Skip to main content

AMUG November 2021

By November 18, 2021
 

November 2021

President’s report

My Fellow AMUG Members,

While many of us are getting ready for Thanksgiving, all of us (on the AMUG Team) are ready for giving thanks. I’d like to thank our newly elected board members for their engagement and participation. Changes that facilitate improvements and growth have presented challenges, but amped up with the AMUG spirit, the team continues to pull together and make it happen.

Our committees have opened up a lot of opportunities for participation and interaction. Please watch for those opportunities to contribute on the web, in the newsletters, and on social media. The plans and goals of the committees have made for a larger pie of preparation and action. Yet, we have really managed to slice up these pies into manageable pieces to make great things happen.

Speaking of pie…may you all have some memorable time with family and friends topped off with an enjoyable slice of your favorite pie. I wish you all safe travels and special times with your families. Members of your AMUG family will be forging ahead over this holiday! Okay, okay; maybe a couple of days of well-earned rest will be had by those on the AMUG team.

Be well and safe travels,

Carl Dekker
President
president@amug.com

Carl Dekker
President

Sponsors: Strong, early show of support

Since we opened AMUG 2022 registration on October 15, the response from sponsors and exhibitors has been amazing. For example, Diamond and Platinum sponsorships are selling like ‘hotcakes’ with only a handful of each left. Other sponsorship levels are also ahead of our usual commitment rate over such a short time.

The support is very impressive. We’d like to offer a huge thank you to everyone that has already registered.

Booth selection will commence soon, so if you are one of the companies that still needs to register, please head over to our Sponsor/Exhibitor opportunities page to get the details and to download the latest prospectus. You should also visit Why Sponsor or Why Exhibit to discover the benefits of being an AMUG supporter.

Please contact Andrew Allshorn (vicepresident@amug.com), AMUG VP, if you need to discuss anything in more detail. He’d be happy to arrange a conference call to answer your questions.

We look forward to working with you on the lead-up to AMUG 2022 as well as to seeing you all in person in Chicago.

So many events: Why choose AMUG Conference?

We are reaching that time of the year when management is deciding what conferences and tradeshows to attend in 2022. I would like to take some time to address those that are selecting the events and deciding which employees to send.

I have been in the same position—deciding where to invest those dollars— and one of the big questions in my decision was “Have I attended this conference or tradeshow in the past?” From that knowledge, the determining factor was if this was just another show or if there was more content and value.

The AMUG Conference is not a tradeshow. Yes, there is an expo (the AMUGexpo). However, the conference is built around users exchanging ideas and networking. This is the true value, and a fundamental difference, of the AMUG Conference.

I would like to take this moment to encourage you to send your employees that have not previously attended. If you’re looking for justification, please visit the AMUG website and spend some time going through the dropdown menus. If you have access to the previous years’ conference proceedings (these are for past attendees only), take a look at what has been offered.

As a New Member Committee member, I can tell you that from the time of badge pickup through the conclusion of the conference a “First-time” member will be welcomed by the AMUG community, and the value for the investment will be second to none. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns by reaching out by email email.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Derek Ellis
New Member Committee Chair
NewMember@amug.com

Derek Ellis
New Member Committee Chair

Scholarships

Students & Educators:  AMUG Scholarship applications are LIVE! (Deadline:  February 7, 2022)

Are you considering applying for one of the AMUG scholarships? Do you know of someone that should consider applying?

Students:  The Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship sponsored by Cimquest, Inc.
Educators:  The Randy Stevens Scholarship sponsored by In’Tech Industries

Why apply? Here’s what some of our past recipients had to say.

I did not anticipate how personally meaningful the AMUG and scholarship experience would be to me. I wouldn’t trade my AMUG experience for anything and can’t wait to help next year and see my friends again.  
Sean Dobson – 2021 Guy Bourdeau Scholar

The many connections I made have allowed me to grow our 3D printing program significantly. We have doubled the number of printers in our lab. I’ve been inspired to take our program in directions I had never thought possible.
John Sorvillo – 2021 Randy Stevens Scholar

My experience was far beyond my expectation. Every person I spoke with was welcoming and showed genuine appreciation for the AMUG community. It was infectious; nothing can beat my first AMUG experience.
Kate Schneidau – 2020 Guy Bourdeau Scholar

