AMUG April 2026

NOTICE: AMUG Special Presidential Election

The AMUG Special Election for President officially opened on Monday, April 13, following membership approval of the Bylaw amendment to Article 4, Section 2, Qualification, Election, and Terms of Office (see ‘Bylaws’ article).

Don’t miss this opportunity to help shape the future of AMUG. We are seeking candidates who bring expertise, vision, and a strong passion for the AMUG organization and its mission. Eligible candidates must have previously served in an AMUG Board position or held a committee chair role.

Please review the AMUG President position description and, if interested, complete the Submission of Interest form on the AMUG website to begin the process.

Election Results

At AMUG 2026, members elected Daniel Landgraf and Daniel Braley to the AMUG Board. Both will serve two-year terms that commence on July 1, 2026.

Daniel Landgraf, VP Global Sales and Marketing for 3D Spark GmbH, was elected to the position of Vice President. He is co-chair of the International Committee, a member of the Sponsors & Exhibitors Committee, and has been volunteering his time since 2019. Previously, Daniel served on the AMUG Board as the Director, Sponsors & Exhibitors.

Daniel Braley, Senior Program Manager for V2X, was elected to the position of Director, Membership. Daniel has been an AMUG Member for 7 years and has served on the Track Leader Committee for 5 years as Co-Chair of the aerospace & defense sessions.

Separately, the AMUG Board appointed David Leigh, Director of the Center for Additive Manufacturing & Design Innovation at the University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering, to the position of Treasurer. The board also re-appointed Bruce LeMaster to serve an additional term as Director at Large.

6 Members Awarded DINOs

Congratulations to 6 members who earned a coveted DINO Award (Distinguished INnovator Operator).

• Olga (Dr. O) Ivanova, Mechnano
• Daniel Landgraf, 3D Spark
• Brian Post, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Chris Prue, IperionX
• John Thiell, Beehive Industries
• Annie Wang, Senvol

Bruce LeMaster, DINO Selection Committee Chair, said, “This year’s DINO recipients come from a broad range of industries, government labs, equipment and material OEMs, and AM service providers. Though their backgrounds are different, they each share a high regard for AMUG and the overall AM industry, and they are willing to share their knowledge with others.”

Technical Competition Winners

On the last day of AMUG 2026, the winners of the Technical Competition were announced. A panel of DINOs selected 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd places for the Advanced Concepts and Finishing & Post Processing categories. Through votes cast by AMUG Members, one entry was selected for the Members’ Choice award.

Congratulations to our 2026 Technical Competition winners.

Advanced Concepts

1st Place: Ethan Hartmann, B9Creations
2nd Place: Halil Tekinalp, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
3rd Place: Jason Jones, Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies

Finishing & Post Processing

1st Place: Joshua Boykin, REM Surface Engineering
2nd Place: Aaron Sherman, HellermanTyton
2nd Place: Joe Olguin, Sandia National Laboratories

Members’ Choice

Joshua Boykin, REM Surface Engineering

AMUGderby Results

During the Special Event & Dinner at AMUG 2026, racers competed in the 3^rd running of the AMUGderby. Twenty-seven competitors vied for best times and best design.

Winner–Standard Class

Dan Davis (Sandia National Laboratories)

Dan’s ”Dang!” car had an average time of 3.1132 seconds, a razor-thin 0.0052 seconds faster than second place.

Winner–Open Class

Brian Post (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

Brian’s “The Jet” beat other racers by more than 0.5 seconds! Its capacitance-induced propulsion blew the field away with unmatched speed.

Best Design

Luke Hileman (Ricoh 3D for Healthcare)

“Little Shredder” stole the show, earning the Scouts of Spanish Springs’ vote for its creativity and craftsmanship.

Get Involved: Join an AMUG Committee

AMUG is driven by its members, and one of the most meaningful ways to contribute is by serving on an AMUG Committee. Committees play a critical role in supporting both the organization and the annual conference, requiring varying lengths of active participation within a 12‑month term, making them a manageable way to get involved.

