AMUG September 2024

President’s Report

We are seven months ahead of AMUG 2025. While that may seem a fair bit off, it is so close when it comes to planning! I’m sure some of the sponsors would strongly agree with that, especially with the influx of activity scheduled within AM for the first four months of 2025.

I have fielded questions about how AMUG feels about the congestion of AM events taking place in such a short time. We feel the same as always – we want to earn your investment! We don’t take it lightly that you all invest your time and funds to join us at the AMUG Conferences. Our focus is largely on how we can provide a conference that benefits your business and growth!

As a users group, we focus on just that very thing!! How can we make a user more proficient, inspired, and connected? We do that by bringing a community together and creating an atmosphere for coaching, sharing, demonstrating, and networking. Members arrive hungry to interact with other members who are using additive technologies and the ancillary tools that contribute to creating the ideal end product.

The interactions also include those with our sponsor/exhibitor community. How can our exhibitors/sponsors be impactful to our user-members?

1. Showcase your technology and its applicable advancements.
2. Train the users by way of demos.
   • You can use your booth space to conduct a use-case demo, showcase how to alleviate a common issue that you see your user community facing, or prepare an existing or future user with new ideas through hands-on learning.
   • Demonstrate that your team understands technical challenges and appeals to the technical hunger of the users group members.
3. We are once again offering private meeting rooms to our exhibitors/sponsors.
   • Use these rooms for private meetings or even assemble a mini users group for your offerings and take advantage of having your audience already there!

We send surveys each year that elicit a wide range of requests and responses. However, the common theme over the years has been a request from members to “Bring us more of the technical content.” Friends… let’s bring our technical content into Chicago! As a user… perhaps you want to present in a session track. As a sponsor… perhaps you want to create a teaching experience.

We know we keep good company at every AMUG Conference. We also know we attract a whole lot of first-timers. Help us populate AMUG 2025 with extraordinary technical content, and let us continue to change the success rate of manufacturing by way of additive technologies!

If I may be helpful to you in making your decisions and plans for AMUG 2025, I certainly want to hear from you! Please do reach out to me at president@amug.com.

With joy,

Shannon VanDeren
President
President@amug.com

Firsthand, first-time AMUG Conference Experience

Attending my first AMUG Conference in 2024 was nothing short of transformative. With more than a decade in the AM industry, I had heard countless stories about how unique and impactful AMUG was, but nothing could have prepared me for the actual experience.

From the moment I walked into the event in Chicago, I knew this was more than just another trade show. The AMUG Conference is a community-driven gathering where everyone – from users and researchers to executives – is eager to share their passion for AM. The openness and willingness to exchange knowledge are what truly set it apart. It’s not about the hard sell; it’s about people.

The workshops, presentations, and hands-on sessions were incredibly immersive, offering practical insights into cutting-edge developments across all AM technologies. The meticulous organization made it easy to navigate the packed schedule, and despite the long days, I left each one feeling energized, not exhausted. The relationships built at an AMUG Conference are authentic and long-lasting, extending far beyond the event.

The impact of AMUG 2024 on me was so profound that I didn’t hesitate when the opportunity to join the New Member Committee for 2025 came up. I knew I wanted to help first-time attendees experience what I did – the warmth, the knowledge-sharing, and the sense of belonging that makes AMUG special.

The committee plays a key role in guiding new attendees through their AMUG journey, ensuring they feel welcome and can make the most of the event. I hope to provide the same kind of support and connection that made my first AMUG Conference unforgettable. Whether connecting over the latest tech or simply sharing experiences during a coffee break, I’m excited to help foster that unique AMUG spirit for the next wave of attendees.

Felix Kochbeck
Member, New Member Committee

Stratasys New Origin® Two 3D Printer Addresses High Precision for Manufacturers Seeking Short Production Runs

The Origin Two DLP printer, in tandem with the post-processing system, Origin Cure™, addresses the growing demand among manufacturers for injection-molding quality for short production runs, delivering a level of accuracy, repeatability, and surface finish previously unattainable with AM.

This solution is designed to achieve consistently higher accuracy of +/- 50 µm, critical for industries such as connectors, aerospace and automotive. For applications such as seals and gaskets, housings, and window parts, it provides additional essential features, including:

• Repeatability of more than 93% within +/- 50 µm, and surface finish smoothness of up to RA 3 µm
• Reliable printing of materials with a heat deflection temperature (HDT) of up to 300°C
• Broad range of high-performance materials, from high-temperature resins to high-viscosity formulations

For more information, or to schedule a demo, visit the Stratasys website.

The Push to Stop 3D Printed Machine Gun Switches

As AM continues to penetrate the small arms silencer market, the Justice Department and ATF have begun exploring ways to control 3D printing’s biggest black market application: DIY machine gun switches that convert semi-automatic weapons to fully automatic firearms. In this article, 3DPrint.com discusses the latest federal investigation into 3D-printed guns.

While many in the AM sector don’t take the topic too seriously, it’s worth considering the impact that this news might ultimately have on the AM market. As one of the only 3D printing news sites that covers the topic in depth, 3DPrint.com is also proud to note that our map of ghost gun legislation was linked to by the New York Times.

