【3D Printing Case Study】Three Keys to a Smart Production Line: How a Major Computer Manufacturer Does It!
Advantech is a leading global manufacturer of intelligent systems and industrial control products. Renowned companies such as Mitsubishi Electric, Omron, and IBM all use Advantech's products, which are widely applied in everyday life. In the era of IoT and Industry 4.0, "Enabling an Intelligent Planet" has become Advantech's development vision. With the introduction of new technologies, the engineering team and production side have made significant progress.
(Advantech has a dedicated 3D printing design center internally.)
Opportunity for Transformation
Using new technology to manufacture new technology has always been a major challenge for industrial transformation. In the past, production line aids were designed and manufactured by outsourced vendors, which not only presented "Know How" issues in terms of technology, making it difficult to consolidate professional skills, but also required over a month for manufacturing time, communication, and negotiation. The practicality of the samples often struggled to fully meet demands and was limited in many ways.
(After directly designing the required tools using internal 3D printers, modifications and tests can be carried out immediately, significantly shortening the waiting time.)
Independent innovation helps accumulate design experience for the engineering unit and enables internal development and production, without the worry of technology leakage. Furthermore, from design concept to 3D printing, it only takes 1 week to complete and provide for actual production line testing, with an average cost that is only 1/40 of outsourced production.
(With successful experience, internal parts and enclosures other than fixtures can also be readjusted or repaired according to demand.)
Small Batches, High Variety, Rapid Line Changes
Taking the TPC-1251T panel product in the video as an example, the main production processes are assembly, testing, and packaging, across three workstations. To meet the demand for small batches and high variety, the production line must operate with high flexibility and rapid line changes, while maintaining stable production speed and quality.
(Advantech's production line features an advanced automatic mixed-flow multi-machine testing platform, leading the industry.)
Providing operators with appropriate aids becomes key to systematized production, further driving the demand for independent development and manufacturing. "The introduction of Ultimaker 3D printers is to enable the design and development of fixtures to 'co-work' directly with the production line units, quickly and directly meeting the production line's needs through collaborative efforts," emphasized Lin Hong-Yu, Senior Engineer at Advantech.
(Advantech strictly demands product quality, with an internal cleanroom for product cleaning.)
New Model
To date, the Ultimaker 3D printers have produced over 300 fixtures for them, saving approximately 1500 days in outsourcing cycles and over two and a half million New Taiwan Dollars in costs. The greatest value lies in facilitating effective cross-departmental communication and testing through immediate tools, and helping the entire production line quickly complete various products.
(Tools designed for individual products using 3D printers can accelerate standardized operating procedures. All three workstations—testing, production, and packaging—require 3D printed fixtures.)
"After introducing 3D printers, we can directly observe physical products on the production line, communicate and modify them directly according to needs, to meet production line usage," emphasized Zhu Jian-Yu, Process Engineer at Advantech. In addition to existing production processes, 3D printing tools are also used for new product development and the introduction of new designs.
(A large curved touchscreen undergoing game testing at Advantech.)
From the initial introduction to the present, the number of products produced internally with 3D printed aids is countless. They practically span the entire internal smart production line, integrating into a seamless, end-to-end process, allowing full mastery of technology from independent design to manufacturing.
(Advantech's engineering and production units collaborate to improve production processes, promoting internal design, manufacturing, and intelligence.)
We are delighted to see more and more Taiwanese companies applying Ultimaker 3D printers to improve their production processes, and we are very grateful to Advantech for providing this interview and manufacturing journey, allowing viewers a glimpse into the key behind-the-scenes production processes! Do you have similar needs? In addition to 3D printers, in recent years, an increasing number of desktop equipment suitable for in-house manufacturing, such as vacuum forming technology, CNC, and laser processing, have emerged. You can now immediately reduce costs and secure orders for your office or production line!
See Ten Devices at Once at the 3D Printing Exhibition
．Exhibition Dates: 2019/8/21 (Wed) - 8/24 (Sat)
．Exhibition Hours: 9:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM (Saturday until 4:00 PM)
．Exhibition Venue: Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2, 4F, Booth S423
Follow our Facebook page for the latest news: https://www.facebook.com/3dmart.com.tw/
Advantech