EAGER: Scaled Down Manufacturing

这项早期概念探索性研究补助金（EAGER）为分布式制造新范式的开发提供资金，如果成功，将把美国中小型制造设施整合到可以为大客户服务的虚拟工厂中。虚拟工厂的概念一方面是为了利用美国小型制造业企业的创造力和效率，另一方面是为了创建“总和大于部分”的虚拟企业，使美国企业能够更好地与海外的批量制造工厂竞争，而美国的制造业工作岗位正在流失。许多支持分布式制造的工具已经就位。对于机械零件的制造，CAD文件定期通过互联网传输。CAM将数控铣床向印刷迈出了一步。与此同时，3D打印使机械制造在打印形状（尽管不是功能）方面走得更远。在21世纪经验丰富的制造专家手中，尽管这三种技术已经使分布式制造成为可能。然而，真正集成的虚拟工厂缺少关键要素。对在分布式环境中制造的部件的检查仍然是不可扩展的。从分散的地点运送零件仍然很昂贵。拟议的研究试图通过以下方式来满足这些需求：低成本、网络化、高清CT扫描，以实现真正分布式虚拟工厂的质量保证；利用RFID和灵活的仓储和运输，实现低成本、小批量运输。总之，该研究的目标是通过利用美国小型制造商店的优势，打击批量制造的暴政。

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) award provides funding for the development of a new paradigm in distributed manufacturing which, if successful, will integrate small and medium-sized American manufacturing facilities into virtual factories which can serve large customers. The concept of a virtual factory is intended on the one hand to leverage the creativity and efficiency of American small manufacturing businesses, and on the other hand, create "a sum that is larger than the parts" virtual enterprise so that American businesses can compete better with the bulk-manufacturing facilities overseas to which the US is losing manufacturing jobs.Many of the tools to enable distributed manufacturing are already in place. For the manufacture of mechanical parts, CAD files are regularly transmitted over the Internet. CAM takes CNC milling machines a step towards printing. 3D printing, meanwhile, takes mechanical manufacturing a lot further towards the printing of form (though not functionality). In the hands of an experienced 21st century manufacturing expert, though these three technologies already enable pieces of distributed manufacturing. Key elements of a truly integrated virtual factory are missing, however. The inspection of parts manufactured in distributed environments remains unscalable. The shipping of parts shipped from distributed locations remains expensive. The proposed research attempts to fill these needs by looking at: low-cost, networked, high-definition CT scanning to enable quality assurance in a truly distributed virtual factory; and low-cost, small-batch shipping by leveraging RFID and flexible warehousing and shipping. In summary, the goal of the research is to fight the tyranny of bulk manufacturing, by leveraging the strengths of small manufacturing shops in the US.