Hybrid fabrication for transcended manufacturing
Flexible manufacturing system in support of the Transcended manufacturing process
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Abstract
Transcended manufacturing is a new emerging manufacturing paradigm in response to the rising need for mass personalisation and ultra-personalised products. Through product personalisation, people can assert their identity in an increasingly impersonal world. But the one-off a kind nature of ultra-personalised make them hard to manufacture with traditional fabrication methods. Transcended manufacturing uses automation and digital manufacturing to manufacture ultra-personalised products. Hybrid fabrication is a digital manufacturing technique that combines multiple processes to provide new process capabilities. Hybrid manufacturing is still underdeveloped but could improve the field of personalised products and transcended manufacturing with its versatility and flexibility.
The project goal was to research hybrid fabrication and find and develop opportunities that may benefit Transcended manufacturing and ultra-personalised products.
The project started with an analysis of the current situation of digital manufacturing and the industry. The study resulted in multiple opportunities for hybrid fabrication and transcended manufacturing, from new processes that can be used for personalised product fabrication, to versatile and flexible manufacturing.
With the opportunities of hybrid fabrication defined, a future vision, a production scenario and exemplary product are created. These scenarios are used to ideate, conceptualise and develop a hybrid fabrication workstation. The future of hybrid fabrication looks bright but early adoption of hybrid manufacturing is in product research and development.
The workstation is further embodied and a prototype is created to showcase and kickstart hybrid fabrication and personalised product development. The prototype addresses reconfigurability and flexibility in hybrid systems and provides a platform and framework for hybrid manufacturing.
The future of hybrid manufacturing and transcended manufacturing looks promising. As the industry 4.0 grows and transcended manufacturing and hybrid fabrication mature, the new way of manufacturing ultra-personalised products can include hybrid fabrication systems.