Angus Rittenburg

Really eager to share Nanoprecise Sci Corp's newly launched RoI Calculator with all our customers and partners. How is this different from so many other RoI Calculators available online? Simply, it combines energy savings and downtime savings (the two most important components of lifecycle costs of operating any electric #motor driven machinery such as #pump, #compressor, #turbine etc.), that are achievable with our #energycenteredmaintenance approach and determines the #roi for the customers. More than happy to share the reasonable assumptions behind the calculations and the research papers and empirical studies that back those assumptions. It is valid for any and every industry. With this RoI calculator, our goal remains straightforward: "To show that human behaviour and which in turn means an organization's behaviour towards maintenance of any energy-hungry motor-driven machinery will really determine if that organization will trend in the downward or upward direction for below two metrics and it is also tied to financial returns: - Production per kWh of energy consumed for that production - Production per tonne of CO2 emitted for that production" A huge shoutout to Christian Keon, Manpreet Singh, Gopi Ande Aashnee Kamboj, Brian Keith Richmond and Giuseppe Rizzi for working on it.

53

1 Comment

Nice summary from Tony Gunn, and spot on regarding the future of AI and #automation in #manufacturing. Instead of replacing humans, “automation addresses the dull, dirty, and dangerous aspects of manufacturing … and improves the quality of jobs available.” Said another way, automation increases the time employees can now spend on more value add tasks. And another reference to #digitaltwin modeling … are you utilizing this in your operations?

16

1 Comment

🧠 i'm building an #additivemanufacturing knowledge graph. 📚 what content should i be sure to include? (the best books, articles, websites, etc.)

5

10 Comments

Check out this emotional and much talked about episode... Don't be fooled: It's not easy to start a machine shop Embarking on the journey of launching a machine shop entails navigating through substantial challenges. The initial hurdle lies in the considerable start-up costs, machinery, tools, and skilled labor. The industry itself poses a formidable challenge with intense competition, making it difficult for newcomers to establish themselves. Securing and retaining skilled machinists can be an ongoing struggle due to the competitive market for talent. Additionally, the unpredictability of market fluctuations introduces an element of uncertainty, impacting the demand for services. Despite these formidable pains, strategic planning and determination can transform these challenges into opportunities for growth and success in the machine shop business. On this episode I share exactly what it takes to own and operate a machine shop. LISTEN NOW: https://lnkd.in/g-z8_DAB myTRUEPOSITION.com

19

I am not surprised to see the slide of Velo. They will need to change their business plan to survive. As a user of machines (13 metal machines installed with another on the way) I have installed a few different brands of machines but not a Velo. The perception that medical and aerospace have no budget constraints is untrue. The market is getting increasingly competitive across the AM sector but especially metal. When I investigated the Velo machine the cost of producing parts was just not even close. It is expensive to buy and expensive to run. This is not a winning strategy. Machine makers are trying to justify the high price of machines by adding lots of bells and whistles, most are gimmicks that add very little value. At the end of the day the machine must do the basic job well and be efficient to use and competitive to buy.

16

RIP HoloLens. Despite MSFT investing $1+ billion into the product, it never delivered what technicians actually needed: quick access to the right information. For most industrial machinery, you’re not going to find any useful answers on google or chatgpt. The fastest solution is to call an expert. The next best option is to search through a file repository for the relevant manual. With HoloLens, you had to power up, log in, connect to Wi-Fi, and navigate multiple menus to get to the most useful app, which was reportedly a video call. FaceTime does it better and faster. And while Microsoft teased holographic overlays and step-by-step guides, the reality was that content almost never existed. Instead techs were zooming in on scanned PDFs and typing on an air keyboard. Tack on a $3,000 price tag for a fragile headset with a 2-hour battery life, and it’s no wonder this tech was dead on arrival for field technicians. The best products take the user to the point of value faster, while improving the experience all without needing to learn something new. The phone call is tough to beat. But there are opportunities to dramatically improve the experience. For example when the expert explains the fix and the call ends, the tech has to remember all the steps, or the expert stays on the call as the tech goes through them 1 by 1. Experts will often share part#s (ex: B43DSF-SD23) or other complex nomenclature that often takes multiple attempts to get right. Another issue is the expert often gets similar questions, so they repeat themselves all the time. Solving these problems was the starting point for Airwave. Also, what the heck is this guy even working on?

