Manufacturing Support Services

What are Manufacturing Support Services?

In manufacturing, there are a lot of fluctuating circumstances that need to be monitored in order for a company to be successful and profitable. Companies need to be constantly working to make sure that the manufacturing side of the business is always operating at max efficiency. However, problems can start to pile up if one small snag occurs in the process along the way. For most manufacturing companies there is the engineering side, and there is the manufacturing side. The engineering side supplies the manufacturing side which in turn makes the profit. Delays with the engineering side of a business create a bottleneck & potentially cause lost profit. Here at Perception Engineering, we offer multiple different types of manufacturing support services that allow us to add engineering capacity and help keep companies moving forward. So, what exactly are these support services and how can they help? Jump into the next section of this blog to find out more!

Why are Support Services Needed?

So why exactly do companies need engineering/manufacturing support services? Fluctuation in demand & seasonality can cause work to pile up and deadlines will be right around the corner. Support services are a great option to alleviate capacity constrictions and provide a quick solution to a short-term problem. By contracting a company such as Perception Engineering, a team of experienced engineers is added to your company to tackle the problems at hand. Hiring temporary help instead of hiring additional employees can save a company money in the long run and can be a more immediate solution as hiring can be a long process. On the other hand, some companies do not have an in-house engineering team. Both long term and short term contracts can put in place to designate a company like Perception Engineering to provide engineering and manufacturing services to the company in need.

The Support Services

With the engineering and manufacturing field being so broad, there can be multiple services utilized within one business. One common service utilized is providing 2D drawings. Some companies or businesses do not have a set standard for a drawings template, this is where an engineering team would offer the support service of creating a standard and applying it to all drawings that need to be completed. Here at Perception Engineering, we specialize in multiple different services. These include 3D modeling, 2D drawings, new product development, plant floor layout, Reverse Engineering, product assembly, and so much more.

Final Thoughts

Engineering and manufacturing support services are a great option for companies all across the board. Whether your company has one hundred employees or only five, engineering services can provide value to your business. It is a great option to have companies like Perception Engineering that are willing to jump in when extra capacity is needed or to fill a knowledge gap.

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Toggl at Perception Engineering

On an average day, you move from task to task without even thinking about it. Usually this doesn’t cause much trouble; however, here at Perception Engineering, as much of the work we do is on time-based quotes, we meticulously keep track of time spent on any given task. This allows us to give customers an accurate view of how time was spent on their project and what they’re paying for. It also keeps us on track to get our work done in the most time efficient way possible. To do this, we use Toggl.

With Toggl, you can easily keep track of the three most important things for your records. What job the task was for, a brief description of what you were doing, and whether a given task is billable to the customer or not. This allows you to provide a summary of the time spent on a project, both billable and not billable, to the customer once a project is completed. Another important feature is that you can correct any mistakes after making the initial entry. This allows for a run through at the end of the project to make sure there are no errors for billable entries and no missing information, and the ability to fix these problems without losing the whole entry.

Figure 1: Sample Entries

Of course, those features are not the only advantages to using Toggl. The dashboard and reports features are also handy tools. With these, you can further break down and sift through tasks and the time taken to complete them. You can also break down projects into pre-defined tasks and assign these projects to clients, making it even easier to organize your time entries. Best of all, you can get started for free! Not only is there a 30-day free trial with any plan you like, you can keep a free account, for teams of up to five members, which allows you access to basic time tracking features.

That’s all for now! If you like the content or have questions, sign up for our email list to stay in the loop for solutions or weekly content.

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3D Printing at Perception Engineering

If you have an idea for a product and possibly even the design ready to go, but you want to be able to have a better idea of what it may look like when it is manufactured, we have the solutions for you. One of those solutions is 3D printed prototyping.

Here at Perception Engineering, with both in-house capabilities and local partnerships, we can bring your prototype to life. This can often be done with one of the many forms of 3D printing. With our in-depth knowledge of printing processes, we can choose the best method for any project. In-house, we can carry out appropriate projects with FDM, otherwise known as Fused Deposition Modeling, which is the technique likely to come to mind when people hear 3D printing. This is where a thin layer of plastic is extruded out in layers in the shape of one’s product. An example of this product can be seen below.

This can provide a great perspective into what your finished product will approximately look like when manufactured. Following are some samples of what a finished print may look like.