I brought home first-hand knowledge from many experts and integrated [that] into my class on additive manufacturing. I was able to establish many valuable connections [that] I am still collaborating with today. The spotlight given to the scholarship winners [allowed] more people to know our work [at UARK].
Wenchao Zhou – 2019 Randy Stevens Scholar

Winning the Guy Bourdeau Scholarship was a fantastic opportunity for me because it provided exposure and learnings into the AM industry. The benefits, education, and relationships continued past the end of the conference into my professional career.
Claire Belson – 2017 Guy Bourdeau Scholar

DINO Award Nominations

Nominations for the 2022 DINO (Distinguished INnovator Operator) Awards are now being accepted. From the nominee pool, AMUG will select up to 10 individuals to be named DINOs at the 2022 AMUG Conference. Nominations will be accepted through March 1, 2022.

This award is about so much more than tenure in the AM industry. It rewards actions taken through the years that are in line with AMUG’s credo: information exchange and support that helps others to advance in AM. To learn what an AMUG DINO represents, and to see the minimum requirements, please visit the DINO Selection page. There you will also find the link to the nomination portal.

Please note that AMUG accepts both self-nominations and peer-nominations for the DINO Award.

DINO Award recipients (2019).

Jump on in; Get involved

I started my career in AM more than 20 years ago. It has been a great learning experience with AMUG providing me both a network of experienced operators to reach out to as well as a network of great friends. I have had the honor of holding several board positions with AMUG, giving me a chance to give back to this wonderful community. While I am not ready to slow down yet, there is plenty of need for others to support this great association.

If you feel the need to get involved like I did, there are ways you can do just that. If you are new to AMUG, I would suggest volunteering some time at our next conference or joining one of the many very active committees. You can get on the volunteer list here. If you are currently a member and want to serve on the AMUG board, come take a look at the positions here. You can also nominate someone who you feel would be a great fit for the board.

So, go ahead and jump in with both feet; the water is fine. I would be happy to answer your questions about board positions or the process to apply.

Paul Bates
Nominating Committee Chair
NomCom@amug.com

Paul Bates
Nominating Committee Chair

What is the AMUG Technical Competition?

The AMUG Technical Competition is your chance to highlight unique applications or outstanding finishing techniques among your peers.

The competition is judged by a panel of five DINOs, and the winners are announced during the AMUG Conference. Entrants must choose a category, either Advanced Concepts or Advanced Finishing. In addition to evaluating the overall quality of the project, the judges are also looking for creative uses of AM. The Advanced Concepts winners consistently “push the envelope” with their applications and processes. Advanced Finishing winners showcase the creativity and attention to detail that brings a prototype to life. You may enter both categories, but it must be with different projects.

Each year the entries come from various industries, and they use any of the available AM technologies.

Even if you are not in the competition, this is a must-see for all AMUG Conference attendees! Not only will you be impressed by the entries, but you will also learn from the competitors’ expertise and have your imagination sparked for future applications. Check out the 2021 (and previous years’) winners here.

Make sure you are registered for the AMUG Conference so you can be a part of the 2022 Technical Competition and stay tuned for more details!

2021 Advanced Finishing winning entry from Bill Braune.

AMUG 2022: The Workshops on Thursday

As you are making your plans for AMUG 2022, be sure to include Thursday, April 7, on your schedule. The Agenda and Track Leaders Committees have shifted many workshops to that day with the title of “The Workshops on Thursday.”

While Thursday will also host presentations and panels, the agenda will be heavy on the hands-on workshops. Planning is in the works for workshops on software, inspection, and post processing, as well as returning favorites like Foundry in a Box and silicone mold making/urethane casting. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and have some interactive fun with our industry experts.

The team was thinking of you when they made these plans. By the end of the AMUG Conference, you will be in information-overload mode (and a bit exhausted), so it brings you The Workshops on Thursday for a different kind of learning experience.

To join in the hands-on experiences, you must be a registered attendee for the full AMUG Conference (single-day passes are not offered).

Foundry in a Box workshop—casting metal into 3D printed sand molds.

Formnext 2021

There are still two days before Formnext ends. While AMUG doesn’t have an official presence this year, representatives are roaming the halls.

Members of AMUG’s International Committee, including Stefan Ritt, Dror Danai, and Andrew Allshorn, would be happy to talk with you. Also present, and open to conversation, are Paul Bates, Tim Bell, and others.

If you have questions about AMUG, the conference, and the team, feel free to introduce yourself and ask for a moment of their time.