AMUG offers a variety of committees to match different interests and skill sets. For those interested in shaping the future of the AMUG Conference, the Event Strategy Committee helps guide programming direction and evaluates attendee and exhibitor feedback to improve future events. If getting the word out about AMUG is something you’re keen to take on, consider the Marketing Committee or International Committee.

Members passionate about education could consider being a part of the Scholarship Committee. For those with a logistics inclination, the Expo Committee may be what you are looking for.

We have 19 committees, and each plays a vital role in keeping AMUG strong, sustainable, and member-focused. For a list of committees and descriptions of their roles, visit amug.com/committees/.

Serving on a committee is a great way to expand your professional network, develop leadership skills, and give back to the AMUG community. If you’re ready to take the next step, complete the AMUG Committee Volunteer Form and indicate which committees interest you most.

Your experience, ideas, and enthusiasm can make a real impact.

Updates to the AMUG Bylaws

At this year’s AMUG Conference, the membership was presented with two proposed bylaw amendments. The first proposed change was to update the language in Article 2, Section 1, Objectives and Purpose from ‘Educate and advance the uses and application of additive manufacturing technologies’ to ‘Facilitate the education and advancement of the uses and applications of AM technologies.’ Furthermore, it included an update of ‘Identify problems and propose solutions to problems that apply to hardware, materials and software’ to ‘Facilitate a forum for users to identify problems and propose solutions to problems that apply to hardware, materials, and software.’

The second amendment (Article 4, Section 2, Qualification, Election, and Terms of Office) removed the restriction on employees of AM equipment, materials, or software development companies being eligible candidates for the position of AMUG President.

We met the quorum for the vote, and the membership approved both amendments.

A fully updated version of the bylaws will be posted on our website shortly.

SPONSOR NEWS

Stratasys Partners with Novineer to Integrate NoviPath with GrabCAD Print Pro

Stratasys recently partnered with Novineer—a generative modeling, design, and simulation software company—to integrate NoviPath, a polymer performance simulation solution, with Stratasys’ GrabCAD Print Pro™ software. This integration gives engineers a faster, more cost-effective way to design lighter, stronger parts with predictable performance, while reducing the need for physical testing for safety-critical, load-bearing applications.

“Stratasys users can now predict stiffness, strength, and failure before they hit ‘print,’ cutting trial-and-error, time and cost while qualifying more FDM™ parts,” said Ali Tamijani, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder, Novineer, Inc.

The combined solution gives engineering teams:

• The ability to identify failure points and load limits before printing
• Proven accuracy, with weight reductions up to 35% on critical parts while maintaining part quality
• Faster time-to-production, reducing validation from weeks to hours
• Lower total cost through lighter parts, faster build times, and elimination of time, cost, and iteration of test parts

Learn more.

Lowering the Barrier to Professional Post-Processing in AM

While AM hardware has become more accessible, post-processing remains a limiting step for many organizations moving toward production. In particular, the upfront investment required for professional finishing systems continues to slow adoption, especially for smaller manufacturers and service bureaus.

Across the industry, there is a growing interest in more flexible ways to access post-processing capabilities without significant capital expenditure. Subscription-based and bundled models are emerging as one approach, enabling users to evaluate and integrate finishing processes earlier in their AM workflows while maintaining predictable operating costs.

In line with this shift, AMT has introduced a new access model for the PostPro SFX vapor smoothing system in North America, combining equipment, consumables, and support into a single monthly payment. The aim is to simplify adoption and allow more users to explore how automated vapor smoothing supports consistent part quality and functional performance.

Learn more here.

Stay Connected with the GoEngineer Community

While the AMUG Conference may be over, the networking continues online. We welcome you to join the GoEngineer Community. This group is a free resource for engineers, designers, and manufacturers to connect, learn, and solve real‑world challenges.

The platform brings together discussion forums, technical Q&A, tutorials, and knowledge‑sharing around SOLIDWORKS, AM, simulation, and product development tools. Built to support both new and experienced users, the community encourages peer collaboration, expert insights, and practical problem‑solving. Whether you’re troubleshooting a design issue, exploring best practices, or staying current on industry trends, the GoEngineer Community is a trusted space to learn, share, and grow alongside fellow professionals.

Register today.

MEDIA SPONSOR NEWS