AMUG Newsletter March 2015

President’s Report

Mark Barfoot
President

It’s hard to believe that we are now one month away from our AMUG event. The board is getting very excited but is also going crazy trying to get the final details figured out. We are also excited that we are on track for this conference to have the largest attendance ever.

This conference is specifically designed for owners and operators of additive equipment, and our OEMs support us based on the fact that attendees own their equipment. However, if you are someone that is looking at adding commercial-grade additive equipment or is heavily involved in the design of parts to be built in additive but are using service bureaus to do the actual work, you are also welcome, but you need to receive permission to register from me. Please email me at President@am-ug.com with details on why you use additive and why you would find the conference beneficial.

The scholarships submissions this year were amazing with many very talented students and teachers that are really driving new innovations and ideas for use in additive. It was a very hard decision, but I want to congratulate Lydia Nelson for winning the Randy Stevens teacher scholarship and Yaser Shanjani for winning the Guy Bourdeau student scholarship. For details on what they have been doing, please see the article below.

As you prepare for the event, here’s a checklist of things you should review to ensure you are ready:

1. Register! The price increases by $100 after March 20th so register now.
2. There was some confusion about rooms at the Hyatt. We do have more rooms available at our $137 rate so if you have any issues at all with booking it, please contact our event manager Tom Sorovetz at EventManager@am-ug.com.
3. Submit your technical competition forms (see notes below).
4. Review the latest agenda. There are several sessions that require pre-registration so please make sure you contact the person listed for registration to ensure your spot.
5. Gather the following to bring with you:
   • STL files of parts you wish to build, parts that you’ve had issues with or parts you just want advice on. Our OEMs and users would be happy to look at them and give you advice on the best way to build them.
   • If you are attending the hands-on Post Processing Techniques session by Dan Hutchison on Thursday, bring a few small parts with supports attached to try out different methods of support removal.
   • Bring a small part that you want to reproduce in the silicone molding workshop.

Keep spreading the word about the conference. We look forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks.

Best regards,

Mark Barfoot
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

Steve Deak
Vice President

The AMUGexpo is your first opportunity of the week to network and learn new trends in additive manufacturing. You will find over 75 companies focused on AM equipment, software, ancillary processes, materials and services in an informal setting; all ready to share their knowledge. Many exhibitors and sponsors will have their latest equipment operating at the expo, so you will see and touch these processes first-hand.

You will have nine hours to see it all: Sunday, April 19, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and Monday, April 20, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Food and beverages are provided throughout the night to keep you going. Additionally, Diamond and Platinum demo suites will be open throughout the conference, giving you even more opportunities to network and learn.

Dana Foster
Vice President

Plan your time by viewing the AMUGexpo floorplan at www.eventscribe.com/2015/AMUG/.

Keep in mind, everyone at the AMUGexpo has a stake in additive manufacturing. Every conference participant, sponsor and exhibitor plays some part in the AM process. Make it your priority to talk to as many people as you can because everyone has an AM application and a story. Everyone knows something unique, and there is no better venue for networking than the AMUGexpo!

Don’t miss it!

Dana Foster & Steve Deak
VicePresident@am-ug.com

Event Manager’s Report

Tom Sorovetz
Event Manager

Well, it is March 14, 2015 (Pi day 3.1415) and if I would have started this at 9:26:53:59 AM it would have 3.14159265359, which is Pi to 11 decimal places…AWESOME!

We are only four weeks away from a great conference and expo; the weather is warming up in Jacksonville (today’s high is 84 °F); and the agenda is complete. So if you have not yet registered, I suggest you do so or you will miss out on a jam-packed week of presentation, hands-on training and networking with your peers.

If you have tried previously to book a room at the Hyatt and were unable to, please try again. The Hyatt added more rooms to our room block at the $137.00 rate. If you had to book at a different hotel, make your reservations at the Hyatt and then cancel your room at the other hotel so you won’t miss out on anything.

I was planning on setting up a trip to St. Augustine for spouses, guests and family members on either Monday or Wednesday if I can get at least 10 people interested in going. This trip would include transportation, the option to shop at the mall, walk the city and take a guided tour of St. Augustine — and maybe stop at the winery and chocolate factory, as well, for lunch. I would guess that this will be a five- to seven-hour day so if you know anyone that would be seriously interested, please e-mail me and I will create a list. Once I get enough people I will notify every one of the date, time and any other details.

