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4 Manufacturing Advantages of Build-to-Print Fabrication

4 Manufacturing Advantages of Build-to-Print Fabrication

Build to Print Fabrication Machine

Avoid production delays with build-to-print manufacturers who deliver components built to specification. 

When a client approaches a manufacturer with a fabrication need, the work they are looking for can be split into two rough categories: design and spec, which involves developing a production process from scratch, and build-to-print, wherein the client already has blueprints and technical drawings and simply needs the component manufactured according to existing designs. Build-to-print manufacturing isn’t the star of the show in most cases, but in the right circumstances, it can be an invaluable tool for companies to have at their disposal. 

At Convergix, our most involved projects are design & spec, but our build-to-print capabilities are part of what allow us to be such an effective partner to our customers. If you’re wondering how build-to-print fabrication can be useful to you, here are its four greatest advantages.

1) Replace broken components with exact replicas

Say you have a production line that is essential to your business operations. One day, you notice that one of the components of that production line is wearing down and will soon break. You don’t have the replacement piece you need to get it up and running again—but you do have the blueprints. 

A build-to-print manufacturer can work from your blueprints to manufacture a replacement piece. Because the replacement will be an identical component, you don’t need to worry about whether it will fit or not, nor do you have to go through a more lengthy process of redesigning that portion of your production line. In fact, if you spot the issue soon enough, you can have the replacement component ready to go before your production grinds to a halt.

2) Scale Production by Duplicating Existing Machinery

If build-to-print can be used to replace components on existing machinery, it can also be used to duplicate an entire machine. This can be invaluable for businesses that need to scale production quickly, because it allows them to remain flexible and responsive to the demands of a shifting market. Being able to reproduce an entire production line means they can have confidence that the quality of the product will remain consistent. 

Build-to-print is also helpful in situations where the original equipment manufacturer may no longer be available to produce another round of machinery. So long as your business has the blueprints for your production line, you can replicate it down to the last detail.

3) Replicate proven processes for new iterations on old designs

In some cases, one portion of a design works perfectly, and a manufacturer wants to keep that component while updating other elements of the same design. Instead of starting the design over from ground up, build-to-print allows manufacturers to integrate the original components into the new model. 

In regulated industries, this poses a distinct advantage. If companies can show that one portion of a design matches a previously approved portion, it can expedite the approval process. Build-to-print can give the assurance that the manufacturing processes between versions are consistent.

4) Streamline handoff from R&D to manufacturing

Some businesses have highly-developed research and development departments that are in charge of the designing and prototyping of a manufacturing process. They may want to keep control over certain aspects of that process, and only work with fabricators on specific portions. 

Build-to-print gives companies the freedom to focus intensely on core research portions of their business, safe in the knowledge that when the time comes for production, they have a trusted partner who can work with their designs to manufacture components exactly to spec. 

When is design & spec manufacturing a better option? 

While build-to-print offers clear advantages in many applications, it is not always the best choice. An automation partner who can work with your company at earlier stages of the design process has a level of production expertise that can yield a more efficient manufacturing workflow. They can also make it easier for smaller teams to work more quickly, by supplying the additional engineering manpower necessary to see a project through to completion. 

For instance, at Convergix, our engineers work with computer simulations to plan the layout of a production line. We’re also experts in testing and validation, which we can incorporate directly into a manufacturing process to ensure product quality. The earlier we can work with our customers and the design of their project, the more readily we can incorporate our expertise into a production design. 

Work with an automation partner who can handle both.

The bottom line is that you should find a manufacturing partner who can handle both design & spec and build-to-print. If your business needs to fabricate a component for an automated assembly on short notice, who better than the automation expert who helped you build the assembly in the first place? 

Convergix Automation Solutions has over 200 years of combined experience in the manufacturing space, and in that time we’ve learned to work with manufacturers of all sizes, on projects that range from full assembly builds to the reproduction of a single component. If you have a build-to-print need, contact us today. We can be sure you get the parts you need to keep your factory running. 

How Advances in SLAM Technology Are Expanding Robotics Applications

How Advances in SLAM Technology Are Expanding Robotics Applications

Robotic arm picking up a box

Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM) technology is at the heart of many of the most recent advances in autonomous robotic capabilities. 

Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM) is fundamental to autonomous robotics. While early visions depicted human-like robots navigating complex environments, achieving this required overcoming significant technical hurdles. SLAM systems, enabling robots to map their surroundings and localize themselves in real-time, are now transforming industries. Understanding their evolution and applications reveals their growing impact. 

Challenges of SLAM Technology and Current Advances 

Early SLAM relied heavily on LiDAR, which uses light pulses to create 3D point clouds. While effective for basic navigation, LiDAR lacks semantic understanding. It cannot interpret signs or recognize objects beyond their shape. 

Vision systems, employing multiple cameras, offer richer information. Machine learning allows them to interpret visual data, identify objects, predict movement, and utilize fiducial markers for precise localization. However, historical limitations included high computational demands. Recent advancements in processing power have significantly reduced these limitations. 

Another challenge is the “closed loop” problem, where accumulated mapping errors lead to localization failures. Combining LiDAR and vision systems, alongside grid maps and landmarks, mitigates this, creating more robust and accurate localization. 

Applications for SLAM Technology 

Improved machine vision is driving the adoption of mobile robots in diverse applications: 

  • Autonomous Vehicles: LiDAR already assists with collision avoidance. Machine vision enhances this, enabling interpretation of road markings, signs, and landmarks for advanced navigation and autonomous driving. This technology is essential for self-driving cars, allowing them to perceive and react to dynamic road environments. 
  • Factory Navigation for Robots: SLAM is widely used in manufacturing for inventory management, palletizing, and assisting human workers. Combining vision and LiDAR improves safety and expands robotic capabilities, enabling complex tasks with precision and efficiency. Mobile robots can handle large, complex parts, and adapt to changing factory layouts. 
  • Consumer Robots: SLAM enhances household robots. Roomba-like devices can navigate more efficiently, avoiding obstacles like pets and furniture. Vision-enabled lawnmowers can autonomously maintain lawns, staying within boundaries and avoiding flowerbeds. This technology expands the utility of consumer robots, making them more intelligent and adaptable. 
  • Logistics and Last Mile Delivery: Automation addresses logistical challenges, particularly “last mile” delivery. Mobile robots and drones, guided by SLAM, navigate streets and airspace, locate drop-off points, and avoid obstacles. This technology aims to streamline package delivery, reducing costs and improving efficiency. 

Mobile Technology is the Future of Modern Industry 

Innovation is crucial for businesses to remain competitive. Companies must adopt cutting-edge solutions, like advanced SLAM systems, to create new automation possibilities. These systems enable applications ranging from autonomous vehicles to vertical farming. 

The integration of advanced sensors and AI-driven processing is pushing SLAM systems beyond their previous limitations. The ability of robots to not only map but also understand their environment opens up possibilities in various sectors. In manufacturing, robots can now adapt to dynamic environments, collaborate with human workers, and perform complex tasks with precision. This leads to increased productivity, reduced errors, and improved safety. In logistics, SLAM enables efficient and reliable delivery systems, reducing costs and improving customer satisfaction. Autonomous vehicles, guided by robust SLAM systems, promise to revolutionize transportation, making it safer and more efficient. 

The development of more powerful and efficient processors, coupled with advancements in machine learning algorithms, is accelerating the progress of SLAM technology. This rapid evolution will lead to more sophisticated and versatile robotic systems that can tackle increasingly complex tasks. 

The future of robotics is intertwined with the advancements in SLAM technology. As robots become more capable of navigating and understanding their environments, their applications will continue to expand, transforming industries and improving our daily lives. 

We Can Help You Integrate Mobile Robotics Into Your Processes 

At Convergix, we recognize that, for businesses to stay at the leading edge of their industry, they need access to the latest solutions. We make sure to stay on top of emerging technologies so that we can understand how they can be used to create new automation solutions. Our focus on innovation has helped us develop advanced systems in industries ranging from autonomous vehicles to vertical farming. If you have an automation need, contact us, and we would be happy to discuss solutions with you. 

4 Ways Automation Is Disrupting Agriculture 

4 Ways Automation Is Disrupting Agriculture 

Robotic arm inspecting grown strawberry plant

Farming may be one of the oldest industries, but it’s also one of the most innovative. 

