JAN - MARCH - 20239CHEMICAL INDUSTRY REVIEWunique synergies of additive manufacturing and automation. For instance, Lockheed Martin tapped MakerBot to help develop a fully autonomous lunar rover for NASA's Artemis program to amplify exploration on the moon. 3D printing has helped NASA engineers design, develop, and test autonomous systems and processes much quicker than they could otherwise by rapidly iterating on designs for prototypes at costs 10x lower than were possible through traditional processes. Moreover, the synergies between automation and 3D printing flow both ways. AM and automation are driving the factory of the future ­ aka the smart factory ­ to support Industry 4.0 transformation. This involves the technical integration of cyber-physical systems into manufacturing and logistics and Internet-of-Things and digital services in industrial processes. By inventing machines that automate processes to mitigate human-centric error, businesses and factory floor staff can track and analyze the unexpected and minimize mistakes. In turn, smart data collection accrued through automation allows businesses to improve their processes, scale-up production, and ultimately make better products. Companies embracing Industry 4.0 concepts of automation, on-demand manufacturing, and part customization to scale additive manufacturing into production require smart, connected 3D printing solutions integrated with their smart factory infrastructure.We are at an inflection point for global manufacturing ­ a point in which the burgeoning pressures to upgrade unresponsive supply chains and 20th-century energy-intensive manufacturing and transportation processes are intersecting with a maturity adoption curve for 3D printing. Over the next year and into the coming decade, we will see tremendous growth in the use of 3D printing to reduce environmental impact, ameliorate supply chain issues, and generate resiliency against future shocks. However, we haven't even scratched the surface in the evolution of the additive manufacturing industry ­ as AM's synergies with automation will serve as a transformative technology in the factory of the future. There is an opportunity for design innovation thanks to the unique synergies of additive manufacturing and automation
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