DEVELOPMENT OF MIDDLEWARE FOR DATA-CENTRIC DIGITAL TWIN OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a process of the production, by using layer-by-layer method and different metals/alloys and polymers. Despite the various technological and other opportunities of production, one of the challenges is a Big Data issue in data management of monitoring and controlling systems. As one of solutions the data-centric Digital Twin (DT) was suggested. Data-centric Digital Twin (DT) is one of the types of digital twin and part of the Industry 4.0 technologies, which is focusing on optimization input/output data of the given current systems, processes, or services. To improve the data analysis and accuracy of data-centric DT in AM, the development of middleware was recommended. Middleware is a software system, which main role is data management and communication between simulation and physical modules of the DT. Moreover, the development of middleware for AM gives an opportunity to integrate the DT in real-time process. This thesis research introduces the implementation of the middleware in data-centric Digital Twin of Additive Manufacturing. The aim of the work is to design and develop a data-centric middleware model to enable the creation of DT for AM. The first part of research is investigation of current development of AM and data-centric DT. Then in research gap analysis part research gap and hypothesis were identified. The current and future progress are written in the methodology part of this work.