Smart manufacturability analysis for digital product development

Cloud-Based Design and Manufacturing is a service-oriented networked product development model in which service consumers are enabled to configure, select and utilize customized product realization services ranging from computer-aided engineering software to reconfigurable manufacturing systems. So far, this paradigm has mainly been tested for digital design and fabrication processes including the usual steps of designing an artefact with a CAD system to then have a prototype manufactured with a 3D printer. Unfortunately, a common mishap that can often be observed is that artefacts that look perfectly fine on the CAD computer screen come out severely misshaped on the 3D printer. In this paper, we first investigate and document this phenomenon and explain its root cause, which concerns a) the data transmitted to the 3D printer, b) inappropriate design features, and c) a mismatch between geometry requirements and printer capabilities. As more and more entrepreneurs, hobbyists in maker communities, and other not always fully trained individuals pursue their design and make ideas, there is a need for smart computer-based support to facilitate a successful design-to-print process. Such a digital DfM assistant might pop up to prompt a designer to modify identified critical areas of the design so that it can be printed with a chosen printer or alternatively propose another type of printer that may have the technical capabilities to accommodate the design in its current form. Acknowledging this need, we propose a two-stage smart manufacturability assistant. The first stage decomposes the digital model into a series of part features; the second stage of the model involved defining the capabilities of the 3D-printer. Finally, we begin to realize this manufacturability assistant by creating and evaluating a bespoke test part which can be used to define a machine-material capability map for an example FDM process

Software-defined cloud manufacturing for industry 4.0

AbstractMany of the world's leading industrial nations have invested in national initiatives to foster advanced manufacturing, innovation, and design for the globalized world. Much of this investment has been driven by visions such as Industry 4.0, striving to achieve a future where intelligent factories and smart manufacturing are the norm. Within this realm, innovations such as the Industrial Internet of Things, Cloud-based Design and Manufacturing (CBDM), and Social Product Development (SPD) have emerged with a focus on capitalizing on the benefits and economies of scale provided by Internet Protocol (IP) communication technologies. Another emerging idea is the notion of software-defined systems such as software-defined networks, which exploit abstraction and inexpensive hardware advancements in an effort to build more flexible systems. Recently, the authors have begun considering how the notion of software-defined systems might be harnessed to achieve flexible cloud manufacturing systems. As a result, this paper introduces the notion of Software-Defined Cloud Manufacturing (SDCM). We describe a basic SDCM architecture based on leveraging abstraction between manufacturing hardware and cloud-based applications, services, and platforms. The goal of SDCM is to advance Cloud-Based Manufacturing and other Industry 4.0 pillars by providing agility, flexibility, and adaptability while also reducing various complexity challenges

Platelet lysate as a serum substitute for 2D static and 3D perfusion culture of stromal vascular fraction cells from human adipose tissue

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 are key supplements for the culture of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells from adipose tissue, both for typical monolayer (2D) expansion and for streamlined generation of osteogenic-vasculogenic grafts in 3D perfusion culture. The present study investigates whether factors present in human platelet lysate (PL) could substitute for FBS and FGF-2 in 2D and 3D culture models of SVF cells from human lipoaspirates. SVF cells were grown in medium supplemented with 10% FBS+FGF-2 or with 5% PL. In 2D cultures, PL initially supported SVF cell proliferation, but resulted in growth arrest shortly after the first passage. Freshly isolated SVF cells cultured with both media under perfusion for 5 days within 3D ceramic scaffolds induced bone formation after subcutaneous implantation in nude mice. However, blood vessels of donor origin were generated only using FBS+FGF-2-cultured cells. This was unexpected, because the proportion of CD34+/CD31+ endothelial lineage cells was significantly higher with PL than that of FBS+FGF-2 (33% vs. 3%, respectively). These results support the use of PL as a substitute of FBS+FGF-2 for short-term culture of human SVF cells, and indicate that more specific serum-free formulations are required to maintain a functionally vasculogenic fraction of SVF cells expanded under 3D perfusion

Maturity Model Development for Digital Servitization of Manufacturing SMEs

Manufacturing businesses seek to increase their revenue streams through new business models. In the context of the continuing digitization of the manufacturing sector, new business models based on digital servitization offerings are at the centre of attention. However, due to the inherent complexity involved in devising such offerings and suitable business models, many companies struggle to embark on this new value-adding pathway that is not yet well understood. Current research has highlighted the general challenges and barriers faced by manufacturing businesses, along with developing tools and roadmaps for successful transition to digital servitization. However, most studies have only focused on servitization in general, omitting the specific “digital” aspect which brings about different challenges. Accordingly, the authors first introduce the concept of digital servitization in general terms, to then discuss different types of it, along with typical barriers to entry and implementation challenges. A critical element of any digital servitization endeavor is to first assess the current state of a business, to define the desired outcome of the process, and to identify the steps and actions required to accomplish the desired end goal. This is accomplished by means of maturity models that also help in terms of benchmarking current and future state against competitors. The authors introduce the research aims and questions, the research methodology and present results from a systematic review of the literature on maturity modelling, including an overview of the maturity modelling methods encountered and their respective dimensions and levels. Finally, conclusions are drawn along with the current state of the research and future work that will be conducted

Engineering human cell-based, functionally integrated osteochondral grafts by biological bonding of engineered cartilage tissues to bony scaffolds