SPONSOR NEWS

Computer Aided Technology (CATI)cati.com

What’s new from CATI and our partners

With everything that has rolled out during the pandemic, how much do you really know? Let our team of experts give you the information you need on the latest products from our partners at SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE, Stratasys, Creaform and more. From in-depth webinars to tips and tricks, you’ll learn all of the information you need to get your next project started with ease. Explore our dedicated page.

Design Innovation Month.

Hexagonhexagonmi.com

Download Hexagon’s new additive manufacturing whitepaper

Hexagon’s latest whitepaper, ‘End-to-end solutions for smarter additive manufacturing’, examines current AM challenges with cost, timescales, and design, highlighting how better-connected technology and more automated processes can deliver the solutions. The new whitepaper takes a deep dive into the concept of smart manufacturing and how it can take AM to the next level of industrialization.

Hexagon is an expert partner for AM manufacturers, providing smart solutions that ensure software applications and manufacturing equipment operate seamlessly and as autonomously as possible. Hexagon’s fast-growing AM ecosystem presents enormous scope for improving process efficiencies, leading to the ability to scale-up production while maintaining final part quality.

Download the whitepaper now to discover how Hexagon’s portfolio of AM solutions can optimize your manufacturing technology and processes, powering AM into a fully industrialized future.

Hexagon’s new AM whitepaper.

EOS M 300-4 wins the 2021 LEAP award

The EOS M 300-4 metal 3D printer was selected as the 2021 Silver Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program (LEAP) award winner. The awards were announced during a digital ceremony with competition coming from a variety of products across multiple categories, including AM.

LEAP’s involvement in the engineering community allows the program to survey continuously growing manufacturing verticals, including AM, industrial automation, software, and several other categories. WTWH Media assembled a panel of 14 independent judges for the award process, comprised of a cross section of OEM design engineers and academics.

The EOS M 300-4 system was selected for its exceptional productivity, digital enhancement, and optimized workflow. Designed for high productivity, the EOS M 300-4 offers multiple configuration options combined with safety and security features enabling true serial production.

The LEAP Silver Award winner EOS M 300-4 metal 3D printer.

Desktop Metaldesktopmetal.com

Desktop Metal triples manufacturing capacity for Production System P-50

Desktop Metal announced the opening of a new in-house manufacturing facility that will more than triple the final assembly space currently dedicated to the Production System™ platform to meet robust demand for the world’s fastest metal 3D printing technology. This new facility is part of a strategic plan to accelerate the production ramp of Desktop Metal’s flagship Production System P-50 printer, for which the company is engaged in component procurement and assembly of initial builds targeted for shipment in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Created by the inventors of binder jetting and single-pass inkjet technology, the Production System is an industrial manufacturing platform powered by Desktop Metal’s Single Pass Jetting™ technology. It is designed to achieve speeds up to 100 times those of legacy powder bed fusion AM technologies and enable production quantities of up to millions of parts per year at costs competitive with conventional mass production techniques. The P-50 printer is paving the way for the mass production of end-use parts—unlocking throughput, repeatability, and competitive part costs.

Array of swivel base parts printed on the Production System.

DMG MORIwww.dmgmori.com

DMG MORI Advanced Solutions, Inc. wins Best Production Part Award

Congratulations to the DMG MORI Advanced Solutions, Inc. Additive Intelligence team!

Last month, the team’s AKZ FDS adapter was crowned Best Production Part, at Additive Manufacturing Media’s The Cool Parts Showcase, the company’s first ever contest highlighting innovation in 3D printing. The AKZ FDS adapter was built in under 50 hours on a LASERTEC 30 DUAL SLM using a twin laser.

The AKZ FDS adapter delivers cooling lubricant and oil-air mixture to the cutting tool on our machine tools to improve fluid flow and weighs half of the original version. The conventional assembly had 71 parts and weighed 34 pounds. The redesigned 3D printed version requires only five parts, reducing sealing points and risk for leakage by over 90%, and reduces weight and material use by half.

DMG MORI and the AKZ FDS adapter will be featured in an upcoming episode of The Cool Parts Show, airing early next year, stay tuned!

Watch the video to learn more about the AKZ FDS adapter and the rest of the finalists of the The Cool Parts Showcase or watch the announcement video.

AKZ FDS adapter awarded “Best Production Part” by popular vote.