Texas Instruments invented DLP in 1987 for use in home theaters. Several 3D printer manufacturers have since co-opted the technology as a means to project sequential digital images of individual
As their name suggests, laser cutters use a high-powered laser to slice through sheet metal (and tubing) up to an inch or so in thickness. They are the go-to machine
PolyJet was developed by 3D printing company Objet Technologies, now owned by Stratasys. See material jetting for more information.
Need to integrate your CAM software with the shop's ERP system? You’ll need an API to act as the go-between.
An AM technology that "selectively sprays" adhesive (binder) onto a bed of metal or ceramic powder (or sand). A layer of fresh material is then applied, and the process repeats
Sensors on machine tools and other equipment gather huge amounts of data. Data analytics is the science of extracting meaningful (and actionable) information from it.
Rather than using an expensive CNC machine tool to determine cutting tool length and diameter offset values, these systems allow them to be "preset" offline, increasing productivity and
Take AI and marry it to advanced robotics and you get cyber-physical systems, Industry 4.0’s ultimate deliverable. Hopefully they’ll be friendly.
A punch press drives a tool (called a punch) into or through a piece of sheet metal to create a hole or shaped feature. Shops have largely replaced these once
Minimizing waste in the form of overproduction, lost time, bad parts, and unnecessary movement of people and materials. Sprinkle in some continuous improvement and a sense of company-wide