In this study, we aimed at developing and validating a technique for the engineering of osteochondral grafts based on the biological bonding of a chondral layer with a bony scaffold by cell-laid extracellular matrix. Osteochondral composites were generated by combining collagen-based matrices (Chondro-Gide) containing human chondrocytes with devitalized spongiosa cylinders (Tutobone) using a fibrin gel (Tisseel). We demonstrate that separate pre-culture of the chondral layer for 3 days prior to the generation of the composite allows for (i) more efficient cartilaginous matrix accumulation than no pre-culture, as assessed histologically and biochemically, and (ii) superior biological bonding to the bony scaffold than 14 days of pre-culture, as assessed using a peel-off mechanical test, developed to measure integration of bilayered materials. The presence of the bony scaffold induced an upregulation in the infiltrated cells of the osteoblast-related gene bone sialoprotein, indicative of the establishment of a gradient of cell phenotypes, but did not affect per se the quality of the cartilaginous matrix in the chondral layer. The described strategy to generate osteochondral plugs is simple to be implemented and--since it is based on clinically compliant cells and materials--is amenable to be readily tested in the clinic

Parametric Optimization of Artificial Neural Networks for Signal Approximation Applications

Artificial neural networks are used to solve diverse sets of problems. However, the accuracy of the network’s output for a given problem domain depends on appropriate selection of training data as well as various design parameters that define the structure of the network before it is trained. Genetic algorithms have been used successfully for many types of optimization problems. In this paper, we describe a methodology that uses genetic algorithms to find an optimal set of configuration parameters for artificial neural networks such that the network’s approximation error for signal approximation problems is minimized

It Takes Two to Tang: Coupling of Angiogenesis and Osteogenesis for Bone Regeneration

Bone regeneration is a complex process requiring highly orchestrated interactions between different cells and signals to form new mineralized tissue. Blood vessels serve as a structural template, around which bone development takes place, and also bring together the key elements for bone homeostasis into the osteogenic microenvironment, including minerals, growth factors and osteogenic progenitor cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the master regulator of vascular growth and it is required for effective coupling of angiogenesis and osteogenesis during both skeletal development and postnatal bone repair. Here, we will review the current state of knowledge on the molecular cross-talk between angiogenesis and osteogenesis. In particular, we will focus on the role of VEGF in coupling these two processes and how VEGF dose can control the outcome, addressing in particular: (1) the direct influence of VEGF on osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitors; (2) the angiocrine functions of endothelium to regulate osteoprogenitors; (3) the role of immune cells, e.g., myeloid cells and osteoclast precursors, recruited by VEGF to the osteogenic microenvironment. Finally, we will discuss emerging strategies, based on the current biological understanding, to ensure rapid vascularization and efficient bone formation in regenerative medicine

Smart manufacturability analysis for digital product development

Cloud-Based Design and Manufacturing is a service-oriented networked product development model in which service consumers are enabled to configure, select and utilize customized product realization services ranging from computer-aided engineering software to reconfigurable manufacturing systems. So far, this paradigm has mainly been tested for digital design and fabrication processes including the usual steps of designing an artefact with a CAD system to then have a prototype manufactured with a 3D printer. Unfortunately, a common mishap that can often be observed is that artefacts that look perfectly fine on the CAD computer screen come out severely misshaped on the 3D printer. In this paper, we first investigate and document this phenomenon and explain its root cause, which concerns a) the data transmitted to the 3D printer, b) inappropriate design features, and c) a mismatch between geometry requirements and printer capabilities. As more and more entrepreneurs, hobbyists in maker communities, and other not always fully trained individuals pursue their design and make ideas, there is a need for smart computer-based support to facilitate a successful design-to-print process. Such a digital DfM assistant might pop up to prompt a designer to modify identified critical areas of the design so that it can be printed with a chosen printer or alternatively propose another type of printer that may have the technical capabilities to accommodate the design in its current form. Acknowledging this need, we propose a two-stage smart manufacturability assistant. The first stage decomposes the digital model into a series of part features; the second stage of the model involved defining the capabilities of the 3D-printer. Finally, we begin to realize this manufacturability assistant by creating and evaluating a bespoke test part which can be used to define a machine-material capability map for an example FDM process

Long-term safety and stability of angiogenesis induced by balanced single-vector co-expression of PDGF-BB and VEGF164 in skeletal muscle

Therapeutic angiogenesis by growth factor delivery is an attractive treatment strategy for ischemic diseases, yet clinical efficacy has been elusive. The angiogenic master regulator VEGF-A can induce aberrant angiogenesis if expressed above a threshold level. Since VEGF remains localized in the matrix around expressing cells, homogeneous dose distribution in target tissues is required, which is challenging. We found that co-expression of the pericyte-recruiting factor PDGF-BB at a fixed ratio with VEGF from a single bicistronic vector ensured normal angiogenesis despite heterogeneous high VEGF levels. Taking advantage of a highly controlled gene delivery platform, based on monoclonal populations of transduced myoblasts, in which every cell stably produces the same amount of each factor, here we rigorously investigated a) the dose-dependent effects, and b) the long-term safety and stability of VEGF and PDGF-BB co-expression in skeletal muscle. PDGF-BB co-expression did not affect the normal angiogenesis by low and medium VEGF doses, but specifically prevented vascular tumors by high VEGF, yielding instead normal and mature capillary networks, accompanied by robust arteriole formation. Induced angiogenesis persisted unchanged up to 4 months, while no tumors appeared. Therefore, PDGF-BB co-expression is an attractive strategy to improve safety and efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis by VEGF gene delivery