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AMUG March 2020

By March 19, 2020April 30th, 2020
 

March 2020

President’s Report

My Fellow AMUG Members,

It still weighs very heavy on me that the AMUG Board had to make the decision to postpone our conference. It was the right decision, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

From a personal perspective, I had so many plans to reconnect with friends, make new ones, and get a chance to focus on learning at a level like no other. This event has truly become something I really look forward to every year. And from what I have been hearing, many of you feel the same way.

COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) came about very quickly, and before we knew it, had spread to become a global pandemic. The last incident we had like this was 102 years ago, when the Spanish Flu swept across the world. Fortunately, we have improved technology now that is saving a lot of lives; some with the aid of AM!

Your AMUG Board did an extensive evaluation of all implications we could imagine. In an incredibly short time span, we had to decide what would be best for AMUG, its future, and, most importantly, its members. It was just a few days later that the wide-spread impact of the Coronavirus on our lives became apparent to all.  We know this will change the future forever, and we ask for your patience, understanding, and support as we learn to navigate these new waters.

I need to request that you frequent amug.com as this will be our fastest method of communicating to everyone. We have posted the latest information we have and will be making updates as quickly as we can. In the six days since we made the decision to postpone, there has been a lot accomplished and a lot planned. But there is still a lot of work to do.

I also ask that you express your appreciation to all of the volunteers for their hard work on the conference. We had the usual conference effort, then the work on changes and adaptations prior to postponing the event, and now the work to regroup on the postponed conference. This is basically the work of three events rolled into one. Please remember this when you ask them for details and follow-ups. And remember that they also have day jobs, which are likely to have been changed because of COVID-19.

We are lucky to have all these volunteers that support AMUG,  working tirelessly to manage everyone’s interests and safety in this force majeure situation. With this team, we will get through it, but we need to ask for a bit of patience.

I look forward to seeing you soon. Until then, please stay healthy and safe.

Warmest Wishes,

Carl Dekker
AMUG President

Carl Dekker
President

AMUG Conference Dates

The AMUG Conference is postponed to March 14 -18, 2021.

Questions?

Of course you have questions resulting from the postponement of the AMUG Conference.

AMUG has prepared an FAQ document to address the questions for which we presently have answers. It can be viewed/downloaded here. As additional details emerge, we will be updating this page.

While we will be happy to field your calls and emails, please check the document before reaching out to see if your question has been addressed.

SPONSOR NEWS

Let’s Keep the AMUG Conference Spirit Alive

Just because this year’s AMUG conference is postponed doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the great information we were planning to share. Instead, join us for our webinar series, to take place in the late-March/early-April timeframe. “The Stratasys Sessions” is a string of webinar events across a range of subjects, from how to transform your business with enterprise-wide AM deployment to exciting new breakthroughs in 3D printed medical modeling.

Here are the specific topics we’ll cover:

  • Deploying and Sustaining AM in Your Organization: A Guide for Transformation
  • Implementing High End Additive Jigs, Fixtures and Tooling
  • J750™ Digital Anatomy™ Printer: Materials and Software with the Stratasys Health Care Team
  • How the Racing Industry Employs AM for Tooling Applications

So be safe, stay healthy and don’t worry about missing anything. We’ve got you covered. Register for The Stratasys Sessions at www.stratasys.com/the-stratasys-sessions.

An FDM® badge-locating fixture, typical of the 3D printed tools that will be discussed in the webinar series.

3D Systemswww.3dsystems.com

3D Systems Helps Customers Ease Path to Production, Speed Time to First Part with Advanced Figure 4 Materials Testing

3D Systems has completed comprehensive testing for its newest Figure 4 materials against both ASTM and ISO standards. With the release of advanced Figure 4 material test data, the company continues to build on its “customer-first” approach to innovation and is the first in the industry to provide this level of transparency – saving customers time, reducing cost, and speeding their time to first part.