For those of you who are attending for your first time, please bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses because we have our lunches outside if it is not raining. For those who have attended before, you know the drill so no excuses.

Hope to you in warm and sunny Jacksonville,

Thomas A. Sorovetz
Event Manager
EventManager@am-ug.com

Secretary’s Report

Kim Killoran
Secretary

The statistics show that 82% of the AMUG Conference’s currently registered attendees own more than one type of additive manufacturing technology. Here’s what the landscape of registered attendees, as of March 12th, looks like in terms of the type of technologies owned:

Attendee technologies.

This reinforces the fact that by attending the AMUG Conference you can learn a LOT from other attendees!

If you haven’t done so already, register before the attendee price increases by $100 on March 21st!

Kim Killoran
Secretary
Secretary@am-ug.com

Scholarships

Congratulations to the AMUG scholarships recipients!

Randy Stevens Scholarship (educator) — Lydia Nelson

Although Lydia didn’t originally have additive in her school, she taught the CAD process to the students and then through collaborations with outside companies gave tours of additive facilities to better explain how additive works. Through hard work and persistence, she was instrumental in obtaining a grant to bring in additive equipment to her school. We look forward to seeing how this additive equipment changes students and excites them even more about this industry.

Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship (student) — Yaser Shanjani

Yaser has worked on a variety of additive systems, but a couple activities that stand out are his work on developing a specialized additive system to build anatomically shaped bone-cartilage constructs for treatment of osteoarthritis and his current work with orthopedic surgeons on developing a 3D printer for tissue engineering. Yaser is also heavily involved in a variety of outreach programs for teaching students and younger kids how best to utilize AM technology.

We look forward to meeting both Lydia and Yaser at the 2015 conference.

Technical Competition

The cutoff for accepting entries for the 2015 AMUG Technical Competition is approaching fast. You have until March 28th to enter. This is your chance to show other users what magic you can perform with your additive manufacturing technology. Two winners, one from each category, will receive a complimentary attendee pass for the 2016 AMUG Conference. Visit the competition’s page for all of the details and registration forms.

BONUS: Stratasys customers that submit an entry that uses FDM or PolyJet will receive free material! See the webpage for details.

The Technical Competition has two categories: Advanced Concepts and Advanced Finishing. The Advanced Concepts category recognizes exemplary work that “pushes the envelope.” The Advanced Finishing category recognizes the efforts of those that bring a part to life.

All entries will be displayed at the conference’s AMUGexpo and will be judged by a panel of five “DINOs,” AMUG honorees that are expert users who graciously contribute to the member community. Winners will be announced during the conference at the Award Banquet gala.

To be eligible, a company representative must be a registered attendee for the 2015 AMUG Conference. If you have any questions, send an email to Bret Bordner, past president, at PastPresident@am-ug.com

Golf and Fishing

Schedule an extra day or two before the conference and join in on the pre-conference activities.

Golf

This will be the 18th annual golf outing, which is the unofficial start of the conference for many. You will play an 18-hole scramble at Eagle Landing at Oakleaf Plantation.

Saturday, April 18th
9:00 am shotgun start
Price: $125/person

For details visit the Golf Outing page or contact Bob Dzugan.

Bob is looking for donations of prizes (or cash to purchase them). If you can help out, please email him at rdzugan@buycastings.com.

Play a round at Eagle Landing

Fishing

When there is an ocean nearby, AMUG goes deep-sea fishing! We’ve chartered a vessel from Sea Love Charters for this half-day adventure.

Sunday, April 19th
Price: $125/person

For details, visit the Fishing Expedition page or contact Kevin Ayers / Steve McDonald.

AMUG is chartering the Sea Love II

Sponsor News – SLM Solutions

Presents the New Generation of Selective Laser Melting® at the AMUG Conference

SLM Solutions will present our product portfolio — specifically the Selective Laser Melting® System SLM®280HL — at the AMUG Conference in Grand Ballroom 1. Along with scheduled presentations from users of the technology, we will conduct live demonstrations of the SLM 280HL system throughout the conference.

The preliminary agenda includes:

• SLM 280HL system demonstration (4 sessions)
• Metal AM applications (2 sessions)
  • Andreas Berkau, citim AM
  • Dave Ciscel, CalRAM
• Selective Laser Melting applications (2 sessions)
• Trials & Tribulations of AM Training Development (user presentation)
  • Paul Parzuchowski, Linear Mold

On Thursday, April 23rd, from 10:30 AM to 5:15 PM, there will also be an opportunity for private, one-on-one meetings. To reserve a spot in advance of the conference, call (248) 243-5400 or email to info@slm-solutions.com. You may also schedule an appointment while at the event by speaking to a SLM representative before the 23rd.