Agriculture, while ancient, is a hotbed of innovation. Modern technology, often perceived as urban-centric, is profoundly impacting farming, from traditional fields to vertical farms. While vertical farms hold promise, especially in resource-limited areas, traditional agriculture is also undergoing a tech-driven transformation. Automation is poised to increase yields, reduce costs, address labor shortages, and promote sustainability.

1) Autonomous Equipment

Farming equipment has evolved from animal-drawn tools to sophisticated machines for various tasks. However, labor shortages persist. Autonomous vehicle technology is now applicable to farming. Unlike urban settings, farm environments are less complex for autonomous navigation. 

SLAM technology, coupled with industry advancements from companies like John Deere and Case IH, is paving the way for AI-operated tractors and harvesters. This automation enhances efficiency and addresses labor limitations, making large-scale farming more manageable.

2) Robotic Pollination

Declining pollinator populations, including bees, threaten crop yields. Hand pollination is labor-intensive and costly. Robotic pollinators offer a solution. Concepts range from micro-drone swarms to multi-armed robots. 

While still in development, robotic pollination promises to supplement or replace natural pollinators, ensuring consistent and efficient crop fertilization. This technology is crucial for maintaining food security in the face of environmental challenges.

3) Smart Crop Monitoring

Vertical farms demonstrate the benefits of controlled environments. In traditional farming, smart monitoring replicates this control through data-driven automation. Soil probes measure moisture and nutrients, triggering automated irrigation and fertilization. Drones monitor crops for pests, enabling targeted pesticide application. 

Smart monitoring conserves resources, reduces environmental impact, and optimizes crop health. This precision agriculture minimizes waste and maximizes yield, contributing to sustainable farming practices.

4) Dexterous Harvesting

Harvesting delicate crops remains labor-intensive. Vision systems and advanced robotic end effectors are automating this process. Robots can identify ripe crops and handle them with precision, mimicking human dexterity or using vacuum technology. 

Automated harvesting addresses labor shortages and improves efficiency. This technology is vital for maintaining productivity in specialty crops, ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality produce. 

Automation is the next step in farming innovation 

Large-scale farming machinery revolutionized agriculture, enabling mass production and affordable food. Today, automation addresses new challenges and offers further improvements. It promises higher yields, reduced costs, and enhanced sustainability. 

Automated agriculture minimizes environmental impact through precise resource management and reduced chemical usage. It also improves crop quality through consistent and careful handling. 

The integration of advanced sensors, AI, and robotics is transforming farming practices. This evolution ensures food security, promotes sustainable agriculture, and enhances the efficiency of food production. 

As automation experts, Convergix offers solutions for implementing these technologies in agricultural settings. We can help design and implement systems that leverage the latest innovations, ensuring your farming operations are efficient, sustainable, and future-proof.

How Manufacturers Are Achieving ESG Goals through Automation 

How Manufacturers Are Achieving ESG Goals through Automation 

Field of solar panels

The manufacturing industry is prioritizing environmental, social, and governance policies more than ever before. Here’s how automation is helping.

The manufacturing sector is increasingly prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies. Automation stands as a pivotal tool in this evolving landscape, enabling companies to meet their sustainability objectives.

In an increasingly interconnected world, responsible corporate stewardship is paramount. Organizations are adopting comprehensive ESG policies to meticulously manage their environmental and social impact, ensuring sustainable practices that resonate with stakeholders. Industry 4.0 provides a suite of sophisticated tools for the streamlined monitoring, analysis, and implementation of data-driven changes. Smart factories, leveraging advanced automation, are embedding best practices into daily operational workflows.

Smart Monitoring: Real-Time Insights for Environmental Accountability

Environmental concerns are driving significant regulatory changes on a global scale. Manufacturers are focusing intently on mitigating emissions and optimizing resource consumption, including water, energy, and raw materials. Stakeholders are demanding greater transparency regarding an organization’s environmental footprint.

Traditional monitoring methods, such as manual wastewater or gas sampling, often lack the granularity and real-time data necessary for effective management. Modern emissions monitoring sensors provide continuous, trackable data, ensuring accountability and fostering stakeholder confidence. Intelligent software analyzes sensor feedback, swiftly flagging anomalies and automatically adjusting processes to maintain compliance with environmental regulations.

