Simulation Analysis of a Robotic Workplace for Additive Manufacturing of Dental Implants
摘要
This article presents an integrated approach to the design and evaluation of an automated workplace to produce dental implants, combining the implementation of industrial robots, the safety requirements of ISO 10218-1 and modern additive manufacturing technologies. The article focuses on the implementation of an industrial robot in accordance with the standard, which sets out key principles for the safe operation of robotic systems in automated production environments. The work also includes an overview of advanced 3D printing technologies used in dentistry, in particular SLS and SLM methods, which enable the production of precise and individually tailored implants with high material efficiency. A virtual model of the workplace was created in Tecnomatix Plant Simulation software, consisting of a 3D metal printer, a cleaning station, finishing technology and an industrial robot for handling parts and connecting individual operations. The simulation model is used to analyse the dynamic behaviour of the system, its capacity utilisation and operational performance. The simulation outputs include Resource Statistics, Occupancy and Active Work Share pie charts, which enabled detailed identification of inactivity, potential bottlenecks and overall resource utilisation. The results confirm the suitability and effectiveness of linking industrial robotics with additive manufacturing technologies in the dental implant manufacturing process. The findings also highlight the importance of simulation tools in verifying workplace design before its actual implementation.