NX & Identify3D solutions integrate to address integrity and security of digital supply chain
Identify3D, a software provider for digital manufacturing security, quality and traceability, announced its integration with Siemens’ NX CAM, Additive Manufacturing software and Sinumerik CNC motion control.
The unique end-to-end integrated solution enables manufacturers to protect product and manufacturing data, certify authentication of users and machines, and enforce that the use of the digital data is secure and controlled throughout the manufacturing process. Identify3d ProtectTM , a plug-in for Siemens NX CAM and NX Additive Manufacturing software, creates a secure container while Identify3D Manage enables distribution and licensing policies for the usage of the data within the container.
In production, Identify3D EnforceTM integrates into Siemens’ Sinumerik 840D sl computer numerical control (CNC) controllers to allow applications and devices to access the data based on the licensing policy defined.
“Following our partnership and prototype announcement last year, we are now excited to bring the integrated solution to market,” says Joe Inkenbrandt, Co-Founder and CEO at Identify3D. “Siemens understands the importance of an efficient and reliable digital value chain to establish its leadership in Industry 4.0. We are proud to be part of their Digital Factory story. “
New and existing Siemens’ NX users will have the ability to select a manufacturing policy, production quantity, and expiration date for the manufacturing of part(s) enabling them to create secure technical packages. These packages can then be licensed and delivered to manufacturers using machine tools equipped with Sinumerik controllers where they are decrypted assuring that parts are made to exact specification in a repeatable process. Full traceability provides complete oversight of the digital twin from design to manufacturing to the field.
“Digitalization is changing everything,” says Roger Hart, head of R&D at Siemens Industry, Inc. Hart continues, “Manufacturing is pressed to embrace Industry 4.0, IoT, and cloud technologies. Safe distribution of digital manufacturing data is paramount to success, which is why Siemens and Identify3D are combining to protect digital manufacturing content from part concept and design all the way through to manufacturing. Digital content remains fully protected whether distribution is through public clouds, private clouds or even old school thumb drives. Combining Identify3d technology, Siemens PLM software, and Siemens motion controllers like the Sinumerik 840D allow digital assets to be protected regardless of the manufacturing ecosystem.”
“Securing the digital thread and preventing the misuse of part design and production IP is especially important for companies adopting additive manufacturing,” says Andreas Saar, VP of digital manufacturing. “Identify3D is a leader in securing and controlling the distribution of data for engineering and production of parts. For companies looking to secure data exchange in-house and with their supply chain, this technology is essential.”
Benefits of this integration include:
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- End-to-end security and protection of intellectual property as digital files move from design conception to manufacturing in the digital supply chain.
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- Assurance that production adheres to manufacturing rules set by the originating company and that parts are made per specification with repeatability.
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- Visibility into the manufacturing process at machine level, including user authentication, timestamp and quantity metering.
Identify3D previously announced its partnership with Siemens and demoed its prototype at the EMO fair in September of 2017. The solution is now fully available, integrated in Sinumerik 840D sl software version 4.7 SP2 and newer and available as plug-in for NX 11. The NX Additive Manufacturing integration is, or will be, also available with select AM machine manufacturers, including EOS, SLM Solutions and Renishaw.
