has a 15% larger build envelope and smaller hardware footprint than previous models, allowing manufacturers to optimize and scale production. The system features a self-calibrating dual-rail recoater to improve print process reliability and final part mechanical properties. Additionally, Hyper-Scan™ vector technology — a proprietary scanning algorithm developed to address the unique requirements of production additive manufacturing applications — optimizes key speed and productivity elements such as laser focus and power, as well as vector motor kinematics to deliver significantly improved printer speed and throughput. The printer includes downstream automation readiness and is robot compatible for 24/7 lights-out operation (e.g., fully automatic printer turnover, job-offloading, washing, on-boarding). The Sl A 750 also includes 3D Sprint®, all-in-one software to prepare, optimize, and print 3D CAD data. 3D Sprint delivers all the tools needed to quickly and efficiently go from design to high-quality, true-to-CAD printed parts without relying on multiple software packages.

“We’re excited to have The Technology House as an early adopter of our Sl A 750 solution,” said John Murray, vice president, global ISG segment & business development, 3D Systems. “As a long-standing 3D Systems customer, they have been able to leverage our innovation evolution to benefit both their business and their customers. The combination of the Sl A 750’s enhanced speed, optimized laser scanning, improved resolution, and part quality, and faster industrial-scale post-processing is helping TTH more efficiently serve their customers. As a result, they are able to take on even more business which is helping them maintain their position as an industry leader. I look forward to seeing how they’ll continue to grow and deliver additional benefits for their customers.”

Industrial Machinery Digest's Monthly Product Showcase features the latest from some of the manufacturing industry's top suppliers.

Authentise brings ChatGPT capabilities to Additive Manufacturing

3DGPT allows users to interrogate the power of 12,000+ additive manufacturing journal articles and standards for free.

Birmingham, uK, held in conjunction with TCT360 on June 7-8 (Booth IA34; Innovation Alley) to find out more.

For information, please: Contact marketing@authentise.com or visit www.authentise.com

CADDi launches AI-enabled Drawing Management Software for Procurement

Optimized with artificial intelligence and CADDi’s manufacturing expertise, CADDi Drawer helps procurement teams make smarter purchasing decisions

Global procurement solutions leader CADDi Inc. has announced a new service poised to revolutionize the manufacturing industry’s digital transformation by utilizing its most essential data: drawings.

Authentise (www.authentise.com), the leader in data-driven engineering & manufacturing workflow tools, has released a new artificial intelligence tool that allows users to interrogate the world’s largest collection of additive manufacturing knowledge using every-day language.

With 3DGPT, users can ask any question – from general ones such as “What additive technologies can I use to 3D print concrete?”, to more specific ones such as “How do I reduce the likelihood of defects when working with Stainless Steel in powder bed fusion?” – and receive intelligent answers rooted in deep industry knowledge in return. The answers utilise both the knowledge contained within the journal articles and standards, as well as the general knowledge on which OpenAI’s ChatGPT is built. uniquely, the tool provides references to its more technical answers, providing users the chance to scrutinise 3DGPT’s answers.

The system is open for public trials at www.authentise. com/3dgpt now.

“AI is evolving at an incredible pace and it’s time for the additive community to see how it can benefit. Authentise has always focused on integrating the world’s best algorithms into its workflows, and we’re delighted to be the first to teach l arge l anguage Models decades worth of additive knowledge,” says Andre Wegner, CEO. “Personally, I’ve been continually astounded by the know-how in the industry. It’s a pleasure to help make that more accessible, but it’s clearly just the start. There are many ways we think that this tool might be useful inside our product portfolio – whether it’s to help create reliable and efficient workflows or make RFQ’s with many standards references more penetrable. Before that – we, Authentise as well as partners such as ASTM, naturally need to understand the technology’s opportunities and limits; we know that GPT algorithms sometimes hallucinate, for instance. Releasing this at TCT360, an event which epitomizes knowledge sharing, will help us understand how people will and want to use 3D GPT.”

Innovate uK supported the development of 3D GPT through SAMRCD. Visit Authentise at the Smart Factory Expo, part of Manufacturing + Engineering week in

The company’s latest service, CADDi Drawer, is an AI-powered drawing management SaaS set to officially launch on Thursday, June 8, 2023.

"Every time an experienced employee departs, a wealth of knowledge in drawings and purchase history departs with them, while incoming staff struggle with the challenges of learning and avoiding recreating existing drawings. Our initial goal included helping businesses handle employee turnover while preserving the invaluable knowledge and insights amassed over time,” says yushiro Kato, CEO of CADDi. “I'm confident that we've achieved this and more with Drawer, creating a software that enhances the efficiency of each procurement team member, allowing for smarter decisions through instant access to crucial purchasing information.”

CADDi Drawer utilizes machine learning to drastically reduce both procurement costs and labor hours typically spent searching for drawings. The software automatically extracts features from drawings and cross-references them with their purchase history, converting past data into present value cost savings. Developed by top software engineers, the proprietary algorithm for image analysis leads in accuracy for similarity searches in the manufacturing industry, empowering procurement teams to not only digitize but also harness historical data.

The similarity search function simplifies the process of retrieving all pertinent drawings from each company’s archive of data. The software significantly cuts down the retrieval time from what used to be hours, or even days, down to mere seconds. This innovation reduces procurement costs by referencing prior purchase histories of similar drawings, allowing users to avoid buying similar parts from different suppliers at higher prices.

For more information about CADDi Drawer, visit https://caddi-inc.com/en/drawer/.

TURNING ROLLS

POSITIONERS

Kec Incorporated specializes in Tank Turning Rolls, Welding Positioners, Floor Turntables, Sub Arc Manipulators, Head and Tail stocks. We also have a large inventory of Radial drills, bandsaws and other machine tools.

We are a full stocking dealer with equipment from manufacturers such as Koike Aronson, Aronson, Ransome, Preston-Eastin, Profax, Pandjiris, H&M Pipe Bevelers, Gator Chucks by Fuerda, Lincoln Electric, Circle Welding Innovations, Weld Engineering, Jetline Engineering, Arc Products, Haco-Atlantic, Marvel (Armstrong-Blum), LJ Welding/ Automation, and Nederman.

Kec, is a leading supplier of all types of welding, fabrication and positioning equipment. We buy, sell, trade and rent new, used and rebuilt equipment. Our large in-stock inventory is constantly changing. Contact us for our purchase and rental puchase options!

Kec is family owned and operated with over 34 years experience.

Billing Address: P.O. Box 3255 • Spring, Texas 77383

Shipping Address: 321 North Loop East • Houston, Texas 77022

Visit Booth #: A3281