Simulation Aspects of a Generic Digital Twin Ecosystem for Computer Numerical Control Manufacturing Processes

This work considers a generic Digital Twin Ecosystem (DTE) for computer numerical control manufacturing processes. The DTE aims to accurately model physical systems' behavior in 3D virtual space, improve stakeholder decision-making based on real-time analytics, and generate insight for autonomous process intervention. The DTE uses the Unity real-time development platform to integrate online simulation for process replication, remote monitoring and management of the manufacturing process, and offline simulation for “what-if” analysis and exploration of process variables under various operational scenarios. Online and offline simulation could be combined to enhance twinning with predictive capabilities for timely autonomous intervention. In this work, we describe the architecture of the generic DTE, detail its components, and demonstrate its universal applicability through two case studies in Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing. We also discuss simulation aspects of the DTE, focusing on process replication and process lookahead.