If your product has features that fall outside of our in-house abilities, such as having extremely fine geometry and details, or you desire to have a production quality part with strong mechanical properties not done with FDM, we have 3D printing partners which we can work with to make sure the job is done right. We also have the knowledge to know what process will get the best results for any projects. To learn more about our in-house processes and some of the other commonly used processes that we have available to us through our partnerships, you can visit the 3D Printing page.

Figure 1: Example 3D Printed Parts

That’s all for now! Keep us in mind for any of your current or future 3D printing prototyping needs. Every project has individual needs, and we can work with you to fit those needs. If you like the content or have questions, sign up for our email list to stay in the loop for solutions or weekly content.

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Reverse Engineering

Reverse engineering is the process of examining and deconstructing a design that is already built and acquiring all the necessary data required to reproduce it. Here at Perception we perform this process for a variety of customers and with each project a unique set of challenges and ingenuity awaits. There are many situations that may require reverse engineering, but we most frequently see cases in which the company who contracted us needs to reproduce or enhance a design that they have no data for (prints, models, BOM, etc.). The design is typically undocumented because it was quickly built on the floor (i.e holding fixture, makeshift part, or simple machine), or the data was lost/not provided from the manufacturer. from the manufacturer.

Our process at Perception Engineering usually depends on a variety of different questions. What type of design is it? Is it a large machine or small part? What type of access do we have in examination, rather, do you need us to come out to your facility to acquire necessary data or can you provide access at our office? Finally, what is your intended scope for the project? What are the deliverables and how much detail do you require?

We have the capacity at Perception to work both on and offsite and on a variety of design types to accommodate our customers. We have all the necessary tools required to accurately measure and document the data needed to reverse engineer a desired piece. Finally, we can take the design in any direction you require whether it be models, 2D manufacturing prints, or even help in finding a manufacturer to reproduce it.

An example of a past reverse engineering project involved a skid press machine that needed to be replicated to speed up production on the floor. A small team from Perception Engineering traveled onsite to take measurements using tape measures and calipers, collect pictures and videos of the machine and its use, and record additional specifications from the customer. We transitioned this data back to the office and virtually recreated the machine in SolidWorks and then generated all the necessary assembly and part drawings needed for manufacturing.

Since working on reverse engineering projects, I have come to appreciate the process and enjoy the systematic approach behind it. Although it may not be as gratifying as creating your own design from scratch, I really appreciate studying how and why a design is manufactured the way it was, what was its design intent, and how can I offer solutions and simplifications to make the design better functioning, more robust, and even more cost efficient to reproduce.

Have a reverse engineering project in mind? Let our team at Perception Engineering lead the way!

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Virtual Reality at Perception Engineering

This blog will be focusing on virtual reality in Perception Engineering including some benefits and steps we take to view models. It will also act as a summary of the video associated with this blog.

Benefits

There are many benefits to using virtual reality, but for this blog, we will be mainly focusing on two specific areas: saves time and money on designs and creates a more personal experience.

On the aspect of saving time and money on designs, virtual reality helps to eliminate design questions and reassure the user that components are ready to be manufactured. A couple of design questions that may appear are things such as if there’s enough clearance in a specific area, if a component needs to be updated to work in the assembly, or if a component needs to be completely removed.

Another benefit with virtual reality is that it helps create a more personal experience with models. Not only will it give the user a 1:1 scale, but it will also give the user a better view into the end product without spending the money on a prototype. It also allows for assembly deconstruction, depending on the software being used, which is helpful to gain a full understanding as to how it will all come together.

Conclusion

Perception Engineering is working on both implementing virtual reality into their workflow as well as informing other companies of this technology. They have seen the benefits of virtual reality first hand would like to continue taking the time to research the latest and greatest technology and inform their readers in hopes that they might get involved!

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Advanced Manufacturing Expo (AME)

Manufacturing Expo

The advanced manufacturing expo made a stop in Grand Rapids recently and I was given the chance to attend it! The point of these expos is to give suppliers the opportunity to show off and sell their newest manufacturing solutions to others and also give attendees the chance to learn about the latest technologies in the industry. I will be covering this expo as someone who has never been to one, and I will be giving my before and after thoughts on my experience!

