In collaboration with cooperation partners, Arburg demonstrates how, through additive manufacturing, mass-produced articles can be finished with plastics in such a way that manufacturers can generate added value from them. The objective of producing individual plastic parts on an industrial scale is presented by means of a process chain with Industry 4.0 technology. The items under production are "rocker-type light switches" from Gira, the renowned manufacturer of facility management systems.
The technology and expertise in the field of additive manufacturing and the injection moulding of high-volume products, as well as the networking of processes via a host computer system, all originate from Arburg. In addition to Gira (product design and mould construction), other project partners are Trumpf (lettering applied to parts by laser), Fuchs Engineering (quality checks) and Fpt Robotik (Automation).
The entire process chain, "development - production - application", is demonstrated by means of individual process modules. The process steps commence with product design, followed by the recording of an order and injection moulding production, including lettering applied by laser, plus a quality check. This is followed by the main step of additive part individualisation. The process is rounded off by packaging and the demonstration of comprehensive traceability via a linked host computer.