Save the Date! TCT 3Sixty 2025

Mark your calendars for June 4-5, 2025, when the UK’s definitive industrial 3D printing and AM event returns to the NEC Birmingham.

Reasons to exhibit at TCT 3Sixty:

• Generate new business with thousands of relevant attendees from organizations like Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover, Dyson, Aston Martin, and Royal Navy, empowered by the TCT 3Sixty app and digital event hub.
• Access to the world’s biggest free AM conference program.
• 82% of TCT 3Sixty attendees have purchasing power, and in 2024, 85% of exhibitors achieved their objectives.
• TCT 3Sixty is supported by year-round coverage across TCT Magazine, digital newsletters, podcasts & social channels.
• Do a year’s worth of business in two days – but don’t just take our word for it, watch.

As part of a week of AM-focused activities in the UK, the show will be supported by the third edition of the TCT UK AM User Group and the 7^th annual TCT Awards ceremony.

Get in touch with the team to be a part of it.

Connect to the Global Metal AM Industry

As the only international media platform solely focused on metal AM, we attract a unique and rapidly growing global audience (56% Americas, 30% Europe, 14% Asia/ROW) of metal AM professionals, current and future AM users, researchers, and more.

Metal AM’s 45,000+ social media followers (of which 35,000+ are on LinkedIn, and growing at nearly 500 monthly), combined with 9,000+ email newsletter subscribers and 12,500+ LinkedIn newsletter subscribers, means that we have the most engaged and focused audience in the metal AM industry.

As we prepare the Autumn issue of Metal AM magazine, which will be widely distributed at Formnext, discover how we can keep your business in the eyes of our global audience: contact jon@inovar-communications.com.

Follow us on LinkedIn.

Watch: Key Differences Between Polymer and Metal 3D Printed Implants

For this Additive Talks session around the healthcare industry, we gathered Marc Knebel (Evonik) and Dr. Andy Miller (Restor3D) for a conversation on the key differences between polymer and metal 3D-printed implants.

As a reminder, the choice for this conversation comes from the fact that the challenges for long-term adoption of medical 3D-printed implants almost always remain the same and often come down to implant durability, compatibility, and infection risk.

While each of these experts advocates for a specific range of materials – given the applications they have to deal with – keep in mind that there are no good or bad answers; there are only insights that can help you understand what works best for your specific manufacturing projects.

Watch the recording here.

VoxelMatters Maritime AM Focus 2024 eBook is Here

For the first time since our 2021 eBook, we are focusing on the maritime AM segment and all the latest advancements in the field. Step aboard for a seaworthy edition with many maritime and marine AM insights.

In this eBook, we are pleased to present to our readers several insightful pieces, beginning with an in-depth analysis of the industrial maritime AM sector, which includes exclusive data from VoxelMatters Research Metal AM and Polymer AM Market Reports.

Next is a feature about SPEE3D’s new maritime-grade nickel aluminum bronze (NAB) alloy for cold spray AM and a story about Hyperion’s composite LFAM and intelligent software from Aibuild enabled the production of a monolithic 3D printed boat – the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Finally, in our mapping chapter, we chart the leading AM companies in the industrial maritime sphere that are reinventing how parts are made and maintained for more agile supply chains. What is clear is that maritime AM has evolved since our last AM focus eBook but is still an emerging area with much room for transformation and maturation.

Access the Maritime AM eBook here.

Simulation Gets Smarter

The September issue of Digital Engineering magazine focuses on simulation innovations, including a feature story about how simulation can be used in AM process planning to reduce risk. The issue also includes stories about open-source code for AI simulation and modeling, a case study on using natural language prompts for simulation, and synthetic reality for machine learning.

You can download the issue here.

Bringing AM into Focus at Nikon

Hamid Zarringhalam, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing CEO, talks about 3D printing strategy, challenges, growth, and parallels with the semiconductor industry.

Hamid’s perspectives are influenced not only by his CEO role for Nikon Advanced Manufacturing but also by his roles as corporate vice president of Nikon Corporation and CEO of Nikon Ventures Corporation.

Read our interview with Hamid here.

The 3D Printing Industry Awards are Back

Once again, it’s that time of year. The 3DPI Awards celebrate excellence in AM, and we need your help finding the 2024 winners.

Tell us about the applications, enterprises, and individuals leading the industry. Please take a few moments to submit your nominations here. The nomination process is open to all; once all public nominations are received, the voting shortlists will be published.

If you’d like to get involved further with the awards, the expert committee assists with the nomination and voting process. Each committee meets several times during the campaign period, and participation is a great way to network with your peers. Join us here.

Pioneering the Future: Sindan’s Vision for AM in the Middle East

As a leader in the Middle East region, Sindan is not only adopting the latest 3D printing technologies but is also driving innovation across critical sectors such as defense, aerospace, and healthcare. In this interview with Abdullah Saif Al Awani, CEO of Sindan, we explore Sindan’s strategic vision, challenges, and opportunities in the AM industry and how the company contributes to the UAE’s technological and economic growth.

Read the full story.