AMUG August 2022

President’s report

AMUG Members,

We have been making great headway with tasks for the upcoming AMUG Education and Training Conference, and in this newsletter, I would like to address two specific tasks that are underway.

First, our committee members are in place and already active with meetings. Currently, we have 94 committee members identified for our 20 committees. Of these 94 positions, 28 members are new to their committees. As president, one of my personal goals was to have at least 25% of our committee members as new assignments to bring new ideas to our teams and keep AMUG sustainable. AMUG’s Committee Chairs rose to the challenge and exceeded my expectation with almost 30% of our committees filled with people serving in new roles.

In addition, the board of directors’ approval process has taken great pains to make sure that most of our volunteers do not serve on more than two committees. This prevents ‘burn-out’ and provides more opportunities to others. However, there are a few exceptions that may require a person to serve on more than two committees at a time due to their role or skillset. A good example is the AMUG Treasurer, who is required to serve on the Finance, Executive, and Recognition Committees.

With the overwhelming response for volunteers, we could not get everyone on a committee, but we will still have onsite volunteer opportunities at our conference. I want to thank everyone for their willingness to serve our organization.

Second, most of our AMUG members do not see the tremendous efforts that go into the early planning to produce a quality conference. I am speaking of coordinating the numerous tasks of graphics design, internal IT management, and overall operations management. Elizabeth Goode, our Strategic Consultant, has slowly accumulated these duties as AMUG has grown from a few hundred to thousands of members. With AMUG’s continued growth and success, your board of directors is currently researching approaches for separation of these responsibilities to be more effective in the future.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the 2023 Additive Manufacturing Users Group Conference.

Mark Abshire
President
President@amug.com

Director position changed to better support AMUG needs

Greetings AMUG Members,

I was fortunate to be elected by YOU, our AMAZING members, to fill the role of Director of Business Development, a position created in 2019. Over the last year, the board and I recognized the role and responsibilities were not the right fit for AMUG today. So as a board, we stepped back to review this position and its purpose, as well as the gap in workload coverage, and it was obvious that the business development role should be more of a liaison for the sponsors and exhibitors, working alongside the Vice President.

In the most recent years, we have sold out of sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities well before the sign-up deadline. So ‘developing’ that ‘business’ was clearly not as critical as making sure that our current sponsors and exhibitors have a single point of contact for their questions and assistance with making their experience at AMUG as valuable to them as it is the members.

In the best interest of the members, sponsors, and exhibitors, the board of directors has decided to change the role of Director of Business Development to Director of Sponsors and Exhibitors.

This new AMUG position will ensure the needs of our sponsors and exhibitors are met in a timely manner and help them make the most of their AMUG investment.

Sponsor and exhibitor support is vital to the AMUG Conference experience in many ways. Perhaps the most tangible is the impact on conference registration fees. AMUG, in its practice of keeping fees as low as possible, charges less per attendee than the costs incurred. To offset this deficit, AMUG relies on the financial support of the sponsors and exhibitors.

Bottom line: as our membership grows, sponsor and exhibitor support must keep pace. To make sure that support remains strong, I, as the Director of Sponsors and Exhibitors, will be diligent in supporting them.

Tim Bell
Director, Sponsors and Exhibitors
Dspex@amug.com

Serving the AMUG members

It’s been one HOT summer! Soon, the dog days will cool, daylight hours will become shorter, and those chilly autumn evenings will be here to enjoy. With the crisp fall weather comes the opening of registration for the 2023 AMUG Conference. Registration begins October 1, 2022, and I encourage both veteran and first-time attendees to register early for this upcoming blockbuster event. You don’t want to miss this one!

At the beginning of July, I officially assumed my new role as Director of Membership for AMUG. Over the past 35 years, I have benefited much from this industry, and I felt it was time to give back. I am humbled and honored to have been elected to serve on this dedicated and hard-working board of directors. I will work hard not only to grow and retain qualified members but also to host a diverse, open, and inclusive event. My goal is that each AMUG member has a valued experience and returns year after year.

I was fortunate to start my career in this industry in the late 1980s and have attended the user group gathering since the early 1990s. My 35-plus-year career in AM has been satisfying, to say the least. I have held positions in all aspects of this industry: part finisher, machine operator, 3D CAD designer, service bureau owner, capital equipment salesperson, and investor. All these positions were valuable stages as my AM career matured.