17

5 Comments

Accelerate mechanical maintenance with AI: Learn how a RAG-powered mechanic's assistant won 3rd place at LlamaIndex's hackathon! OilyRAGs, an AI-driven catalog for mechanics, showcases the power of Retrieval-Augmented Generation in transforming traditional industries: 🔧 6000% faster model number decoding and parts lookup 🚤 Focused on the $50+ billion marine industry 📱 Multimodal, hands-free interface for on-the-spot diagnostics Key technical features: ➡️ LlamaIndex for RAG pipeline and workflow implementation ➡️ Pinecone for vector storage ➡️ OpenAI for language model and embeddings ➡️ Arize AI Phoenix for observability Read the full explanation: https://lnkd.in/gaWBeweh

75

3 Comments

A starship nearing it’s fatigue life could be assigned a one way mission such as becoming a cycler that will never land again. Or be an expendable rocket to put a heavier payload in orbit then be recycled to add that mass to the space2space industry. Until then they can replace and refurbish the rockets so like an aircraft structural fatigue must be the limiting factor. Aircraft don’t have value as one way missions, unlike rockets which until SpaceX were only used once

4

1 Comment

Google's $10M carbon removal deal with Holocene is turning heads. At $100/ton, it's setting a new benchmark for direct air capture technology. But can this Tennessee startup deliver 100,000 tons of CO2 removal by 2030? #CarbonRemoval #CleanTech #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Innovation What's your take on the future of carbon capture technology?

7

I'm very impressed by the Hadrian Industry startup. Hadrian provides precision mechanical component production for clients through a highly automated and "software-centric" process. They offer a solution to a common problem: manufacturers of mechanical parts often use software inefficiently, typically only leveraging 20% to 30% of its capabilities. Essentially, Hadrian is a code developer that maximizes the performance of automation software, fine-tuning it to its full potential. In the digitalization process, do you think there's a real risk that know-how isn't effectively "hardwired" into the system? Could this result in companies ending up with just a dashboard, rather than truly powerful digitalization when managed by the client themselves? How might this impact the effectiveness of digitalization efforts?

1

Applying Elon Musk's Engineering Principles of Rocket Building to Autonomous Farm Machinery... As startups and major OEM's alike strive to innovate and scale, the roadmap laid out by Elon Musk for rocket engineering offers some insightful guidelines, particularly for those venturing into autonomous farm machinery. Here’s why Musk’s 5-step engineering protocol is not just for rockets but is a blueprint for any company aiming to disrupt industries: 1. Make the Requirements Less Dumb: Start by simplifying what you need. In autonomous farming, this means stripping back to the essential functionalities required by a singular task. Focus first on the ones that directly enhance productivity and sustainability. 2. Delete and Streamline: Less is more. Evaluate every component of your system—do you really need that extra sensor or module? Does it really have to be 4 wheel steer, electric and autonomous? Streamlining not only cuts costs but also reduces potential points of failure, making initial success easier. 3. Optimize and Simplify: Before scaling or automating, ensure your product design is as simple, efficient and ruggedized as possible. This is crucial in a sector where equipment must operate under varying environmental conditions with minimal supervision. 4. Accelerate Cycle Times: Move quickly to iterate designs based on real-world feedback. Farming technology must adapt rapidly to different geographies, seasons, and environmental conditions. Collide your idea with reality early and often 5. Automate: Finally, automation should enhance your product's efficiency and consistency. If you have done everything else right autonomy becomes one of the most boing aspects of your product because it all just works...especially if you are using Mach's products and infrastructure ;) I think by adopting these principles, startups and OEMs can drive forward with a clear focus, avoid common pitfalls, and set a course for meaningful and scalable innovation. Elon Musk has shown us time and time again that with the right approach, even the sky isn’t the limit. Let's take these learnings from the aerospace and automotive industries and ground them in the reality of agriculture. We're not just building machines; we're cultivating a future. #AgTech #Innovation #AutonomyStrategy #ElonMusk #EngineeringExcellence #FutureFarming

