Solukon’s development of the “Digital Factory Tool” does not only bring automation as well as process validation and quality management to the next level, it also opens doors to collaborations with software companies.
Together with Authentise, the expert in automated depowdering systems announced a collaboration for a better metal postprocessing workflow. The collaboration will consist in the integration of Solukon Digital Factory Tool into Authentise’ advanced Manufacturing Execution System (aMES).
It should be noted that the Digital Factory Tool comes with advanced analytics capabilities as well as a sensor and interface management solution that provides continuous documentation and real time monitoring for operators that conduct an automated powder removal task.
It’s about AM process traceability
Across the manufacturing value chain, one of the key items where it’s often challenging to get full traceability is materials. That’s an area where Authentise has expertise in. Indeed, with the integration of the Solukon powder removal environment into Authentise’s material traceability module, engineers now have enough capabilities to conduct postprocess inspection recording and recycling of recovered materials.
Furthermore, Solukon explains that its system generates real-time alerts inside aMES that enables operators to address any deviations during the process and improve powder recovery.
Since aMES already captures data from AM machines and manages the printable geometry, the system passes this information on to Solukon automatically, saving the user from locating and uploading this information separately. The insight generated is appended to the existing aMES part report to ensure end-to-end traceability. In the future, both companies aim to integrate Solukon’s automatic toolpath creation into the Authentise aMES to help users identify the optimum automated powder removal process for their specific application, the manufacturer explains in a press release.
“By partnering with Authentise, we are taking the next logical step after the introduction of the Solukon Digital Factory Tool. Seamless data collection and interpretation throughout the entire production and postprocess is the only way to achieve a true production line in additive manufacturing. Together with Authentise, we are closing a gap in data transparency and open the way for real Industry 4.0 projects,” says Andreas Hartmann, CEO and CTO of Solukon.
“This is the first time that Authentise has extended its ability to communicate beyond additive devices into postprocessing equipment,” says Andre Wegner, CEO of Authentise. “The benefits are immediately obvious: higher labour and material efficiency, as well as better traceability for users. The partnership is driving near immediate Return on Investment for our users. The collaboration proves once again that customers can benefit from leaders in AM workflow joining to create tools that not only benefit the customer but make the all-important step to creating pathways to more sustainable industrial additive manufacturing.”
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