All my skilled and professional positions benefited from networking, friendships, and information experienced at AMUG.

Early adopters started the users group to exchange ideas, technology, and information. The annual meetings are a place for users to have fun, participate, learn, network, and help the industry grow. As your newly elected Director of Membership, part of my job is to attract members true to these core values. I’d like to think that my experiences in several AM disciplines will help me relate to each member and their respective positions when they attend the annual event.

I am inspired to be part of this group and look forward to helping membership. As with all those on the AMUG Board, I am here to serve you, The User.

Be well. Enjoy the rest of your summer. I look forward to seeing you at AMUG 2023!

Jason L. Dickman
Director of Membership
Dmembership@amug.com

AMUG contribution to Germany’s prime weekly business magazine

Wirtschaftswoche, the main German weekly business magazine that is an equivalent to Business Week or Wall Street Journal in the US, published an article about AM. The title is “Supply chain chaos is helping 3D printing break through.” The focus is AM for spare parts production as a solution to the global disruptions of supply chains.

Stefan Ritt, AMUG’s Chair of the International Committee, contributed his thoughts alongside other AM experts. They shared their views on the current situation and commented on 3D printing’s ability to be a substitute for existing production lines as a way to overcome the present supply shortages in various industries.

The article is in German and behind a pay wall, so Stefan offered his summary.

The essence of the conclusions is that AM, technically speaking, can already substitute existing, traditional production. Also, due to the geopolitical situation, cost and feasability become less important factors when attempting to protect a continuous supply of parts and products.

One strategy is building parallel programs that allow AM to be substituted when needed. The contributors noted that efforts have been developed and funded by the US government and European nations, with a keen focus on the defense industry.

With $15.2 billion (USD) turnover in 2021 and a significant rise of 20% over that in 2020, the global AM industry is a growing economical factor.

Stefan, who constantly promotes and represents AMUG, will be taking the podium at IMTS 2022 to share thoughts on 3D printing for building construction. His presentation will be on September 14.

SPONSOR NEWS

Nexa3D to launch high-throughput QLS 820 at IMTS

As a first-time exhibitor at IMTS, Nexa3D will have a major presence in the Additive Manufacturing Pavilion (booth #432504) and as a platinum sponsor of the co-located AM Conference (save 20% off conference registration with discount code NEXAVIP!).

Highlighting high throughput and lower total cost of ownership in AM, the expanding Nexa3D ultrafast portfolio will feature the formal market launch for the QLS 820 powder bed system.

With the highest part throughput in its class, the QLS 820 thermoplastic 3D printer is a quad-laser system that offers unprecedented production capabilities designed with automation and scalability in mind. With its removable build unit and automated materials processing solution, the QLS 820 delivers a flexible and scalable architecture to enable serial production of 3D printed plastic parts.

The QLS leadership team will present a press conference on Tuesday the 13th at 10.30 am in the IMTS Media Briefing Room: North Building, Level 4, N426bc.

Whirlpool spotlights FDM, P3, and SL 3D printing technologies

Leading appliance maker Whirlpool has been using 3D printers from Stratasys^® for over 20 years. Stewart Whitt, model shop supervisor for Whirlpool Corporation, located at the Benton Harbor Technology Center, claims, “85% of everything we do is 3D printed.”

To help meet growing and diverse product development demands, Stewart and his team make use of three different technologies in their 3D printing processes:

• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM^®) technology (F770 3D printer)
• Programmable PhotoPolymerization (P3™) technology (Origin^® One 3D printer)
• Stereolithography (SL) technology (Neo^® 450s 3D printer)

Watch the video to learn more.

Essentium and Vorum advance biocompatible 3D printing for the orthotics and prosthetics industry

As the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) industry increasingly turns to 3D printing, clinicians must trust the safety of materials that come into contact with patients’ skin. Essentium has partnered with Vorum to demonstrate ISO 10993 biocompatibility for select Essentium 3D printing filaments: PCTG, PA-CF, TPU 74D, and PET-CF.

Clinicians can leverage these materials to develop unique O&P solutions. PCTG offers clarity and formability, PA-CF achieves high toughness and stability, TPU 74D is soft, flexible, and durable, and PET-CF offers structural stiffness. These four materials are proven to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing for extended skin contact.

