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This boutique manufacturing firm operates more than 160 3D printers that produce plastic parts. One example that illustrates the onshoring potential provided by lights out manufacturing and 3D printing can be found at a 3D printing farm in Brooklyn. Further, this isn’t limited to traditional manufacturing processes-as companies integrate 3D printing systems with other automated traditional manufacturing processes, increased levels of automation on the factory floor allow production to run 24/7 with minimal human intervention. This requires massive levels of connectivity and remote control over manufacturing assets across the factory floor. Many companies are using technology to provide greater automation on the factory floor and to increase uptime. Lights Out Manufacturing Examples in Industry Some lights out manufacturing examples can already be found in industry, and the capabilities of digital additive manufacturing will start to take a lead role as the range of 3D printing systems and processes continues to expand. Given the fabrication times, repetitive steps, and material waste involved in subtractive PCB manufacturing processes, additive manufacturing has the potential to drastically change the PCB fabrication landscape going into the future. One should expect the range of applicability to continue expanding, and existing manufacturing operations should seriously consider complementing or replacing their existing operations with additive manufacturing techniques.
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Machine vision systems are critical for lights out manufacturing. The expanding range of 3D printing processes allows more industries to switch to a digital lights out manufacturing methodology as these processes become applicable to a broader range of products. When it comes to automation, manufacturing processes for simpler products and repetitive processes are easier to automate, eventually reaching the point where a small number of machines or robots can execute an entire manufacturing process with little or no human intervention. Fully automated factories that implement the lights out philosophy for heavy and light manufacturing are already in operation. Manufacturing engineers have gone so far as to develop the philosophy of lights out manufacturing, where human involvement in the manufacturing process is reduced to the greatest extent possible. Automation is pervasive throughout all industries and at all points in many manufacturing processes.