Hexagon and Authentise deliver open, end-to-end solution for AM
Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, headquartered in Cobham, Surrey, UK, and Authentise, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, have partnered to deliver an open, end-to-end software solution for Additive Manufacturing workflow. The goal is to connect the full value chain, including design, manufacturing operations and quality assurance, to make AM more predictable, repeatable and traceable.
Data from shopfloor manufacturing operations, engineering data from the design phase, materials properties and quality data from validation and inspection processes hold the key to automating serial production and enabling design improvements. However, the technical challenge of connecting these silos and applying these data have inhibited the ability to consistently apply AM to new designs.
New solutions, delivered through the partnership, will apply Statistical Process Control (SPC) with Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to mitigate waste and quality issues during the design phase, and improve the repeatability of AM processes both within a site and between global locations.
Hexagon and Authentise intend to develop solutions to further industrialise AM technology by digitising every step of the workflow – from part design through production to final product and quality assurance – utilising their combined technological capabilities to connect the digital thread of a part and trace its pedigree. This is made possible by a shared commitment to open architectures that integrate data and automate workflows between Hexagon’s AM applications and the third-party equipment and software manufacturers chose to use.
“Together with Authentise, we are building a next-generation framework for our customers to manage flexible, fully-digitised production workflows in private cloud environments,” stated Mathieu Pérennou, Global Business Development Director Additive Manufacturing, Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division. “For manufacturers, AM is a complex and changing market with many excellent tools, printers and materials to apply. We believe our open and flexible systems will enable us to respond quickly to customer’s needs and integrate with their unique environments. This will connect the data flow and help streamline their workflows in all stages of the AM process – before, during and after production and support their specific standards or compliance needs.”
Authentise is a key partner in Hexagon’s open AM ecosystem, having built an open manufacturing execution system tailored to the specific needs of AM methods. This growing ecosystem provides a broad solution portfolio that allows Hexagon to build solutions tailored to the specific needs of customers from different industries and any level of complexity – from achieving high volume production of precision metal gears to first-time-right production of bespoke aerospace parts from composites.
Andre Wegner, CEO, Authentise added, “We are excited to combine Hexagon’s solutions with our open workflow management engine to offer a unique end-to-end solution platform. Integrating data from Hexagon’s best-of-breed software and sensors helps deliver a seamless experience for users, automation across their process, and unlocks the ability to learn from data. This partnership represents a step change for the industry – together we’re delivering the integrated digital thread for Additive Manufacturing that customers have sought for so long.”
Further information and free process evaluations are available through Authentise’s site. Both companies will also present further information during their presentations at this year’s AMUG event.
