It is certainly now, AI services are part of our future and allow us to create already sophisticated equipment. Did you know that 3D printing technology can also make AI more useful? 3D printing is a game-changing technology that is constantly evolving and finding new ways to improve oneself. It now has new amazing technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence. The combination of artificial intelligence and 3D printing is leading to new exciting applications of additive manufacturing technology.
What can be done? How do 3D printing and artificial intelligence work together? Find all the answers to your questions in this blog post.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is a form of intelligence displayed by machines, sometimes called machine intelligence. Machines can learn and acquire information, rationally and conclusively. This way, these devices can perform advanced tasks.
These machines that use AI can mimic intelligent human behavior. This AI and automation process can be implemented in very different processes. And once again, additive manufacturing is no exception.
3D printing is a complicated process, and AI can significantly help improve this technology to make it more efficient. Applications of AI with 3D printing
AI in 3D software
To 3D print your project, you must work on your 3D model using CAD software. AI is increasingly being incorporated into these 3D modeling programs to help you create the best 3D printable models.
SolidWorks recently unveiled SolidWorksEdgine, a great tool for using AI, developing an Autodesk DreamCatcher tool that lets you work on reproduction designs. Hundreds of designs can be generated in just a few hours using this program.
This is a great way to develop tools that can detect defects within the 3D model, making it impractical. This use of AI is the perfect solution to start your 3D printing project with viable 3D models.
Thanks to AI for spotting the error.
Artificial intelligence can clearly help improve the printing process and prevent errors. This will always be there to improve the additive manufacturing process to get the best parts possible.
General Electric’s GE Labs in New York have begun developing computer vision technology that allows microscopic fractures to be detected in machine parts. AI and machine learning can also be used in a 3D printer after the printing process. This allows you to directly identify problems and improve the quality control of 3D printed parts!
We can go even further and reach real-time control! This significantly reduces the waste of time and materials. If we already know that 3D printing is a time-saving manufacturing technology, making improvements using AI will become even more powerful.
AI, part of the factory of the future?
Artificial intelligence can be clearly incorporated into the 3D printing factory and may change the future of manufacturing.
AI Build is a London-based company that has developed automated AI-based 3D printing technology, with a smart extruder, to detect any problems. It can also make autonomy decisions. It is a large-scale 3D printing platform using industrial robots and machine learning software.
The possibility of autonomous 3D printing factories is now a reality and it will be a time-saving revolution. Of course, companies ’time and resources may be focused on other tasks. The use of robotic and automatic weapons, to make its own decision and to print viable parts, with no problems, is a real revolution.
AI Build is working on machines that can see, create and learn from their own mistakes and create really complex structures! This clearly helps additive manufacturing technologies go further. This is not the first time we hear about AI Build. The start-up in 2016 has already unveiled an impressive 3D machine with robust cameras on robots using Machine Vision algorithms.
“The goal is to create a feedback loop between the physical environment and the digital environment,” explained AI Build’s CEO, Dugan Kam. Using this system, the machine is able to see defects and replace it with additional layers.
AI and 3D printing have a great future together. 3D printing technology can also be improved, and we can say that the future of 3D printing factories is really promising. Printing processes are more efficient and take less time, with a great reduction of problems.
Do you want to read more about 3D Printing and Artificial Intelligence? Check out our blog post about the European Space Agency, which has decided to print 3D prints of asteroids from the solar system using Artificial Intelligence.