Visit Essentium to hear from Chris Handford, chief product officer at Vorum, and Tom Mulholland, materials R&D manager at Essentium, about how Essentium filament conforms to FDA recommendations and how to select the best biocompatible material for patients’ O&P devices.

Customers can save 15% on all biocompatible materials from now until August 21, 2022. Please use code BIO15 at the checkout: shop online.

Helping you to easily place your order, globally

Are you looking for the most suitable FFF 3D printer to improve your product design—more sophisticated and reliable with industrial-grade prototyping plus a large total build size (12.2 X 12.2 X 12.2 in.)?

Now you can meet the fabWeaver type A530 easily online via ‘Contact Us’ on HQ in South Korea or ‘Find a Reseller’ at your preferred location on fabWeaver’s official website.

Find Your Reseller

North America

• Texas: Impac Systems Engineering
• Illinois: PrymeTech
• Washington: Engitype 3D Printer Sales
• Iowa: Pivot AM Service
• Canada: Agile Manufacturing 3D Printing

*More regions to be updated on the official website.
*For questions or inquiries about becoming a NA reseller, please contact John Peffer (John.peffer@fabweaver.com, 978-430-6425), senior NA channel manager.

EMEA

• Slovenia: Solid World d.o.o.
• France: Delta Equipement
• Czech Republic: Tecnotrade
• Germany: IGO3D
• Denmark: Copytec
• Singapore: InTED
• UAE: TO B Digital DWC LLC

*More countries to be updated on the official website.
**Visit each reseller website via ‘Find a Reseller’ on fabWeaver official website.

Also, keep your eyes on our up-to-date fabWeaver blog for the latest guides and news updates, including several fruitful contents regarding hardware, software, functional merits, and further plans. Check out the posts on a daily basis and get interesting information about the 3D prototyping machine before placing an order.

Meet Meltio at IMTS

IMTS (The International Manufacturing Technology Show) is just around the corner, and we are beyond excited to return to Chicago and meet the AM community’s familiar and new faces again!

Discover the Meltio product portfolio with all three of our products on display. This event will truly be one of a kind– the Meltio M450 will be up and running, we will have the Meltio Engine CNC Integration on display, and there will be live printing inside a Haas UMC 750 CNC machine.

Apart from the machines, we will have plenty of 3D printed metal parts on display as seen on our social media channels, a dedicated section for dual wire parts, and our metallic welding wire materials portfolio.

Come by our booth (432217) to chat with our team and have all your questions answered by our expert engineers! Feel free to schedule a meeting, and in the meantime, keep an eye on our LinkedIn channel for the latest news and updates.

AM and large-joint implants: hear from the experts

GE Additive and Orchid Orthopedic Solutions are teaming up for two webinars focused on AM solutions for large-joint implants. The two companies will leverage each other’s expertise to drive awareness and increase adoption. Join us for the following sessions:

Solidifying the Business Case for Additive Manufacturing of Orthopedic Large Joints

September 21, 2022; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT

The presenters will dive into how to solidify the business case for additively manufactured large-joint implants. And they will address how to achieve quality and scale by leveraging a practical approach to building a sustainable AM supply chain.

Realize the Benefits of Large Joint Additive Manufacturing with Zero Compromise

October 5, 2022; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. EDT

Learn about the materials, testing, manufacturing operations, and regulatory path of additively manufactured large-joints implants.

Click here to register for the webinars and join in the conversations.

Prevent warping with your 3D printing projects

“Warping” can occur with many 3D printing processes, particularly when heating and cooling are involved. SLA and SLS parts can be affected most by warping. DLP can also show warping, but it’s not as common. Regardless of the process you choose for your project, the Quickparts team works diligently to make you aware of potential challenges with your part, such as when it can warp and what may cause it to do so.

Your Quickparts team watches for possible issues in everything from the design file to the temperature of our facilities, the time of year, and when a part or prototype will arrive at its destination. But knowing what may cause warping is only part of the challenge! To learn more about how Quickparts helps prevent warping in your parts, read the article on our blog today.