121

5 Comments

Obsolescence is a design choice.  We're so used of thinking about hardware tech evolution in terms of "new" product releases that we forget that companies are voluntarily driving this paradigm to maximize their profit. Yet we could imagine another models for companies, where modular products could be easily repaired or upgraded with new technologies. Of course, this comes with a cost: designers have more constraints and will have to anticipate future developments. Focus cannot only be aesthetics and miniaturization. But can't we find attractive designs that's both aesthetic and functional? That's the balance we're trying to find at Mekanika. Our machines are above all designed for modularity: nothing is glued or welded, we use standard parts wherever possible, and any component can be easily replaced or repaired. Even our first-generation machines can be upgraded with our latest laser add-on. Our users assemble their machines and gain valuable knowledge about their operation and maintenance. How does it work financially? Because it creates a long term relationship with our users. We don't lock them in, yet they come back every time we offer something new. And if ethics and business are not convincing enough, here's another reason to change your design process: regulations are most probably coming. And for companies, unless you prefer paying lawyers to circumvent upcoming European regulations, you'll have to embrace this much needed new paradigm.

58

1 Comment

For 2+ years I have been having this conversation: Many folks realize the benefits of robotics, but don’t know how to get started. So, here’s a look at how to get started… This week Justin Montes and Rob Goldiez discuss, in detail, how DeAngelo Marine Exhaust Inc. went about investing in robotics and buying their first cobot. Here’s a link to the podcast: https://lnkd.in/gMxcgrmk We discuss the process, the doubts, the people, and the results. Thanks to cobots, they’ve increased their capacity, and have more welders and fabricators than ever (and people are getting promoted into new roles). Personally, I feel this is one of the most pragmatic episodes we’ve recorded. What are your thoughts? Do you have a case study of your own to share? Hit us with those in the comments. #robotics #automation A3 - Association for Advancing Automation

83

12 Comments

Curious about WAAM3D and what sets up apart in the world of Additive Manufacturing (AM)? Dive in and start with the basics: 🛠️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀: WAAM3D uses and electric arc to melt a metal wire, which is then deposited layer by layer to build complex 3D parts. This process is controlled by sophisticated software ensuring precision and consistency. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: ⛓️ 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: WAAM3D can handle a variety of metals, including steel, aluminium, and titanium, making it suitable for diverse applications from aerospace to energy, the options are vast. ♻️ 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, WAAM3D reduces material waste and speeds us production. It's ideal for creating large-scale parts and prototypes quickly and cost-effectively. 🧰 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: WAAM3D allows for on - demand manufacturing, so you can create bespoke components without the long lead times or high costs associated with traditional methods. 🚀 WAAM3D is more than just a 3D printing technology - we provide a revolutionary approach that's shaping the way in which you think about manufacturing and design. 👉🏻 Learn more about WAAM by visiting: https://hubs.li/Q02TQs6G0 #WAAM3D #Printing #Innovation #Global #Leader #Wirearc #Additive #Manufacturing #TheBenefits