Figure 1: Entrance to the Expo

Before: What I Expect

Even though I had never been to a manufacturing expo before, I had a good idea of just what it will entail. I’m expecting multiple companies to be set up in booths showing off their latest advancements and best manufacturing techniques! These expos seem like a great way to learn about other businesses in the area and connect with one another for possible future partnerships or work. In a nut shell, I believe that this advanced manufacturing expo is going to house a lot of tech and knowledgeable individuals and I should be able to learn a lot from it!

Figure 2: Our Perception Engineering Table

After: What I thought

When I walked through the doors and entered this expo, it seemed like the number of suppliers was infinite. Everywhere you looked there was something new to look at and learn about. The first supplier that grabbed my eye was a growing company from Switzerland called Asyril. Recently, they had designed a sorting system for small watch parts. They realized their designs potential for larger parts and how it could be applied to multiple different industries. Asyril upscaled their design and went from one machine designed for extremely small parts, to an array of four machines each having the ability to sort different sized part much larger than the first design. It was incredible to see how one design from a different country could be changed only slightly and have so many different applications in industries across the world.

Photo From: http://www.advancedmanufacturingexpo.com/

Thoughts Continued

There were no limitations when it came to suppliers and the number of different industries present at the expo. There were solutions for warehouse storage, automation, sorting, milling bits, and even 3D printing. My favorite booth that I visited was run by a company based out of Chicago called Dynamism. This company has all the 3D printing solutions you could ever need, even for new areas of the field. They were displaying their new desktop metal 3D printer and its ability to print in metal (hence the name). 3D printing in metal was something I had heard about before, but I had imagined it had only been done by a very small number of companies. There right in front of me this printer was creating quite incredible parts all in metal. I was told that these prints had similar strength qualities as cast metal parts and were printed using a type of metal powder mixed with wax. This was incredible to hear if you had only ever experienced 3D printed plastic parts before. Looking around the booth it was easy to see the gears turning in all the other attendees’ heads as they were able to see all the applications this desktop metal printer could be used for in industries of their own.

What I Learned

Going into this expo I didn’t have much knowledge outside of my own industry. After speaking with businesses such as Asyril and Criterion, who were both showcasing part sorting/packing systems, I was surprised to learn a significant amount about sensor sorting systems! These machines simply take images of the sorting bed and use software to tell which items to grab or re-sort. Dynamism also made it easy to see how 3D printing in metal is easy and superior to plastic. With this machine being able to create custom metal parts that no other manufacturing process can create, it is easy to see the endless possibilities and applications for this process.

In Conclusion

A manufacturing expo is a great place for the curious mind. With all kinds of new technology and processes you can wander for hours finding the answers to all your manufacturing questions. These expos don’t need to be just for individuals in the manufacturing business. With most of these expos having a free entry fee, anyone is welcome who would like to learn a little more about the processes and machines used to make products! Overall, going to this advanced manufacturing expo was a great first experience and I will be attending many more that come into town!

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Engineering Co-Op at Perception Engineering

Engineering Co-Op

The first step into the real world of Engineering. The day I had been waiting for since my first day of college classes. A chance to apply the hours and hours of studying I had devoted over the past few years. Time for all my hard work to pay off. My engineering co-op experience at Perception Engineering.

Before college, I wasn’t exposed much to any engineering experience. We didn’t have any drafting or CAD classes in my high school, so when I started my engineering classes, it was all completely new information. As I was deciding on what major to pursue, I spoke to more and more people in the engineering field and almost all of them had something similar to say. It’s not all about the classes you take, it’s about the experience you get as well. After learning about Grand Valley State University’s Co-op program, that was just about enough to make my decision then and there. After three years of stress filled and coffee-fueled late nights, my time had finally come. It was time for me to start my co-op.

As I searched for jobs, I realized just how broad mechanical engineering is. I had never thought about what field I wanted to focus on. Then I found it. Scrolling through job postings on Grand Valley’s job search site, Perception Engineering, LLC. After looking into the company more, I learned of their contracting work, which was perfect, as I would get to see and work on projects from many industries. I applied as soon as I could, and after a couple interviews, was thrilled when I received a confirmation e-mail.