Beyond emissions, automation plays a crucial role in monitoring resource usage. This ranges from sophisticated track-and-trace systems for raw materials to granular energy consumption analysis. This includes the identification of energy spikes and the automated adjustment of equipment power modes, minimizing waste and enhancing efficiency.

Waste Reduction: Optimizing Resources for Sustainable Production

Efficiency benefits both ESG initiatives and a business’s bottom line. Optimized resource utilization translates to reduced energy consumption and minimal waste. Automation provides consistent, precise task execution, minimizing worker injury and ensuring high-quality output. Sensor-equipped robotics refine production processes, increasing output and reducing material waste.

Advanced vision and metrology systems ensure rigorous quality control at each stage of the manufacturing process, effectively reducing rework, scrap, and costly product recalls. A high success rate in producing quality products from raw materials minimizes waste, lowering environmental impact and reducing operational costs.

Worker Empowerment: Enhancing Safety and Productivity

The “social” aspect of ESG emphasizes the well-being of the workforce. Automation, when intelligently implemented, enhances productivity and improves the work environment.

Advanced data systems and augmented reality provide workers with comprehensive training, instant data access, assembly instructions, and real-time quality assurance on the factory floor. Collaborative robots (cobots) assist with lifting and positioning, improving worker safety and enhancing the quality of finished products. A safe and supportive working environment fosters talent retention and attracts new workers. Cobots expand the potential labor pool, promoting workforce diversity and inclusivity.

Process and Policy Automation through Software: Ensuring Transparency and Compliance

Automation’s robust software infrastructure supports data security and governance. Digital process controls and manufacturing execution systems (MES) enhance transparency and strengthen cybersecurity measures. Granular software policies implement stringent security protocols, including activity logs and restricted file access.

Digitized processes streamline the implementation of corporate policies, including environmental compliance and equitable hiring criteria. Digital tracking ensures accountability and provides stakeholders with the necessary information to assess a company’s commitment to ESG principles.

Distributed Operations: Global Consistency and Local Optimization

Manufacturing is increasingly global, yet ESG and supply-chain lessons emphasize the importance of localized operations. Standardizing operations across diverse regulatory environments presents a significant challenge. Industrial IIoT and remote monitoring enhance visibility, consistency, and efficiency, reducing travel-related emissions. Centralized data analysis facilitates the consistent implementation of best practices across global facilities.

Advanced automation systems leverage machine intelligence and edge computing for decentralized process control. Localized data analysis reduces latency and energy consumption. Edge systems monitor equipment for preventive maintenance and tailor process recommendations to the unique needs of individual facilities.

Industrial Automation Empowers Manufacturers to Deliver on ESG Goals

Manufacturers are increasingly held accountable for their global impact. Implementing comprehensive ESG policies is crucial for creating sustainable industry practices that benefit corporations, investors, workers, and communities. Industrial automation enhances efficiency, flexibility, and transparency, supporting the achievement of ambitious ESG goals.

Convergix provides customized automation solutions tailored to the unique needs of each business. We assist in waste reduction, efficiency improvement, and smart monitoring implementation. Contact us for a tailored automation strategy that aligns with your ESG objectives.

5 Ways Predictive Maintenance Prevents Unexpected Downtime

5 Ways Predictive Maintenance Prevents Unexpected Downtime

A pylon sitting on top of a stack of money

Early detection and system monitoring can save manufacturers millions of dollars per year 

We’re all familiar with the phrases “time is money” and “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” but few places are these sayings more strikingly applicable than in manufacturing. This is especially true when it comes to preventative maintenance. For perspective, a survey of automotive manufacturers revealed that the average cost of downtime is $22,000 per minute. Furthermore, with the average manufacturer experiencing 800 hours of downtime per year, the costs of downtime can easily surpass the million-dollar mark. 

Now, it’s unrealistic to believe that machines will never break, so every manufacturer must plan for some periods in which their machines are standing idle in order to conduct necessary maintenance. However, the difference between planned and unplanned downtime is crucial. It’s not just that every minute lost is thousands of dollars down the drain. Unplanned shutdowns have cascading effects that can make them even more costly than they appear at first glance: 

  • Production waste if the shutdown leads to product loss. 
  • Downstream production line disruptions and delays. 
  • Increased expenses to expedite repairs. 
  • Overtime costs to get production schedules back on track. 
  • Loss of trust with business partners and consumers. 

