Application of Digital Twin of Robot Cell in Investment Casting Manufacturing

Abstract

Digital transformation in manufacturing processes such as the ones used in investment casting empowers organizations to simulate, monitor, and enhance simulations, paving the way for factory automation. This paper explores the impact of digitalization on an industrial Robot Cell environment that is used for constructing ceramic casings to create investment casting products. The application of Digital Twin technology into a physical production Robot Cell is presented. Emphasis is given to the relevant technical aspects of creating the virtual space with 3D scanning technology, establishing the Digital Twin system, and simulating the robot path for adaptation to the new requirements. The Digital Twin enables offline simulation and modeling, allowing adaptability, limiting production disruptions for manual changes, and ensuring the safety of testing, while enabling digital access to the Robot Cell’s operational system. This work demonstrates how a Digital Twin for an industrial robot can improve the investment casting process by allowing for virtual tests and the flexibility to adapt to new items with previously unseen geometries.