There have been a lot of advancements in SLM technology — new options, efficiency and performance improvements, closed-loop powder handling, bi-directional loaders and twin/double/quad laser options. Join us at the conference to learn more about these developments.

Live demonstrations of the SLM®280HL at conference.

Sponsor News – Concept Laser

Showcasing the NEW M2 cusing and the Mlab cusing at the AMUG Conference

Concept Laser, a Diamond Sponsor, will showcase its latest Direct Cusing Manufacturing® technology, the M2 cusing and the Mlab cusing in Diamond Demo Suite 2 at the AMUG Conference. In addition to its new, modern appearance, the M2 cusing machine has a fully integrated structure, meaning there are no external components for the laser and filter system. The self-contained system includes a new filter design, increasing the surface area to 20 square meters. The M2 cusing is also available as a multi-laser version, providing the capability of 2 x 200 watt lasers or 2 x 400 watt lasers.

During the conference and the AMUGexpo, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with Concept Laser technicians and application specialists, as well as executives, to review the metal additive manufacturing technology and discuss how to achieve their specific applications. Concept Laser specific presentations include: new product introduction on the M2 cusing, M2 cusing multilaser and x line 2000R; quality management; safety; service and support; and hands-on application sessions. There will also be a customer-only session for Concept Laser users on Wednesday at 1:30 PM to review the latest and greatest updates (no need to pre-register for customer-only session).

To review the Concept Laser presentation schedule, visit the AMUG online conference planner. Under conference program, search tracks for Concept Laser. Lock us into your calendar today! And don’t forget to stop by our Demo Suite – Diamond Demo Suite 2.

New M2 cusing Multilaser from Concept Laser

TCT + Personalize

TCT Asia a Roaring Success

These words are being typed from a booth staring out across the TCT Asia show floor on the final day. The inaugural exhibit in Shanghai has been an unprecedented success with crowds gathering at the doors and conferences packed to the brim.

One of the highlights thus far was Jonathan Jaglom’s first talk as MakerBot CEO — just twelve days after he stepped up to the plate following Jenny Lawton’s step up to the Stratasys board. Jaglom was not a deer caught in the headlights with a hastily cobbled together presentation on his new role. Rather, he was a man at ease with being the head of desktop 3D printing’s most recognizable brand.

Jaglom discussed how he had submitted plans to the Objet board back in 2008 to create an online community and repository for 3D printed models but was beaten to it by Thingiverse and has, ever since, been a huge fan and regular user. He talked through a time in Hong Kong where he was unable to acquire the requisite decorations to celebrate Hanukkah so he headed to Thingiverse and 3D printed exactly what he needed. Jaglom and MakerBot seem the perfect fit.

Materialise CEO Fried Vancraen was in top form as he followed Jaglom onto stage, disarming the crowd with tales of his own poorly made 1986 AM gifts to his wife while enlightening the hundreds on the packed conference floor as to the true applications for 3D printing.

Fried mentioned one of TCT Asia exhibitors as a company adding true value through 3D printing, and those sentiments were echoed by the likes of Graham Tromans later in the day. The company is Winsun, which is using its own range of recycled materials in order to efficiently 3D print architecture. Having now witnessed it first hand, I see how it could very well change the face of construction forever. Read more here…

The show is the first licensed TCT event outside of the UK, and the next will be formnext powered by TCT at Messe Frankfurt in November. The German show already has the backing of many of the industry’s biggest players, including Concept Laser, EOS and Renishaw. It is sure to be another fantastic string in the ever-growing TCT bow.

Team TCT is very much looking forward to the upcoming AMUG Conference. The lineup of talks looks, as per usual, truly exceptional, and having talked at length with Gary Rabinovitz here at TCT Asia, we’re sure it’ll be another huge success.

See you there.

A Specialized 3D Printer for the Hearing Aid Market

ENGINEERING.com

While hearing aids might seem to be a niche market, they represents an excellent opportunity for additive manufacturing (AM). Given that everyone’s inner ear is uniquely shaped, AM makes building customized medical devices much easier and less expensive. To address this market, EnvisionTEC has three Perfactory machines, with the largest being the Perfactory 4 DSP (Digital Shell Printer) XL.

Read the whole story at ENGINEERING.com.