Influence of the manufacturing parameters of an AlMg5 wire–based hybrid production process on quality and mechanical properties

Hybrid manufacturing processes are known for combining the advantages of additive manufacturing and more traditional manufacturing processes such as machining to create components of complex geometry while minimising material waste. The trend towards lightweight design, especially in view of e-mobility, gives aluminium materials an important role to play. This study examines the use of aluminium alloys in laser metal wire deposition (LMWD) processes with subsequent subtractive machining, which is considerably more difficult due to the different process-related influences. The investigations are focussed on the influence of the differently controlled laser power on the shape accuracy, the microstructure, and the hardness of the AlMg5 test components after the LMWD process with subsequent subtractive machining by turning. The long-term goal of the investigations is to increase the stability of the hybrid production process of AlMg5 components with defined dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties.

Pricing and inventory control decisions in the stochastic hybrid production systems with multiple recovery options

Although pricing and inventory control are crucial decisions in each production system, these decisions investigate separately. This paper considers pricing and inventory control decisions simultaneously as a hybrid production system. The hybrid production system with two recovery options, remanufacturing and refurbishing are presented. The demand follows Poisson distribution, which depends on the sale price of each product. Returned products arrive according to a Poisson process. Each returned product can be remanufactured, refurbished, or disposed of. The time to manufacturing, refurbishing, and remanufacturing a product also follows an exponential distribution. By modeling the system as a Markov chain, the long-run expected profit function is derived as a function of the dispose –down-to level of returned products and the order-up-to level and the sale price of serviceable products 1 and 2. Considering pricing and inventory control decisions simultaneously with remanufacturing and refurbishing returned products creates a three-dimensional state space of the Markov Chain with dependence, the sale price of products. Due to the complexity of the model (mixed integer nonlinear programming), the Artificial Bee Colony(ABC)algorithm and complete search method are used. The results show that by increasing the purchase price of returned products, the amount of returned products will increase. If the refurbishing cost of the return products is high or the disposal cost is low, less inventory should be kept in the system with a high price of serviceable products. If the lost sale cost is high, the more inventory should be maintained. Moreover, by decreasing the price elasticity of demand, the customer’s demand is increased, and then more inventory should be kept in the system.

Final Selection of Quality Protein Popcorn Hybrids

Quality Protein Popcorn (QPP) BC2F5 inbred lines were produced through an interpopulation breeding system between Quality Protein Maize dent (QPM) and elite popcorn germplasm. In 2019, five QPP F1 hybrids were selected for further evaluation due to superior agronomics, endosperm protein quality, and popping quality traits. Though these BC2F5 QPP hybrids were phenotypically similar to their popcorn parents, the QPP cultivars conveyed slightly inferior popping characteristics when compared to the original popcorn germplasm. The objective of this study was twofold. First, BC2F5 inbred lines were crossed to their popcorn parents and BC3F4 inbred lines were produced for hybridization to test the agronomic, protein, and popping trait effects from an additional QPP by popcorn backcross. Second, BC2- and BC3-hybrids were simultaneously evaluated alongside ConAgra Brands® elite cultivars and ranked for potential commercialization in the spring of 2020. These 10 QPP hybrids were grown alongside five ConAgra Brands® elite popcorn cultivars in three locations and agronomic, protein quality, and popping quality traits were evaluated. Significant improvements in popcorn quality traits were observed in the QPP BC3 cultivars compared to their BC2 counterparts, and yield averages were significantly lower in BC3-derived QPP hybrids compared to the BC2 population. Protein quality traits were not significantly different between QPP backcrossing populations and significantly superior to ConAgra elite popcorn varieties. Utilizing a previously published ranking system, six QPP hybrids, three from the BC2F5 population and three from the BC3F4 population, were evaluated as candidates for final selection. The successful evaluation and ranking system methodology employed is transferable to other hybrid production and testing programs. Incorporating this analysis with concurrent sensory studies, two QPP hybrids were chosen as premier cultivars for potential commercialization.

Advances in Multi-Process Hybrid Production Cells for Rapid Individualised Laser-Based Production

In this paper, the approach and main advances made in multi-process hybrid production cells (HyProCell) for rapid individualised laser-based production are compiled and discussed, including highlights and achievements. HyProCell constructs automated manufacturing platforms that integrate highly flexible laser-based additive build processes with more conventional yet precise subtractive machining processes and include novel solutions like automatic powder removal system/machines and robot arms in integrated multi-process production cells. The HyProCell approach can either build parts additively from scratch and finish them in a coherent production single line/cell or prepare parts by machining and add laser-based additive features, achieving otherwise impossible shapes. In addition to producing new parts, existing parts can be repaired or improved by adding new details with the HyProCell hybrid concept. The research work includes the design of pilot cell facilities, the development of the, and a new modular architecture including a middleware and integration layer to ensure automation with improved pallet handling systems. Finally, the MES and data management methodologies for future improvements and pilot facility implementation were made.

Correction to: Urgent need hybrid production - what COVID-19 can teach us about dislocated production through 3d-printing and the maker scene

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.