Greetings from the formnext show in Frankfurt, Germany.
Mark Barfoot
President
We are 2 1/2 days into this 4-day show, and it has been great to be here to see the latest technology in additive manufacturing. I’ve been amazed with the new companies that are now selling machines as well as the advances in materials and accessories. At times, all the new products and services get a bit overwhelming. Thank goodness, AMUG members can turn to each other to get insights and keep up to date on what matters. Without that resource, it would be easy for anyone, myself included, to feel a bit out of touch.
Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter feeds for breaking news from Frankfurt on sponsors and contributors that will be a part of the 2016 AMUG Conference.
Your AMUG Board now has weekly meetings to stay on top of all of the activities that go into the event. At the moment, the conference agenda, sponsorships and AMUGexpo participation are at the top of the list. As you will see in the articles below, things are progressing quite nicely. Our event manager, Tom Sorovetz, is also working on menus with the St. Louis Union Station (yes, menus already) and will be meeting with the chef and hotel staff before the year is out. A lot of effort and attention to detail is going into the conference to make sure that it is the best and largest ever.
You won’t want to miss out. Why not take a few minutes and register today? For those that can’t spend 2016 budget money in 2015, we have a register and pay later option.
P.S. if you are at formnext and haven’t stopped by to see us yet, please do (Hall 3.1, Booth G50).
All the best,
Mark Barfoot, AMUG president
President@am-ug.com
Sponsorship
Sponsorship for the 2016 AMUG Conference is unprecedented. Diamond and Platinum Sponsorships are nearly sold out — only one Diamond and one Platinum remain — after only five weeks of accepting commitments. In total, we have 31 sponsors supporting AMUG, excluding those that have committed verbally but not signed up, with five months to go before the AMUG Conference commences.
What we are hearing is that AMUG is an important industry event that these sponsor feel they need to support. Why? Because of you, our attendees. These sponsors want to be a part of the technical conversations and information exchanges that can only take place when there is user-to-user dialogue. As past attendees, you know that the AMUG Conference is a unique experience, and the word has gotten out.
Sponsorships defray your cost to attend the conference. That’s how we can offer a five-day registration, meals and entertainment included, for only $795. Our top sponsors, the Diamond and Platinum levels, also expand the content made available. We ask them to run their own “mini users groups” by offering presentations, training sessions and workshops.
If your company is considering a Diamond or Platinum sponsorship, please contact the vice presidents, Dana McCallum and Steve Deak, at VicePresident@am-ug.com soon because we expect to reach our limit in short order.
Diamond Sponsors
- Carbon3D
- Concept Laser
- ExOne
- General Electric
- Renishaw
- Somos
- SLM Solutions
- Stratasys
Platinum Sponsors
- 3D Platform
- Arcam
- Computer Aided Technology (CATI)
- EnvisionTEC
- Prodways
- Shanghai Union 3D Technology
- St Louis Convention Bureau
Sponsor News – Concept Laser
“AM Factory of Tomorrow” — New Level of AM with Modular Machine Launched
Concept Laser introduced an innovative machine and plant architecture at formnext. The new, integrated machine concept under the heading of “AM Factory of Tomorrow” promises a new level of additive manufacturing in terms of quality, flexibility and increase in performance. The new plant architecture is characterized essentially by decoupling of “pre-production”, “production” and “post-processing.” This includes flexible machine loading and physical separation of the setting-up and disarming processes. The objective is to coordinate the process components in a more targeted way with interfaces and increase the flexibility of the process design to create an integrated approach. This becomes possible thanks to a consistent modular structure of “handling stations” and “build and process units” which, in terms of combination and interlinking, promises considerably greater flexibility and availability. More information here.
Sponsor News – Renishaw
QuantAM File Preparation Software
Renishaw has a long and successful track record of engineering software development, with a team of over 300 experienced software developers all working in-house. QuantAM is software used for build file preparation and is designed by Renishaw, specifically for the company’s additive manufacturing systems.
Sponsor News – Stratasys
World’s Largest, Fastest 3D Printed Aircraft Made with Stratasys 3D Printing Technology
Aurora Flight Sciences has teamed up with Stratasys to create the world’s first jet-powered, 3D printed aircraft. Based in Virginia, Aurora specializes in design and advancement of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. “A primary goal for us was to show the aerospace industry just how quickly you can go from designing and building to flying a 3D printed jet-powered aircraft,” says Dan Campbell, aerospace research engineer at Aurora Flight Sciences.
Stratasys 3D printing solutions gave Aurora unlimited design freedom and ability to reduce time-to-market and build time by 50%. Built with 80% 3D printed parts, the UAV is composed of Stratasys ULTEM® 9085 lightweight material to achieve flight speeds of over 150 mph. The high speed aircraft has an impressive 9-foot wingspan and weighs only 33 lbs. “Whether by air, water or on land, lightweight vehicles use less fuel. This enables companies to lower operational costs, as well as reduce environmental impact,” adds Scott Sevcik, aerospace & defense senior business development manager at Stratasys. Watch the video on the making of the Aurora/Stratasys UAV to learn more.
IT’S ALIVE!? 3D Printing of Micro-Organs
ENGINEERING.com
Printing functioning organs may still sound like science fiction, but a new process for creating embryoid bodies (EB) by 3D printing embryonic stem cells (ESC) could bring us another step closer to turning science fiction into science fact. Researchers from Tsinghua and Drexel universities used an extrusion-based 3D printer to create three dimensional grids of ESCs embedded in hydrogel. These structures demonstrated cell viability and rapid self-renewal for seven days.
Read the whole story at ENGINEERING.com.
The printed cellular model with grid structure. (Image courtesy of Wei Sun)
More news at ENGINEERING.com
Metal Additive Manufacturing Magazine
Out now — Autumn/Fall Issue
In the 80-page Autumn/Fall 2015 issue of Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine, you will find an extensive industry news section along with the following articles and reports:
- The current status and outlook for metal AM in Japan
- A story of failure and success in metal AM: The reality of developing a titanium bike part
- AM developments at PM Titanium 2015
- To invest or not to invest: The business cases for entering the AM arena
- Hoeganaes Corporation: A global leader in metal powder production targets AM
- Size and shape optimization of metal powders for AM
Download your free PDF copy of the magazine dedicated to the world of metal Additive Manufacturing.
TCT + Personalize
A Time for Firsts
Half of Team TCT are away setting up the inaugural formnext trade show in Frankfurt and the other half have their heads buried in proofing the first-ever edition of TCT North America, which will start landing in mailboxes across the continent the week of December 14th.
This TCT North America issue will feature:
- A look at how Concept Laser is speeding up precision tooling
- An in-depth feature on the current state of the AM market
- What’s to come in AM during 2016
- And more
It isn’t too late to get your free subscription for the printed edition delivered to your doorstep. Just head over to tctmagazine.com/subscribe.
To keep up-to-date with all the goings on at formnext in Frankfurt, Germany, head over to tctmagazine.com.
About AMUG
AMUG is an organization that educates and advances the uses and applications of additive manufacturing technologies. AMUG members include those with any commercial additive manufacturing/3D printing technologies from companies such as Stratasys, Somos, Concept Laser, SLM Solutions, EOS, ExOne, Renishaw, Carbon3D, Arcam, envisionTEC, HP and Prodways. AMUG meets annually to provide education and training through technical presentations on processes and new technologies. This information addresses operation of additive manufacturing equipment and the applications that use the parts they make.
Connect with members on the organization’s website and LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, and YouTube networks.
