ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING


important to understand the characteristics of a product or concept. Does it work? Is its structural integrity suffi cient for the task at hand? Are there any fl aws? Typically, prototyping would consist of creating a working scale model, testing it, identifying faults, and going back to the drawing board to start again, which is a very long and expensive process. Today, this can all be achieved on a computer screen by way of a digital twin.


A digital twin is a digital representation


of a product or process, a digital counterpart if you like. 3D printing uses a digital template through which both a product and an automated application, using robots, can be simulated. As such, there no longer exists the need for costly, physical iterations of prototypes. But what binds the two together? T e


answer is digital tool path generation software. T is evaluates the digital structure and designs an optimised tool path that can then support 3D printing at scale. Regardless of size, the digital twin is representative of the fi nished item, as is the reach and payload of the industrial robot arm that will deliver the material via an extruder.


FutureCast 3D printed concrete


From construction to life sciences, automated 3D printing is enabling the delivery of ‘print-on-demand’ at-scale, modern manufacturing processes across industry.


Katherine Nowill is the marketing manager at KUKA UK & Ireland www.kuka.com


Lead times of less than 5 days for first-offs. Call, email or upload files to our website.


3D printing solutions for prototyping and production parts sales@paragon-rt.com | 01325 333 141 | www.paragon-rt.com www.engineerlive.com 17


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