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Category
- Fabrication and Processing » Macrofabrication
Booking Details
Facility Management Team and Location
Facility Features, Working Principle and Specifications
Facility Description
The Virtual Machine Lab Set Up for Smart Manufacturing provides a perfect platform to facilitate advance research, training, process analysis and understanding of the smart technologies. The system simulates a real industrial manufacturing environment on a
virtual setup which includes leading Industry 4.0 technologies.
The Virtual Machine Lab system comprises a six-station setup that replicates a smart manufacturing line in a controlled, virtual environment. The system is designed to operate in both centralized and decentralized (individual) modes, offering flexibility for a wide range of research and training scenarios.
Station 1 – Raw Material Feeding & Tracking: This is the entry point of the production line, where a robotic arm picks up raw cuboidal jobs from a feeder and places them onto a conveyor. This station also tracks and registers the job information using an RFID reader.
Stations 2 to 6 – Virtual Machining Stations: These five stations function as configurable virtual machines. Each station includes:
A robotic arm to automatically load and unload jobs from the conveyor
A motor that simulates the machining or processing operation for a programmed duration
An RFID reader to read and verify job data
A real camera to perform quality inspection post-processing
All stations are interconnected via a conveyor system that facilitates automated job movement. The entire system is controlled and monitored through a centralized Manufacturing Management HMI Application, which allows real-time tracking, production planning, and performance monitoring.
Instructions for Registration, Sample Preparation, User Instructions and Precautionary Measures
Charges for Analytical Services in Different Categories
| sr.no | Facility | IITB Users | Outside Universities | National Laboratories | Industries |
| 1 | Virtual Production System | 1500 | 3000 | 4500 | 7500 |
Applications
The Virtual Machine Lab Setup serves as a versatile platform for a wide range of applications in the domains of manufacturing, education, and research. Some of the key applications include:
1. Smart Manufacturing Research and Development
- Development and testing of Industry 4.0 technologies such as cyber-physical systems, digital twins, and intelligent control algorithms
- Evaluation of smart scheduling, predictive maintenance, and real-time quality control strategies
2. Simulation-Based Training and Education
- Hands-on training for students and professionals on automation, robotics, and intelligent production systems
- Visualization and understanding of complex manufacturing processes and the impact of digital technologies
3. Digital Twin and Cyber-Physical Integration
- Creation and validation of digital twin models for real-time data-driven decision-making
- Experimentation with IoT-enabled systems, data acquisition, and machine-level analytics
4. Production Planning and Optimization
- Testing of dynamic production planning, job sequencing, and buffer management algorithms
- Scenario-based analysis to optimize throughput, reduce lead times, and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
5. AI and Machine Learning Applications
- Implementation of AI/ML algorithms for fault detection, process optimization, and autonomous decision-making
- Data collection for training models in predictive quality, job classification, and adaptive control
6. Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and System Integration
- Development and evaluation of smart HMIs for real-time monitoring and control
- System-level integration of hardware and software components for seamless operations