PartBox
The Challenge
PartBox is an on-demand parts streaming service with a digital warehouse for the packaging industry. Customers stream parts directly to their PartBox printer, eliminating the need for physical warehouses. The customizable components offer more flexibility than traditional methods.
Thanks to an integrated traceability solution, PartBox parts can be securely streamed worldwide, authenticated and restored from the e-commerce store system according to the same parameters. This improves quality control and optimizes spare parts production.
Our solution
Additive Marking Serializer
On the one hand, customers process semi-customizable parts in the design automation software from trinckle GmbH. Once prepared, clicking Send to Print calls our API and we convert the part (and an additional unique identifier) to machine gcode. This allows the slicing process – the step in additive manufacturing that takes place before printing – to be skipped. This workflow not only saves time and effort, but also makes 3D printing more accessible to non-experts.
Additionally, with our software integration into the PartBox platform, ordered parts are directly marked for traceability and tracked throughout the entire production chain. The advantages for PartBox were twofold: On the one hand, the codes could be scanned after printing by our DPM Scan Pro technology and the item number could be linked to the PartBox shop system. If a part was defective or substandard after production, problems with individual components could be quickly identified and resolved. Second, when reordering parts, customers only need to scan their marked item – again via our DPM Scan Pro technology – to access the PartBox e-commerce system. Customers enter their desired order quantity via our app and rapid, needs-based spare parts production is initiated. The security of customer data and intellectual property is maintained throughout the entire production process, allowing authentic, high-quality parts to be produced time and time again.
Overall, with the help of interoperable systems, such as in our workflow described, additive manufacturing can become a valuable and democratic manufacturing process from which all industries benefit.
