Will it 3Dprint itself – which is something about the use of artificial intelligence in 3D printing.
Tomasz Garniec
Meltio Country Manager Poland -??Let's 3D Print something great together?? ??GoToMarket ??TAM ??promoter ??speaker ??presenter ??innovation ??3dprinting ??newtechnologies ??additivemanufacturing ??technology ??motivation
Today, artificial intelligence is a topic that appears on the leading pages of most technological? magazines and news portals. As large as the group of supporters is, many consider it a threat. I have mixed feelings about some aspects of life - such as writing texts for TV series, film and theater scripts, writing books or creating art. I would like there to be a visible separation between #AI and human work in these areas. It's different when it comes to #additive #technology - here my observations are solidified and I would like to present and explain them to You in the few points below.
??????????? Syndromes of opportunity – the first signs of “AI Spring-Time”
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If anyone is wondering today whether #artificialintelligence will be used in #3Dprinting, I must tell You that the first syndromes of possibilities have been visible for a long time. When I started my adventure in the additive world in 2019, some 3d Printing manufacturers already had solutions that could form the basis for the #future use of it. Those who have known me for longer know that modern technologies have always fascinated me and the topic of AI was already known to me then. What's more, images appeared in my imagination that combined existing 3d technology with artificial intelligence. A system controlling the flow of raw material and comparing it with the set parameters, testing the deposition force (pressure), "reading" the layer height, controlling the "smoothness" of the printing platform surface and monitoring process of defects through special cameras were elements that could be found in many devices around the world. At that time, I already saw in my imagination how their potential could be used in AI processes. All of the above were the first signs of future possibilities and a new #manufacturing era in the world of #3Dprinter -s.
??????????? The technological gap and barriers at the start of real AI - from #hobby to #industrial
??????????? The software development aspect will form the basis for the true use of AI in future additive processes. However, we must know that in the world of #3D printing there is still a very big difference between amateur 3d printers and industrial ones. The simplest ones operate on very simple electronics - often 8-bit - which do not offer much potential - to put it simply, they are less efficient. Industrial devices use the latest solutions and offer much greater possibilities, even if we cannot see this in a printing results. In industrial solutions I see opportunities for the fastest adaptation of "artificial thinking" processes, but only a change in “hobby” devices will provide a real acceleration in the development of 3D printing and its use in everyday life
??????????? Software – this artificial intelligence has been “covering” for some time
??????????? Automatic generation of support structures, "organic" supports, suggestions regarding infilling and internal structure - these are just the first pieces of the puzzles. It may not be clear to everyone - but artificial intelligence is based on the knowledge we provide to it and, based on this knowledge, it generates automatic action (take a look at the pictures:). It was on this basis that automations were introduced in the above-mentioned elements. But I was most impressed by design programs that have had much more extensive internal knowledge for a long time that allows them to simulate strengths. However, the real milestone for me was generating structures based on theoretically introduced forces acting on our design. These were the first elements – automatic thinking – the real first aspect of artificial intelligence. The so-called Generative Design is becoming a real tool and many companies already use it in their everyday work . Moreover, this software already has knowledge generated from various processes - therefore, design for a given purpose is also already used. I wonder when this will become part of the wider additive world.
??????????? From software to creation - there's a long way ahead of us
??????????? Someone may ask - what is the problem? Why aren't we using this yet? In my opinion, we are already in the final stretch, but the difficulty is how long it is. Unlike design software, which has a solid and centuries-old scientific basis, the additive world has focused from the beginning on expanding possibilities and discovering different process variants. The simple one I described above grows every day. This is where I see the biggest barrier to the full use of AI in #additivemanufacturing. By focusing on other priorities, we cannot clearly determine what the basic rules for manufacturing from particular materials or in a specific 3D printing technology are. There is no person in the world who has a greater, significant understanding of all the rules in the world of additive processes. Moreover, as a relatively new technology, 3D printing changes and evolves every day. Often creating new paths of creation. Ahead of us is a straight path to the world of AI, which is getting longer every day - it's time to speed up, collect knowledge, analyze, prepare the basics so that its end no longer escapes us.
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??????????? And that's it - knowledge that needs to be systematized
??????????? Just as some time ago a group of the most eminent people said " Stop" - we need to define the framework of artificial intelligence, in the world of 3D printing we need to say "Stop" and finally start the process of collecting and consolidating knowledge about 3D printing. Over these several decades, the additive world has grown and we can find it in every aspect of life. This creates potential, but also makes it difficult to "put" it into the framework of "artificial intelligence". I know myself that even in the internal structures of companies there are people who "feel" a given application better than others. This is what we need to make up for, this is what is missing. Of course, we can start with a part of the world of 3D printing and slowly gain knowledge. Try to enter the "new era of 3D AI printing" in small steps. The question is where to start? I would ask rather - which technology is the best known? Where the knowledge is the most transparent and the heart of the process is based on technologies that have been known for decades. This could be the nice starting path to AI world.
??????????? A barrier that cannot be crossed - that is, where AI has no right to enter.
??????????? A meeting of outstanding figures in science, which took place some time ago , concerned the possibility of regulating "artificial intelligence". We know well that AI has unlimited creative but also destructive potential. Properly directing activities and regulating the coexistence of humans and machines will be the main focus of considerations. In an additive world, we also need to define a boundary. In my opinion, the impassable line between these two worlds should be technology departments, often called application centers. This is where knowledge is created that forms the basis for the operation of future artificial intelligence. Someone could add universities, but for me universities are places that provide an ideal environment for testing the intersection of both worlds. This is where guidelines should be created that would guide people creating and testing additive technology, design software and the artificial intelligence zone. 3D printing technologists – should be a source of knowledge that creates AI, not the other way around.
??????????? AI3DPrinting – the only way to popularize additive technology
??????????? The world will increasingly use artificial intelligence in every aspect of life in the coming years. Open discussion about boundaries, positive and negative effects will continue throughout . In the following years, the borders will be violated, moved and modified. For now, I can say that for me - the discussion about the new era of 3D printing - the more AI era - should start and start with:
These elements will help us achieve automaticity in our behavior and define its norms. It is certain that we will not escape from artificial intelligence and I would be the last to say that we should not go in this direction. On the contrary - I believe that AI is the only direction of development - the only direction that will popularize 3D printing and finally everyone will start using it... because this is the real goal and potential of the additive world.
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Stay with me for longer, and I wish You nice reading!