Integrating Desktop Factory into Manufacturing Cloud: A Conceptual Model

Abstract

The desktop factories are playing increasingly significant roles in supporting on-demand manufacturing of customized products. However, most of the current desktop factories are running like isolated islands, making it difficult to integrate them into process lines to meet individualized needs. Cloud manufacturing is a smart networked manufacturing model as well as an integrated technology that enables service-oriented personalized manufacturing. This paper presents a conceptual model integrating desktop factories into manufacturing cloud. A desktop factory is regarded as a cloud terminal and the functional interfaces are mapped into standardized and configurable service modules. The proposed model of cloud-based desktop factories can provide a promising approach to aggregating microfactories into a cyber-physical virtual manufacturing society in the future.