Industry 4.0 Mechanical Design with Fusion 360 and Additive Manufacturing

Posted by Joe Widmer on 6/1/21 1:31 PM
Joe Widmer

Autodesk

In today’s digital world, people expect things to happen fast—whether they’re ordering coffee from Starbucks on a mobile app or selecting Amazon same-day delivery (because 2-day delivery just isn’t good enough).

This mindset of expecting quality products to be available at a moment’s notice carries over into every industry, including manufacturing.

With the rise of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (also known as Industry 4.0), customers have come to expect parts and products better and faster than ever before. It’s a demand that traditional machine shops have a hard time satisfying.

At Re3DTech, our additive manufacturing capabilities allow us to design, optimize, prototype, print, and tool—all before traditional machine shops can generate a customer quote.

What Is Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0 refers to the latest phase of the Industrial Revolution, which prioritizes increased automation, machine learning, and digital technology in manufacturing.

Through optimizing manufacturing processes and supply chain management, manufacturers like Re3DTech who embrace Industry 4.0 can improve overall cost and efficiency. Ultimately, those benefits are passed on to our customers.

Additive manufacturing solutions like 3D printing fall under the umbrella of Industry 4.0. Additive technology allows 3d printing service bureaus to offer better flexibility, lead times, and production costs than most machine shops.

How Re3DTech Helps Customers Optimize Designs for Additive Manufacturing

Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM) has many advantages over designing for CNC machining. We rely on our engineering expertise and our comprehensive technology to get customers the parts they need quickly and easily.

Design Freedom and Flexibility

Design for additive manufacturing is so exciting because customer’s don’t face the same design limitations that they would encounter in machining.

One major advantage of additive manufacturing is the ability to create complex features just as easily as simple ones. When you’re not limited by what can and can’t be manufactured, you have the freedom to optimize your design however you see fit.

Rather than spending valuable time going back and forth with a machine shop trying to determine what’s actually machineable, you can design as much complexity as you need into your part. We’ll make it happen for you.

Additive manufacturing can even provide greater design freedom than injection molding. Undercuts, internal and external threads, knurling, and multi-colored parts are all possible with 3D printing.

This complex multi-color part was made using the HP 580 Series Jet Fusion printer.

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Simulation with Autodesk Fusion 360
 
Our Autodesk Fusion 360 program integrates CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB software to create and simulate on 3D models. We can easily simulate and print each iteration of your part within hours using the final material of the end-use product.

Through this process, we can gain a true understanding of product performance, including which forces affect a part and to what degree. Direct insight into each iteration allows us to quickly detect flaws as we go, preventing costly rework.

Once our customers are satisfied with a prototype, they can place a production order and receive parts in days. There’s no need to wait for expensive tooling to get started!
 
Generative Design

Our software also enables us to leverage generative design, a design exploration process that models alternatives to align with part requirements.

Generative design maximizes material efficiency by concentrating material only in areas that need it. The simulation capabilities allow us to understand exactly where stresses occur and concentrate.

Using this information, we can tell the computer what we want the part to accomplish in its final state. Generative design is then used to produce a multitude of different iterations that meet the end-use criteria.

The part featured at the top of this blog was made using Autodesk Fusion 360’s generative design simulation software.
 
If you’re designing for Industry 4.0, rely on the team at Re3DTech to help you optimize your design and deliver high-quality parts quickly and efficiently. Request a quote today and we’ll respond within 24 hours!

 

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At Re3dTech, we believe that 3D printing will repatriate and revitalize our manufacturing industry – and is the future of American manufacturing! RE3DTECH provides 3D printing and contract manufacturing services with a commitment to quality, speed, and customer service. We supply thousands of parts to customers every week in industries including Healthcare, Automotive, and Aerospace. It is our mission to provide a custom solution to our customers’ needs.

Leveraging our production additive manufacturing technologies, we have the in-house expertise and capabilities to help lead your company down the path of additive. Take advantage of the advances in 3D printing to improve your manufacturing - contact us today to see how we can help!

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