Testing has been completed on the newest Figure 4 materials designed for production applications: Figure 4 PRO-BLK 10, Figure 4 EGGSHELL-AMB 10, Figure 4 HI TEMP 300-AMB, Figure 4 FLEX-BLK 20, Figure 4 RUBBER-BLK 10, Figure 4 TOUGH-BLK 20, Figure 4 MED-AMB 10, and Figure 4 MED-WHT 10. The company has tested against an extensive set of properties that includes: long-term environmental stability, electrical data, UL94 flammability, biocompatibility, ISO mechanical properties, isotropic mechanical property tolerances, and compatibility with automotive fluids and chemical reagents. Test data for all materials will be made available on March 23 on the company’s website.

Automotive dashboard vent produced in 3D Systems’ Figure 4 PRO-BLK 10.

BASF 3D Printing Solutionswww.forward-am.com

Ultrasint® PP nat 01 Ready to Print at PERIDOT

Forward AM, by BASF, is collaborating with PERIDOT, one of the longest running AM service bureaus in the US, to offer polypropylene (PP) by Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).

Forward AM believes that the industry has been looking for the ability to actively print PP, the most widely used injection molding material. It’s affordable, highly chemical resistant, ductile, and able to be welded. Now, it can finally be 3D printed with these same features and benefits!

With this new PP SLS solution, PERIDOT is poised to enable its customers with their prototyping or manufacturing needs. They have seen immediate success in applications such as living hinges and short run production requests. Thanks to its open system and advanced thermal control, the use of this PP powder on Prodways’ ProMaker P1000 SLS system allows PERIDOT to optimize the processing parameters and achieve repeatable and accurate results with an excellent surface finish.

To learn more, visit Ultrasint® powders or contact us at sales@basf-3dps.com.

Functional parts – 3D printed with polypropylene powder from Forward AM.

Introducing the INTEGRA P 450 System

Developed to meet the demand for powder-bed-based AM of polymers, the INTEGRA P 450 empowers designers, production engineers, and material makers alike. With an impressive array of new user-friendly features that offer unprecedented productivity, material compatibility, and simple serviceability, the INTEGRA P 450 is truly the most flexible and accommodating industrial 3D printer on the market.

To discover more about the INTEGRA P 450, watch the new video, download the datasheet, and request information at intergraP450.com.

INTEGRA P 450.

Our Latest Updates via AM Webinars

With the AMUG Conference being postponed due to the COVID-19 virus, we wanted to make sure that we can still deliver the updates we had planned for the event. Next week, we will host three webinars that feature the content intended for the conference, including a presentation with Erpro about the challenges to establish fully digital, serial AM. Our presentation with EOS North America will follow later.

Until then, we look forward to shaking hands in person at AMUG 2021.

Join us for AM Webinars on March 23, 24, and 25,

Essentium Partnerships and Innovations Transforming the Factory Floor

Please join us for webinars outlining Essentium’s factory-floor-first strategy to enable AM at scale in thinly-margined manufacturing companies that demand the productivity of trusted machine-tool based ecosystems.

Moisture Control in Additive Manufacturing Materials: Tuesday, March 24 at 1:30 pm CDT

Best practices for implementing a material handling procedure that matches the level of quality required in the industry sector. Demonstrations on the effects of “wet” materials, and walk through equipment options required to dry, store, and feed spools of filament properly. Sign up.

Toolmaking with Material Extrusion: Wednesday, March 25 at 1:30 pm CDT

Educational webinar on the capabilities of AM for tool production, criteria for suitable material selection, and basic design considerations, giving manufacturers advantages in cost and time-to-tool and potentially reducing indirect costs like inventory and storage. Sign up.

Using a Digital Workflow to Unlock the O&P Industry: Insights from Vorum – Thursday, March 26 at 1:30 pm CDT

Digital workflows including the use of CAD, digital file management, AM, and other comparable processes, to offer O&P practitioners a proven path to success for the production of mass-customized O&P devices at speed and scale.  Sign up.

Renishaw, Inc.www.renishaw.com/am

Biome Makes Waves with Renishaw’s AM Expertise

Renishaw has collaborated with the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) in Canada to produce two ocean turbine parts using AM for industrial design firm Biome Renewables. Renishaw helped manufacture a PowerCone® retrofit that co-rotates with the turbine’s rotor and curved propellers to reduce drag. Using metal AM to produce these parts reduced costs by 80% and meant that two turbine components could be developed in two months.

