Behind every manufacturing operation is a stream of data that can be used to describe what the equipment is doing. The AMT Emerging Technology Center (ETC), powered by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, will feature a digital shadow in IMTS booth #236700 that puts that data to work. Developed by AMT technologists, the digital shadow turns live equipment data into an interactive 3D visualization, making complex operations easier to see, understand, and troubleshoot while offering an engaging way to experience modern manufacturing – particularly for those accustomed to gaming and interactive digital environments. “If the next generation looks at technologies like simulations, digital twins, or digital shadows, and sees a video game, they’re going to be hooked,” says Dr. M. R. McCormick, AMT smart factory systems engineer. The AMT technologists will be in the ETC to demonstrate how it works, field questions, and help manufacturers understand how they can begin creating a digital shadow of their own operations. From Data to Digital Shadow The digital shadow brings to life one of the ETC’s most ambitious demonstrations at IMTS 2026: a working automated cell that produces and assembles drone quadcopters, then tests and flies them in an adjacent flight-test zone. Developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, the cell combines advanced manufacturing technologies into a flexible production system designed to move rapidly from digital design to finished product. The cell equipment includes Mazak’s (IMTS booth #338300) VC-Ez 20X and 5-axis WAAM system with an expandable pallet changer making its IMTS debut, FANUC (IMTS booth #338900) robots, Open Mind (IMTS booth #133351) CAD/CAM software, Kennametal (IMTS booth #431800) tooling, Schunk (IMTS booth #432010) workholding, and MTConnect. Together, these technologies demonstrate how automation, machining, additive manufacturing, and connected systems can operate as one production process. See the Cell Through Its Data As the physical cell operates, its digital shadow uses live equipment telemetry to create an interactive 3D view of the entire operation. Visitors can see the data behind the action, connecting what is happening on the factory floor to the information the equipment generates. That visibility matters because much of manufacturing is difficult to see and understand, as processes occur behind machine enclosures, coolant, and safety fencing, while the data often lives in separate systems. When a problem occurs, operators and engineers must connect that data to what physically happened on the factory floor. Register NowRewind the Factory Floor The digital shadow brings those two worlds together. Live telemetry shows what is happening across the cell in real time. Historical data allows users to return to an earlier point in time, visualize what occurred, and investigate problems, crashes, or other events. Because the 3D view is created from equipment data, it can also provide visibility in facilities where cameras are restricted, including certain ITAR-controlled and defense environments. Where Manufacturing Meets Gaming Pairing equipment data with an interactive 3D environment makes numbers, alarms, and events easier to connect with physical activity. Experienced machinists can use that visibility to help diagnose problems, while people new to manufacturing gain a more intuitive way to understand complex equipment and processes. The same approach can support troubleshooting, training, and onboarding – and show prospective team members just how digital a career in modern manufacturing can be. Building Toward the Digital Factory The ETC demonstration also showcases tools AMT is developing to make these 3D manufacturing environments faster and easier to build. These capabilities can support more advanced applications, including data-driven simulations and digital twins designed to solve specific manufacturing problems. Manufacturers interested in creating a digital view of their own production floor can talk directly with the AMT technologists behind the digital shadow at the ETC or email Technology@AMTonline.org to explore how their manufacturing data could become an interactive 3D environment. A New View of Manufacturing At IMTS 2026, the digital shadow demonstrates what becomes possible when the data generated by a real manufacturing system becomes a visual, interactive view of the production environment. For manufacturers, that can mean new ways to troubleshoot, train, and understand operations. For the next generation, it offers another way to experience modern manufacturing’s digital landscape. See It at IMTS 2026 Don’t miss the digital shadow – and the automated drone production cell behind it – in action at the AMT Emerging Technology Center booth #236700 at IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19, Chicago, Ill. Register today, and add the ETC to your IMTS Show Planner. Further Reading:Two Daily Live IMTS Shows Spotlight ManufacturingPhoto-to-Sim: From Snapshot to Shop FloorFrom Photo to Digital Twin: How AMT’s Tech Team Is Building the Future of Manufacturing
Manufacturing meets gaming as live equipment data brings an automated drone production cell to life in 3D.
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