12

First Light Fusion and Sandia Collaboration   First Light Fusion is a British fusion energy startup that focuses on researching energy generation through inertial confinement fusion. They have developed a unique amplifier technology that plays a crucial role in their fusion experiments1. Recently, they achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first private fusion company to successfully fire a shot on Sandia’s ‘Z Machine’ in New Mexico, USA1.   Here are the key details: The Z Machine: The Z Machine is the most powerful pulsed power facility in the world. It generates a peak power of 80 trillion watts, surpassing the entire global electricity grid. The Z Machine launches projectiles electromagnetically at higher velocities than any other facility, impacting material samples to test their properties under extreme pressures. First Light’s Achievement: First Light Fusion combined their unique amplifier technology with the Z Machine. They broke a long-standing pressure record for the facility during their first shot. Dr. Nick Hawker, Founder & CEO of First Light Fusion, emphasized the value of their simulation, design, manufacturing, and experimental teams in achieving this success. Testing at higher pressures is crucial for pushing the limits of what their amplifiers can do, and they plan to break the pressure record again later this year. Scientific Significance: The success of this shot at Sandia is a major scientific milestone for First Light Fusion. It demonstrates that their target technology works across different driver platforms, including the powerful Z Machine. This validation positions First Light as a leader in real-world high-energy density physics, contributing to the quest for commercial fusion power. Collaboration with Sandia: First Light Fusion has an ongoing partnership with Sandia National Laboratories. Sandia’s Z Machine allows them to test their amplifier technology at pressures not accessible elsewhere. Dr. Daniel Sinars, Director of the Pulsed Power Sciences Center at Sandia, highlighted the importance of joint experiments in advancing fundamental science 234. In summary, First Light Fusion’s breakthrough on the Z Machine represents a significant step toward achieving practical fusion energy. Their collaboration with Sandia continues to drive progress in this exciting field.    Source:           Copilot AI   1           firstlightfusion.com 2           sp-edge.com 3           ipgroupplc.com 4           thebusinessmagazine.co.uk 5           firstlightfusion.com 6           bing.com …

Heading to Dallas for the A3 - Association for Advancing Automation's All Boards meeting. I could use your insights on a few questions: -Emerging Technologies: Which emerging technology sectors hold the most potential for growth and synergy with A3's focus areas like robotics, machine vision, motion control, AI, and industrial automation? Why? -Global Expansion: Beyond India and Mexico, which countries present significant opportunities for our trade association to expand into? What factors make these regions attractive for growth? -AI Content Needs: Regarding AI, what type of content would be most useful for you? (white papers, demos, webinars, training, etc.) Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks for your input. #Automation #AI #Robotics #MachineVision #MotionControl #IndustrialAutomation #A3BoardsMeeting #GlobalExpansion #EmergingTech #IndustryInsights #TradeAssociation

67

12 Comments

October 2024 U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Reflect Shifting Trends The latest USMTO report from Christopher Chidzik of AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology shows that manufacturing technology orders totaled $385 million in October 2024, a 14.5% decline from September and 5.5% below October 2023. Year-to-date, orders have reached $3.74 billion, down 7.5% compared to 2023. Despite these declines, the data reveals some promising trends: October orders were 3% above the historical average, signaling stabilization. Aerospace manufacturers led the way, with orders reaching their highest level of 2024 as companies used downtime during the Boeing machinist strike to invest in advanced manufacturing technology. In contrast, contract machine shops—a key bellwether for the industry—saw a nearly 30% pullback, likely influenced by the Boeing strike and uncertainty surrounding the U.S. presidential election. With the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cuts beginning to take effect, and strong durable goods job growth reported last week, the next few months hold promise for renewed momentum in manufacturing technology investment. Looking Ahead: Join us for AMT’s 2025 Winter Economic Forum on January 24, where we’ll discuss the latest forecasts, IMTS 2024 insights, and strategies to navigate 2025 successfully. Link in the article. https://lnkd.in/gHT8stX2 #ManufacturingTechnology #USMTO #Aerospace #EconomicTrends #AdvancedManufacturing #ResilientIndustry #AMT

10

1 Comment

“We’re basically playing laser tag with weeds.” - Paul Mikesell, CEO of Carbon Robotics Watch part one of this two-part informative series produced by Sharon Spielman, Technical Editor at Machine Design. Paul Mikesell, founder and CEO of Carbon Robotics explores the vision behind the company as well as how the machine and its vision system have been field-tested since 2018, making for an innovative and sustainable way to kill weeds without the need for herbicides. https://lnkd.in/gCRuMJ2G

66

3 Comments