Biome Renewables is an industrial design firm based in Ontario, Canada, that specializes in designing wind turbines. It approached NSCC when it decided to expand into tidal wave energy because of the college’s specialism in ocean technology and its engineering research facility, which builds prototypes for different industries. The plastic solutions used by NSCC were inappropriate for tidal environments, so it decided to use metal AM to make the parts stronger. It approached Renishaw for technical assistance because of its specialist knowledge in metal AM that could be used to build the turbines.

Learn more about unlocking the power of AM for renewable applications.

3D-printed ocean turbine parts being made.

GE Additivewww.ge.com/additive

Watch Our Pre-Recorded Webinars Anytime, Anywhere

Our customers are at the center of everything we do, which is why we want to continue sharing what we’ve learned from integrating AM into our business, products, and supply chain. Check out our pre-recorded webinars, which cover topics such as Additive Serial Production and Additive in Aerospace. You can watch these sessions anytime, anywhere. Click here to see the available sessions.

Nexa3D Expands North American Reach

Nexa3D’s ultrafast production 3D printers have already redefined industrial AM. And now — following the company’s announcement that it is scaling deliveries to Europe, Japan and Korea – we’ve also announced a partnership with AM VAR  Dynamism that will markedly boost commercial shipments of NXE400 printers in North America. Nexa3D has seriously scaled its global reseller network globally — adding 30 world-class distributors — and has already received 200 purchase orders for its ultrafast 3D printer.

Nexa3D printers use lubricant sublayer photo-curing together with a patented structured light matrix to supercharge printing speeds — 1Z centimeter per minute, which is six times the speed of comparable printers. This shortens the time to print prototypes and production parts from hours to minutes. The company’s printers can also handle bigger prints with a massive 270 x 160 x 380 mm build volume — two-and-a-half times larger than other printers.

DMG MORIwww.dmgmori.com

Postponement: The Right Thing to Do

DMG MORI stands by AMUG’s decision to postpone the event to 2021. We wish to see many of you earlier, as time allows, and are looking forward to other member activities in the meantime.

Computer Aided Technology (CATI)www.cati.com

The Creaform MetraSCAN 3D

The handheld MetraSCAN 3D optical CMM scanning systems are the most accurate scanning solutions on the market, whether in lab or on the shop floor. This powerful solution increases the reliability, speed. and versatility of the measurement process, whether for metrology or large-scale reverse engineering applications.

The MetraSCAN 3D scanners make it possible to easily extend the measurement volume with no loss of accuracy. Compared to 3D scanners on articulated arms, they allow total freedom of movement, which translates into increased productivity and quality.

A few key features of the MetraSCAN 3D:

  • Accuracy – Very high accuracy 0.078 mm (0.0031 in.) across 16.6 m3 (586 ft3)
  • Speed – 480,000 measurements per second
  • Metrology acceptance – ASME B89.4.22 with traceability to NIST
  • Each scanner is delivered with a personalized certification and fully documented test results.

To see our entire Creaform scanner lineup, click here. To learn more about CATI, head over to our website.

Creaform MetraSCAN 3D.

ExOne Binder Jet Systems Now Qualified to 3D Print More than 20 Metal and Ceramic Powders

Fifteen new materials  have been qualified by ExOne and its customers for 3D printing on the company’s family of metal 3D printers, bringing the total list of printing materials to 21. Among the additions are M2 tool steel, Inconel 625, tungsten carbide-cobalt, and silicon carbide.

In all, ExOne metal binder jetting systems now 3D print 10 single-alloy metals, six ceramics, and five composites. Additionally, 21 powdered materials have been qualified for 3D printing in controlled research and development environments, including aluminum and Inconel 718.

“ExOne continues to make aggressive progress in qualifying new materials,” said ExOne CEO John Hartner. “Qualifying a new material is complex work that involves optimizing how materials, machines, and processes work together. We thank our many customers and partners for their assistance in accelerating this important work, which is enabling more sustainable manufacturing and part designs.”