Enhance your 3D images

Join Computer Aided Technology and Synopsys on August 22 to discover more about the bundled end-to-end Simpleware and Stratasys solution for point-of-care 3D printing. Learn about the extensive image processing and 3D printing tools available in Simpleware software for generating accurate, patient-specific anatomical models that can be printed on Stratasys’s state-of-the-art 3D printers. Simpleware software’s unparalleled ease-of-use, cost-effectiveness, and reliability provide the perfect solution to practice and plan complex surgical procedures.

In this webinar, we will explore how to:

• Use Simpleware software’s FDA-cleared, end-to-end POC solution as part of your workflows
• Generate high-quality, patient-specific anatomical models with minimal time and effort
• Export in a variety of formats, including direct links to bundled Stratasys 3D printers

Register to attend today.

We also have more in-person events. Discover some nearby.

Tekna and Uniformity Labs sign agreement for the supply of titanium for laser powder bed fusion

Tekna will supply Ti64 -25/+5 and Ti64 -105/+45 to Uniformity Labs to produce its highly advanced titanium powders. This agreement will make available a critical North American supply source for Uniformity Labs and increase Tekna’s output capacity and efficiency.

“This agreement opens a critical North American material resource for us. The complementary nature of our businesses produces an economic benefit for our customers who gain through higher printer throughput and repeatability, and a supply chain security benefit from the use of materials produced entirely in North America.”, said Adam Hopkins, founder and CEO of Uniformity Labs.

The collaboration enables Tekna to optimize the use of its production yield, which Uniformity will process to produce its advanced titanium powder for L-PBF (laser powder bed fusion). Uniformity Labs’ technology helps customers realize substantial quality and efficiency improvements in additive and conventional manufacturing at scale. Their engineered powders and processes enable faster production of repeatable parts at higher density with no compromise in quality. Tekna powder atomization technology uses hydro-energy, and all process gasses are recycled in closed loops, achieving greener production. Together the companies will help industrial customers produce greener, more sustainable parts.

Furthermore, this supply agreement leverages both companies’ complimentary offers to the industry and clears the way for a growing collaboration between the two leaders.

“The Rules Still Apply to Additive Manufacturing”

It is impossible to sell production parts into the aerospace, medical, or automotive markets without the ability to prove those parts are manufactured to standards set by customers, such as the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) or regulatory authorities, including the FDA, FAA, or NADCAP. Giles Gaskell will present this topic at IMTS 2022, at the Hannover Messe USA Conference on Wednesday, September 14, at 1:15 pm (room W196-C, West Building of McCormick Place).

Gaskell, an AMUG DINO and the Scanning Track leader, is the additive domain leader at Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division. He will discuss how he learned the hard way that the rules still apply to additive parts just as they do for conventional parts. He will describe your worst nightmare of having a customer with better measurement tools than you do. Gaskell will also be on hand at Hexagon’s Booth 135202 in the Quality Assurance Pavilion to talk further about the subject.

Join the responsible manufacturing journey

Today’s environmental and social challenges demand action. We believe that innovation and technology can help create a better world for everyone. The BLUEPRINT for Responsible Manufacturing vlog delivers insights into projects, concepts, and ideas of how to make responsible manufacturing the new normal. Meet Björn, our head of sustainability, and his fascinating guests. He speaks with customers, suppliers, research institutes, NGOs, and colleagues from EOS. Join us on this exciting journey of exploring responsible manufacturing!

Björn’s first guests are Sebastian Zenetti, managing director and head of sales at YOU MAWO, and Sebastian Kilchert, research associate at Fraunhofer EMI. YOU MAWO offers customized and sustainably produced eyewear.

The study conducted with Fraunhofer EMI proved that YOU MAWO’s frame production is three times more sustainable than the conventional manufacturing process. Sebastian Kilchert explains in detail the study’s focus and why the life-cycle assessment was such a big part of it. Learn more about the benefits of 3D printed eyewear and the future sustainability goals for YOU MAWO.

On the go and can’t watch the video? Listen to BLUEPRINT on your preferred podcast platform!

Covestro announces sale of AM business to Stratasys

Covestro has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Additive Manufacturing business to Stratasys. The transaction includes development and sales employees, R&D facilities, production assets, and offices in Europe, U.S., and China, as well as access to a large network of partners globally. The portfolio includes products from the Resins & Functional Materials business acquired from DSM in 2021. It includes the brands Somos® and Addigy®.

