Certified AM Parts Finished with Intelligent Robotics Engine (CAMPFIRE)

从发电厂到髋关节植入物再到火箭发动机，我们生活中所需的一切都使用了金属零部件。全球事件突显了供应链可能是多么脆弱，人们对跨行业转移制造业产生了新的热情。不断上涨的能源成本、熟练劳动力的短缺和迫在眉睫的环境危机正在推动航天、医疗和能源等行业朝着更绿色、更可扩展的数字制造方向发展。附加制造(AM)就是这样一种技术，它比传统制造具有更好的资源和能源效率，并且使用更少的人工。不幸的是，零件是从表面光洁度差的打印机出来的，并支持旨在防止变形的脚手架。手工后处理是最常用的去除支撑和表面精加工的方法，但它费时、费力，最重要的是不能准确地重复。金属后处理和精加工自动化很困难。Rivelin开发了先进的3D视觉和力控制算法，使机器人能够看到和感觉金属表面，并适应AM部件中的可变性。Rivelin的软件还允许用户快速上传零部件CAD并生成机器人指令，而无需编写计算机代码。该项目旨在克服仍然存在的技术障碍，以便能够将后处理机器人部署到一些监管最严格的行业中；这些障碍包括精度、表面质量和可靠性。Rivelin将与GKN航空航天公司、Attenborough Dental和材料解决方案西门子能源公司合作，1)了解在每个行业认证新工艺需要什么；2)基于这些知识对工艺进行有针对性的改进；3)通过完成飞行部件、患者植入物和燃气轮机部件的生产，在金属AM部件上测试工艺；4)将成品部件通过相关的认证严格要求；5)在布里斯托的GKN航空航天工厂部署行业就绪的机器人。一个机器人的部署就解放了员工的时间。这些员工可以帮助企业发展，而不是做平凡而危险的工作。然后，企业可以利用这种增长来投资更多的机器人。如果成功，该项目将降低AM的一个基本要素的风险，不仅对航空航天、医疗和能源部门的企业(2060亿美元)，而且对民用航空、国防和汽车等其他严格监管的行业(2.8600亿美元)也是如此。实现英国先进制造业阶段性变化的最佳方式是向英国企业证明，一种颠覆性技术已经为他们的生产线做好了准备。

Metal parts are used in everything we need to go about our lives, from power plants to hip implants to rocket engines.Global events have highlighted how fragile supply chains can be, and there is new enthusiasm for reshoring manufacturing across sectors. The increasing cost of energy, a shortage of skilled labour and a looming environmental crisis are driving industries like space, medical and energy towards greener and more scalable digital manufacturing.Additive manufacturing (AM) is one such technology, with better resource and energy efficiency than conventional manufacturing and with less manual labour.Unfortunately, parts come out of printers with poor surface finish and support scaffolding intended to prevent deformation. Manual post-processing is the most prevalent method for removing supports and finishing surfaces, but it is time-consuming, labour-intensive and, most crucially, not accurately repeatable.Automating metal post-processing and finishing is hard. Rivelin has developed advanced 3D vision and force control algorithms that allow robots to see and feel metal surfaces and adapt to the variability found in AM parts. Rivelin's software also allows users to quickly upload component CAD and generate robot instructions without writing computer code.This project is about overcoming the technological barriers that remain to be able deploy post-processing robots into some of the most tightly regulated industries; barriers of precision, surface quality and reliability. Rivelin will work with GKN Aerospace, Attenborough Dental and Materials Solutions Siemens Energy to 1) understand what is required to certify a new process in each industry; 2) make targeted improvements to the process based on this knowledge; 3) test the process on metal AM parts by finishing production flight parts, patient implants and gas turbine components; 4) put the finished parts through the relevant certification rigour; and 5) deploy an industry-ready robot at GKN Aerospace facility in Bristol.Automation has compounding benefits. The deployment of one robot frees up employees' time. Instead of doing mundane and hazardous tasks, these employees can help grow the business. Businesses can then leverage that growth to invest in more robots. If successful, this project will de-risk an essential element of AM not only for businesses in the aerospace, medical and energy sectors ($206B), but also other tightly regulated industries like civil aerospace, defence and automotive ($2,860B). The best way to achieve a step change in UK advanced manufacturing is by proving to UK businesses that a disruptive technology is ready for their production lines.