ExOne metal binder jetting systems now 3D print 10 single-alloy metals, six ceramics, and five composites.

DSM Additive Manufacturingwww.dsm.com/additive-manufacturing

Introducing DSM’s New Somos® WaterShed Black

DSM is excited to introduce Somos® WaterShed Black, a new stereolithography material ideal for those desiring an opaque black resin.

Somos® WaterShed Black provides a solution to build rigid, tough parts, while eliminating the need for painting. Having similar properties and processing as Somos® WaterShed XC 11122, this multipurpose resin provides the same benefits in a black stereolithography material.

With its improved formulation, Somos® WaterShed Black has up to a 50% faster processing speed, offering minimal finishing and more consistent processing over time. WaterShed Black is a truer black color off the machine vs. others currently available. This material also has a smooth surface finish, as well as superior moisture and chemical resistance. With faster processing times and the elimination of the need for painting, Somos® WaterShed Black is a time and resource saver.

Download the brochure here.

Somos®  Watershed Black.

SLM Solutionswww.slm-solutions.us

SLM Solutions Reschedules Cancelled AMUG Content as Webinars

With respect to the growing spread of the COVID-19 situation, we salute the AMUG Board for their decision in cancelling the conference. It is disappointing that we will not be able to come together, however, the health and safety of all takes precedence. We revere AMUG and their dedicated passion to advancing the additive manufacturing industry; we look forward to participating in 2021.

In preparation of this year’s AMUG Conference, SLM Solutions partnered with key customers to create educational and engaging presentations. With the unfortunate cancellation of the conference, we have decided to reschedule these presentations as webinars. Please stay tuned for announcements on dates for when those will be available. In the meantime, feel free to check out new content in our Resource Center.

MEDIA PARTNER NEWS

Metal AM Magazine www.metal-am.com

Don’t Miss the Spring 2020 Issue of Metal AM Magazine

The feature-packed Spring 2020 issue of Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine is now available to view online or download for free on our website or via our app for iOS and Android. The new issue includes the following in-depth features from the industry:

  • Cheaper powders, faster build speeds, and no thermal stresses? How AM is going supersonic at SPEE3D
  • Current perspectives on metal AM: Hype, volume manufacturing and the geographies of production
  • AM Ventures: An insider’s perspective on venture capital for start-ups in additive manufacturing
  • Binder Jetting and beyond: Optimising the use of metal powders for additive manufacturing
  • From lightweighting and material efficiency to energy consumption: Where are we on AM’s sustainability journey?
  • AM’s industrial impact celebrated as Sweden hosts ASMET’s fourth Metal Additive Manufacturing Conference
  • Euro PM2019: Effects of humidity and storage conditions on additive manufacturing powder quality

Sign up for our weekly newsletter or download the app to make sure you don’t miss out on any future releases. As a subscriber, we’ll notify you every time we publish a new issue of Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine.

Metal AM’s Spring 2020 issue is now available.

Additive Manufacturing Mediawww.additivemanufacturing.media

Where 3D Printing and Measurement Intersect

In AM, material properties are created at the same time as the geometric form, and each can influence the other as the part takes shape. Whether printing happens with a melt pool of metal powder or a vat of resin, being able to measure (and control) the process delivers a greater scope of possibility. But the relationship is a two-way street. Even as 3D printing demands more sophisticated measurement tools, it enables these as well. AM is making objects smarter, expanding the Internet of Things, and giving greater insights into research areas such as quantum physics.

Both the March issue of Additive Manufacturing magazine and recent episodes of The Cool Parts Show explore the dynamic between measurement and AM. Learn more.

Fitz Frames’ augmented reality app for buying glasses is just one example of AM enabled by measurement.

Mechanical Engineering Magazinewww.asme.org/topics-resources

VA System Rolls Out 3D Printing

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is currently exploring ways in which 3D printing can solve a wide range of problems, from visualizing organs before surgery to personalized medicine and improved prostheses. With 170 medical centers and 1,063 outpatient facilities, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is the nation’s most extensive integrated health care system. Dr. Beth Ripley, a radiologist at the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System in Seattle, is leading the project. She explains how she uses the technology in her hospital and how she plans to roll out 3D printing throughout the VA system.