“Additive manufacturing is a growing, though highly competitive market,” said Dr. Thomas Toepfer, CFO of Covestro. “We are convinced that Stratasys offers the optimal conditions to support the further growth of our former Additive Manufacturing business.”

The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory and other required approvals.

The Covestro AM team is excited about the prospect of continuing to serve their customers and bringing new materials to market as part of a polymer AM leader!

Is software the bottleneck in AM?

You’ve heard for years about the promise of AM for production.

So far, however, the hardware is outpacing the software. That’s according to Harshil Goel, Dyndrite founder & CEO. In a recent video clip, he says software in AM needs a refresh and points to four areas in which the industry can do better.

Click here for the 30-second video.

In other news, the Dyndrite team will be at IMTS in Chicago from September 12-17, 2022. Stop by booth 432416 any day from 9 am to 5 pm CDT for demos, discussion, and giveaways!

MEDIA SPONSOR NEWS

Inside the latest issue of TCT Magazine

The latest issue of TCT North America is set to land on desks and doormats imminently and comes packed with AM stories focused on heavy industry, sustainability, and more. With a free print + digital subscription, you’ll receive interviews with the likes of Nuclear AMRC, John Crane, and Ivaldi on how they’re applying AM for everything from new products to spare parts. The theme of green AM also runs throughout as you’ll hear in our cover story with 6K, and from various industry experts discussing the importance of data and LCAs.

Subscribe now and get access to every issue of TCT as well as bonus content, including our service provider maps and annual AM buyers’ guide.

Download the July/August issue of DE

In the July/August issue of Digital Engineering, we take a look at innovations in medical device design, including new uses of simulation for regulatory approval and 3D printing at the point of care. We also feature a case study on how generative design was used to reimagine an iconic Japanese sword handle.

You can download the issue here.

Turn to Make Parts Fast for news, education, and examples

Make Parts Fast covers the 3D printing/AM industry, delivering educational features, examples of how 3DP/AM solves various design challenges, and news of the industry for the professional mechanical and electrical design engineer.  The use of 3DP/AM is focused on the aerospace, automotive, industrial, and medical markets.

Get insights at www.makepartsfast.com.

Summer 3DMP at IMTS & FABTECH

Look for the Summer 2022 issue of 3D Metal Printing, along with its editors, at FABTECH and IMTS. The issue explores metal AM efforts in the U.S. Northeast, specifically at the Pratt & Whitney Additive Manufacturing Center at the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology. It also recaps the AMUG and RAPID + TCT events from this spring and details EWI’s efforts to tackle laser powder-bed fusion AM challenges. See you at IMTS and FABTECH!

Anatomy of an AM part failure: Lessons from 2021’s Olympic bike crash

In the men’s track cycling team pursuit qualifying at the 2020 Olympics, broadcast live to a global audience, a handlebar part produced by metal AM failed with catastrophic consequences for the rider, Australia’s Alex Porter. Six months later, a forensic analysis of the incident was published as a 170-page report. The good news is that the company that made the AM part, along with the technology itself, were cleared of blame. So, what went wrong, and what lessons can be learned? Find out the details in the Summer 2022 issue of Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine.

Read online or download PDF.

AM at five times the speed of sound

This month, we move our focus from automotive to AM in aerospace.

How is Rolls-Royce using additive manufacturing? (read here) Neil Mantle, Director of Manufacturing, gives us an inside look at the UltraFan and the VX4 electric aircraft.

Picking up the pace, we move to hypersonic speed. Rocket scientists from Reaction Engines share insights from the newly announced HVX experimental project.

Got something interesting for us to film? Get in touch!

3D printer builder JuggerBot goes bigger

JuggerBot 3D began life in 2014 as a portfolio company at the Youngstown Business Incubator. Today, the company employs seven full-time staff and a fluctuating number of contract workers, builds FFF- and pellet-style printers, sells materials, and offers 3D printing and design services. Click here to read how this Ohio company grew its business.

Other interesting posts on The Additive Report site:

Ways that 3D printing strengthens the global supply chain and makes manufacturing more sustainable. Click here to read more.

Changing colors: the next big thing in additive manufacturing.

Lawrence Livermore lab and an industry partner use LPBF 3D printing to make a better battery.