As my first co-op rotation is coming to an end, I’m happy to say it was a truly wonderful experience. Right away, after my training of course, I was given responsibility. They had just begun integrating SolidWorks PDM, and I was put in charge of learning the ins and outs of the software, writing the standards document for the company and helping the team through the implementation process. Within a few weeks, I was even given the opportunity to work on a project with a client, updating an invention they had worked with Perception on in the past. With PE being a younger company, they are rapidly growing and making changes. Even as a brand-new employee I was brought into the growth and changes of the company, making me feel even more at home. Overall, it was a great learning experience and gave me an opportunity to experience growth in my design skills, team collaboration skills, communication skills, and more. I look forward to what my next two rotations have in store.

That’s all for now! I hope you enjoyed hearing my story. If you would like to hear more about my story or have questions, connect with me on LinkedIn and send me a message. You can also sign up for our e-mail list to keep up with information on the company.

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Perception Engineering 5-Year Celebration

Thanks to everyone who attended Perception Engineering’s five-year celebration! The company that started in a basement with a single 3D printer back in 2013 has now grown to service the needs of manufacturers, inventors, and automation companies from all over West Michigan and the rest of the U.S.

PICTURE

The five-year celebration at Perception Engineering brought past and current customers together to meet the PE team and see how their company’s contracts helped turn PE into the contracting service it is today. Turning PE’s office into a networking event truly put the company’s name in the limelight.

Perception Engineering supplied desserts, wood-fired pizzas, and drinks during the summer heat. The thick, melted cheese from pizzas may have stolen the show, but the virtual reality came in a close second.

The services Perception Engineering provides were showcased throughout our office to spark conversation with not only the PE team but other like-minded people in the area. During the open house, project engineers offered tours that described in detail virtual reality, 3D printing, design processes, and even laser cutting. If any of the services sparked someone’s interest, they could sign up for more information and possibly a free demo for their company.

Again, thanks to everyone who came out! We look forward to our next company milestone marker.

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Advanced Manufacturing Expo – Cleveland

Advanced Design & Manufacturing Expo

Have you ever looked for opportunities to place yourself in an environment where you could feel that you were surrounded by the best and brightest? A place where every conversation led to new thoughts and concepts that you had never explored before? Well I found a place like this during my recent trip to the Advance Manufacturing Expo.

The Advanced Design and Manufacturing Expo or ADM takes place in Cleveland Ohio and is a comprehensive event that showcases the latest technological advancements in robotics, automation, plastics, and design engineering. This year was the second year that the event has taken place and the first year that I was able to attend. It was about a five hour drive from Perception Engineering’s Allendale office and a perfect opportunity to take advantage of some of the brightest companies coming together in one place.

With over 250 suppliers, 2,600 attendees and 30 hours of educational courses, there was more than enough going on at this event to keep busy for the two full days that I attended. There were multiple breakout sessions that an attendee could choose from in addition to specific training tracks. New to this year’s event was a specific focus on 3D Printing and Smart Manufacturing. The breakout sessions had different formats some of which were panel discussions with crowd interactions and others were more formal with limited time for Q&A. The sessions that I enjoyed the most were the panel discussions that allotted for plenty of opportunity to dive deep into the specified topics. All the sessions were specific and had presenters that were trained and built their business around the topics they were presenting. The sessions that I attended were:

1) Capitalizing on the Changing Dynamics of 3D Printing

2) Getting the Best ROI from Your Smart Manufacturing Systems

3) Applying Machine Learning in Smart Manufacturing a IIoT Applications

4) Augmented and Virtual Reality Applications for Product Design

5) Building the Future One Layer at a Time

6) Turing Big Data from Sensors and IIoT Networked Devices into Strategic Information

7) Best Practices for Predictive Maintenance in Manufacturing

8) New Collar Job Training for the Digital Age

9) How to Optimize Packaging Design to Increase Manufacturing Efficiency

After each session I walked out with over a page of notes regarding tech and topics that I wanted to continue research on. This amount of data and access to industries experts alone would have made it worth the trip. However, in addition to the break out sessions, there was an expo floor to walk between sessions. Many of the exhibitors throughout the expo were showing off direct hands on and physical examples of the technology that was discussed and presented in the breakout sessions. Throughout the two days I spent hours in detailed discussion specifically around the topics of the future of design, virtual reality and 3D printing.

I will be on the lookout for future opportunities like this and will be encouraging the entire team at Perception Engineering to do the same. Always strive for learning and placing yourself among others that can help make you better at what you do. Hope that you enjoyed this quick summary of the event, if there are any specific questions I can answer please connect with me on LinkedIn (link below). Also, check out some video from the event which is also posted below.