AMUG Newsletter October 2013

President’s Report

Bret Bordner
President

The countdown begins … with just six months to go, the AMUG Board is in full swing of securing speakers and workshop leaders, along with exhibitors for the AMUGexpo and sponsors. This past month the group has been busy promoting AMUG to new members and conference participants at TCT and CMTS. Gary Rabinovitz, Todd Grimm, Graham Tromans, Stefan Ritt and Ulf Lindhe participated in TCT in the UK with our media partner TCT Show +Personalize, and Mark Barfoot participated in CMTS. See the recaps below for more details.

AMUG has been invited to partner with SLM Solutions GmbH once again and have a presence in their booth at EuroMold – thank you SLM and Stefan! Stop by and visit with AMUG in Hall 11.0 booth D86 (space for AMUG courtesy of SLM). AMUG will have a strong presence at EuroMold as there will be many AMUG members and board members present at the show on behalf of their companies. Board members that will be at EuroMold include: Gary Rabinovitz, Vince Anewenter, Derek Ellis, and me. In addition, our ambassadors Stefan Ritt and Ulf Lindhe will be present. We will be scheduling meetings with potential AMUG Conference sponsors and exhibitors while at EuroMold.

Next month we will highlight our keynote speakers and presenters. Those interested in presenting please contact me at president@am-ug.com.

Sincerely,

Bret Bordner
AMUG President
president@am-ug.com

Our Mission: Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) educates and advances the uses and applications of additive manufacturing technologies.

Vice President’s Report

Mark Barfoot
Vice President

We already have several companies that have signed up or have agreed to sponsor and/or exhibit at AMUG this coming year. We’re aiming to have more sponsors and exhibitors than ever before and want to ensure that we cover all aspects of the equipment and tools that are used in our industry. If you know of anyone we should be approaching to sponsor or exhibit, please don’t hesitate to send Derek Ellis or myself a line at vicepresident@am-ug.com.

Mark Barfoot
Vice President
vicepresident@am-ug.com

Sponsor News – Stratasys

UAV Company Manufactures With FDM

UAV Solutions manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the control systems that run them. The 50-employee Maryland company began using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Technology for prototyping with two mid-sized 3D printers.

CEO Bill Davidson says the firm soon realized they could do much more with the technology, including manufacture end-use components. UAV Solutions now has multiple large FDM systems running 24-7 to manufacture parts. 3D printing with FST-rated ULTEM 9085 resin enables the firm to build aerospace components that would be difficult to mill because of geometric complexity or time constraints.

Check out this flight demo of an aircraft that UAV Solutions built on a Fortus 400mc 3D Production System.

Highlights from TCT Show + Personalize

This year’s TCT Show + Personalize, in it’s 18th year, was once again a great success … bigger and better than ever. The show started with keynote presentations by some of the industry leaders. The first day saw Connor McCormack, CEO of Mcor Technologies, and Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, take the stage to give their outlooks on the industry now and in the future. Alice Taylor, CEO of Makielabs, joined them to share her plans for the future. The keynote presenters on the second day were Dave Burns of Exone, Scott Crump of Stratasys and Clément Moreau of Sculpteo — all giving their thoughts on the future. The other presentations covered a wide spectrum of topics, with our own Todd Grimm, giving his thoughts on applications and a realistic view on what the future may hold.

The show floor consisted of 130 stands with all of the major system manufacturers there. AMUG had its stand located in a great position by the main seminar stage, which meant a constant flow of passers-by, a large majority of which stopped by and inquired about our conference.

New this year was the RepRap Hub, where the maker community had a dedicated area. This section of the exhibition was constantly full and a very successful addition.

After a break last year to re-look at the format, Bright Minds UK came back with a bang this year. Black Country Atelier along with 3D Systems, who supplied 30 Cubes, hosted 300 school children from schools around the local area, giving them hands-on experience in CAD and 3D printing technologies in a glass-partitioned area on the show floor. The children were also taken on tours around the show floor, giving them an insight into the industry in general. Each session started with an overview given by Graham Tromans or Ian Major (3D Systems) that explained some of the industrial applications and how the systems work. Overall, the Bright Minds UK program was a great success, and in speaking to the show organizers, it looks like it will be even bigger next year.

Graham Tromans
G P Tromans Associates

Sponsor News – Stratasys

Mojo Now Builds in Nine Colors

Without changing the price, Stratasys has enhanced its Mojo Desktop 3D Printer in several ways, most notably to support all nine colors of its ABSplus thermoplastic. The upgrade also allows users to pick sparse interior fill in addition to the original solid.

Secretary’s Report

Kim Killoran
Secretary

We’ve received a steady flow of registrations since we announced it was open back in mid-September. Attendees that have registered so far represent 25 different companies spanning various industries, including educational institutions, consumer goods, dental, oil & gas and aerospace. The wide range of industries shows the diversity of applications to which additive manufacturing technologies can be applied.

Keep ’em coming! Use up your leftover 2013 budget money and register before the year is out. Don’t forget, you can choose the option to ‘Save & Return Later’ that lets you register now and pay later. To register, visit www.regonline.com/amugreg_2014.

Kim Killoran
Secretary

The Sorovetz Report

Tom Sorovetz
Event Manager

We are six month out from the start of the 2014 AMUG Conference, and I am in the process of tying up all of the loose ends at the Hilton El Conquistador. Within the next few weeks, I should have the golfing information posted on our website as well as specifics, such as cost and transportation to the course. I am also working on pricing for transportation from and to the airport. This will be posted as well, so please go to the AMUG website often for continuous updates.

In the September Sorovetz Report, I asked if anyone was planning on bringing a spouse/guest to the Conference and if there is any interest in me setting up some daytime activities for them. I have not had any responses, so I am assuming it might be too early for this, but as the calendar continues to get shorter and travel plans are made, please let me know.

As always, if you have any question in regards to the Tucson area, accommodations or the Hilton El Conquistador, please e-mail me at eventmanager@am-ug.com.

See you in Tucson,

Thomas A. Sorovetz
Event Manager