Read the story.

VA is exploring ways in which 3D printing can solve a wide range of problems, such as pre-surgical planning. Photo: VA Puget Sound.

The Additive Reportwww.theadditivereport.com

New Ideas & Entertaining Commentary

The Additive Report supplies readers a steady stream of tech news, practical advice on AM, and entertaining blogs about 3D printing.

Here are some examples of the content currently posted on the AR website:

  • A team of researchers at USC have developed a new set of machine-learning algorithms and a software tool called PrintFixer that they estimate will improve 3D printing accuracy by 50% or more. Read it here.
  • Regular blogger Kip Hanson wonders if our ability to CT-scan sick and injured people and 3D-print increasingly realistic and functional replacement parts for them will, one day, make it possible to reverse-engineer humans. Read it here.
  • The latest digital edition of The Additive Report.

If you don’t receive the magazine, please subscribe to it on our website.

The Q1 2020 edition of The Additive Report is now available.

TCT Magazinewww.tctmagazine.com

Keep Connecting

Outside of our own packed show schedule, the AMUG Conference has always been one of our most looked-forward-to annual events. While we’re disappointed not to be meeting with you all in Chicago next week, or at our own RAPID + TCT next month, the health and wellbeing of our teams and colleagues is our top priority. As event organizers ourselves, we fully support AMUG’s decision to postpone until next year.

That doesn’t mean we have to stop connecting with each other until then. We understand many exhibitors will have planned on launching new products and making announcements at AMUG and RAPID + TCT. If you were intending to do so, feel free to get in touch with our editorial team, and we can ensure your news gets out to our network of digital readers and audited global print magazine subscribers.

We look forward to reconvening safely again next year, but in the meantime, stay in touch with us digitally at www.tctmagazine.com and @thetctmagazine.

Stay updated on the latest AM news via TCT Magazine’s digital edition.

3D Metal Printing Magazinewww.3dmpmag.com

3DMP Covers Powder, Process Repeatability and More in Spring Issue

3D Metal Printing is working on its information-packed Spring 2020 issue. Look for an update on powder products and technology, an overview of laminated-object manufacturing, ways to achieve process repeatability, and more. Of course, we’ll also include case histories exploring AM in action, plus all of the news and technology updates you’ve come to expect from 3DMP.

And, we’re putting the finishing touches on the 5th Annual 3D Metal Printing Experience and Tech Tour, July 22-23 in Northbrook, IL. Industry-expert presentations and give-and-take discussions focus on industry trends, identification of suitable metal AM applications, smart build-plate technology, and more. The event also features facility tours of GPI Prototype & Manufacturing, as well as Northwestern University’s Ford Motor Co. Engineering Design Center, and its 3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping Lab.

www.3dmpmag.com

Laminated-object manufacturing (LOM) joins thin metal sheets, which allows creation of internal passageways, and makes parts as large as large as 900 x 1250 x 500 mm.

Make Parts Fastwww.makepartsfast.com

3D Printing at the Micro Level

Recently a couple of stories have surfaced about using 3D printing/AM for parts that are microns in size. One of these companies is based in Israel. Now a company out of Boston, Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), has introduced a microscale 3D printer. Make Parts Fast interviewed John Kawola, CEO of BMF, to discuss this trend. Listen to the interview or read some of the key points he made here.

Microscale 3D-printed parts made using the PμSL process from Boston Micro Fabrication.

Digital Engineeringwww.digitaleng.news

Tapping into Cloud and High-performance Computing

As more companies tap into the potential of AM, many firms are tapping into cloud and high-performance computing (HPC) resources in order to implement design-for-additive-manufacturing (DfAM) strategies. The March issue of Digital Engineering explores the growing use of HPC for additive, as well as GPU-enhanced simulation, cloud-based security, and how large-scale models are affecting engineering productivity.

Download the March issue here here.

March issue of DE explores high-performance computing for AM.

Note: AM is the abbreviatio for additive manufacturing.