In other words, just as planned downtime is a requirement to keep a factory running in good order, unplanned downtime is an emergency that manufacturers should take broad steps to avoid. 

Fortunately, the newest technologies available to manufacturers offer advanced solutions that can not only monitor real-time production performance but can even predict when to schedule repairs so that production managers can control their maintenance schedules. Here are five ways these insights into equipment performance cut costs for manufacturers.

1) Maintenance planning allows for batched repairs

When your production line shuts down unexpectedly, repairs become an emergency. In the rush to get systems back online, your maintenance crew has little time to devote toward a more robust inspection that might unearth other imminent repair needs. Even worse, some signs of wear are so subtle that by the time they become visible it’s already too late. As a result, one emergency shutdown leads to another, as different components fail on their own timelines. 

However, planned repairs give your team time to order in all replacement components for every repair, shortening the overall downtime. Advanced production sensors also play a role here, in that they can detect signs of wear that are not easily visible to human observers. Early detection lets your team head into scheduled downtime with a complete list of all the repairs they need to make and all the parts on hand to complete them.

2) Monitoring systems pinpoint the location of failure

Sometimes, when a system fails, precious minutes are lost trying to detect what went wrong, and the longer it takes to diagnose the cause of a failure the longer it will take to come up with a remedy. But what if advanced monitoring could effectively eliminate the discovery time? 

In an ideal situation, sensors and operating chips should offer feedback before a failure—even going so far as to automatically order replacement parts. But in the event of a failure, they can also expedite the repair process by having diagnostic data on hand the moment it happens.

3) Preventative care extends the lifetime of all parts

As we touched on earlier, the signs of wear are sometimes hard to detect. Small particles cause edges to erode, lubricants degrade as they become clogged by dust and other particulates, micro-abrasions weaken joints, and components corrode through contact with harsh chemicals or natural weathering. Planning maintenance schedules around these microscopic stressors can be difficult. Wait too long, and you risk an unexpected failure. Conduct maintenance too soon, and you could be replacing parts before their time. 

Fortunately, modern sensors are not only much more precise in their measurements, they can also take more factors into account. By conducting preventative care at the right time, you can extend the lifetime of the parts themselves while ensuring that they are replaced before they can damage other parts. 

4) Detection systems can prevent manufacturing flaws

What happens if a component fails, but your system keeps running? And what if you don’t notice—not just for an hour or a day, but for weeks? The result could be millions of defective components that have flowed downstream into your other production stages or even out to the public, and which now need to be recalled. 

It has happened before and will happen again, but that doesn’t mean it has to happen to you. And one One of the ways you can prevent it from happening is by relying on automated technology to monitor your equipment and send feedback on its performance. When a part begins to operate outside a certain tolerance, it can notify you that repairs are in order.

5) Planned maintenance improves labor conditions for workers

Finally, predictive maintenance schedules help workers have better work/life balance. With less time spent on-call, fewer interruptions during off hours, and no long nights spent managing crisis after crisis, your manufacturing team will be better rested and happier with their jobs. Given that labor shortages continue to be an ongoing concern within manufacturing, ensuring your workforce isn’t stressed by preventable overtime hours should also be a key operational goal. 

Contact Convergix to learn about our advanced monitoring and detection capabilities 

At Convergix, we pride ourselves on our mastery of the latest automation technologies. We want to know not only what is available currently, but what is expected to be available in the near future, and the various advantages and disadvantages of the solutions on offer. We aren’t doing our job if we can’t provide expert guidance on which systems will offer the most benefits to our customers, and that includes preventative maintenance monitoring. This is especially true of our full-scale and bespoke systems solutions.

Our current solutions include sensors that record and transmit real-time production data, in-line quality control monitors, IIoT-equipped devices that can relay information to a centralized command module, and big data analytics that use production history to help manufacturers anticipate maintenance needs. 

If you have any questions about how we can help your company better safeguard against unexpected downtime, contact us today. We would be happy to discuss our automation capabilities with your team.