Welcome to the latest edition of our 3D printing jobs and career moves update for the additive manufacturing sector. If you are looking for a new position in the industry, we keep our 3D Printing job board updated with the latest positions. You can easily apply to any of the posted jobs after creating a […]
Sigma Labs posts financial results for Q1 2020
Sigma Labs, the Santa Fe-based quality assurance software developer for additive manufacturing, has announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. The company’s revenue for Q1 2020 experienced over 200 percent in growth compared to Q1 2019. In a supporting statement, newly appointed CEO Mark K. Ruport explains that, amid the […]
Sigma Labs signs new contracts with Northwestern University, Materialise
Two pieces of news show how Sigma Labs’ PrintRite3D software will be used by Materialise and Northwestern University. Santa Fe-based Sigma Labs has signed a contract to implement its quality assurance software for metal additive manufacturing at Northwestern University for the first time. Furthermore, Sigma Labs has signed a joint sales agreement with Belgium headquartered Materialise, advancing an earlier MoU to develop an integrated in-situ […]
Materialise and Sigma Labs to Combine Technologies for QA and 3D Printer Development
Known in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry for its quality assurance software and hardware products, Sigma Labs has made steady progress in proliferating its QA technology across AM. The latest development in this trend comes in the form of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Sigma Labs and Materialise, an AM software developer and 3D printing services provider.
The agreement will see the Materialise MCP Controller integrated with Sigma Labs’ PrintRite3D technology, as well as a joint sales agreement and beta customer commercialization of the combined PrintRite3D and Materialise Control Platform (MCP) product. To understand what this integration might look like, it’s necessary to understand what MCP is.
The MCP eocsystem. Image courtesy of Materialise.
MCP is a software-driven hardware solution meant to provide greater, more user-friendly control over AM systems. The product is embedded within a 3D printer and acts as an interface between the machine and the user so that they can perform actions like optimize print parameters, calibrate optics, write machine scripts, manually control hardware components, and detect errors. So far, the tool can be used for laser-based machines (i.e., stereolithography, laser sintering and laser melting).
The inclusion of PrintRite3D within MCP would mean that machine developers would be able to better understand how the equipment operates from a QA perspective, seeing defects and anomalies within a build from within MCP. The ability to further control hardware within MCP based off of this QA data would mean the possibility of developing new or retrofitting existing machines to include closed-loop quality control.
When Sigma Labs began making news as far back as 2012 or 2013, there was some reason to be skeptical of the company, derived from the fact that it was trading on the over the counter (OTC) markets. Penny stocks can be extremely questionable because the OTC markets are less heavily regulated than the NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchange. In turn, penny stocks are often used as vehicles for financial impropriety, specifically pump and dump schemes in which very low-cost stocks are increased in value through false press releases and other means and then sold at a profit by insiders.
We’ve actually seen at least one pump-and-dump scheme occur in the 3D printing industry. An Australian inventor, Jason Simpson, was defrauded by his investors who were very likely involved in such practices while also stealing Simpson’s assets. From our In-Q-Tel series, we also learned of one time when the CIA’s venture firm may have (wittingly or unwittingly) been caught up in one.
Because Sigma Labs began trading on the OTC markets at such a low price long before it had begun commercializing a product. Its OTC trading actually dates back to 2000, when the company was called Framewaves, Inc., a firm purportedly aiming to make custom frames. Framewaves was actually established through the acquisition of a different company called Messidor Limited that was involved in defrauding investors. The operations of Framewaves were somewhat suspect, as well, given the fact that its directors went on to launch similarly inactive penny stock companies.
However, when B6 Sigma, a company spun out of research at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the TMC Global Professional Services corporation, performed a reverse acquisition of Framewaves in 2010, all of the former directors stepped down and were replaced by B6 Sigma people. Because it was trading as an OTC stock at such an early stage in the commercial, a tech stock blog called nanalyze raised some red flags and some questions about when it planned to deliver on its market promises.
Meanwhile, Sigma Labs continued to secure important partnerships and Department of Defense grants. This included working with Honeywell to test the use of PrintRite3D for metal 3D printing and 3DSIM (later acquired by ANSYS) to combine Sigma Labs’ quality assurance technology with metal 3D printing simulation software.
The AM QA company has since moved from the OTC market to the less questionable Nasdaq Capital Market. This combined with what appears to be steady improvement of its PrintRite3D software over time and this latest partnership with one of the most established 3D printing companies in the market should help dispel those earlier speculations by nanalyze and other cautious investors.
However, according to the SEC filings from the end of last year, its maintenance on the Nasdaq is on shaky ground due to the low price of the stock and minimum stockholders’ equity. Perhaps the company’s change in management since its founding, which included the taking on of a new CEO in 2017, will ensure that the company continues developing successfully in the industry.
The post Materialise and Sigma Labs to Combine Technologies for QA and 3D Printer Development appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.
3D Printing News Briefs: December 15, 2019
In this edition of 3D Printing News Briefs, it’s business, business, business, and then an upcoming event, 3D Alliances signed a collaboration agreement with Xact Metal. Sigma Labs has appointed a new Executive Chairman to its board of directors. Finally, mark your calendars – NAMIC Summit 2020 is coming to Singapore in May.
3D Alliances Teams Up with Xact Metal, Welcomes Team Member
Israeli consulting company 3D Alliances has announced a new collaboration agreement with Pennsylvania startup Xact Metal, which develops metal powder bed fusion systems. 3D Alliances will be supporting Xact Metal as it works to deploy channels and find new sales partners in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
“No doubt, metal 3D printing solutions are on the rise as professional and industrial users are looking for new solutions that will help them integrate metal technologies in their research and development, prototyping and short run manufacturing processes. Xact Metal answers these exact needs offering professional systems in a very attractive entry point,” stated Gil Lavi, the Founder and CEO of 3D Alliances. “Once the price barrier is no longer a big issue, the acceleration in the adoption of metal systems is inevitable. We look forward working with Xact Metal team bringing it’s great products to the Asia Pacific market.”
But that’s not the only news 3D Alliances is sharing – Scott Hill, a veteran in the 3D printing industry, is joining the company as a senior consultant for North America. This completes its global coverage, as 3D Alliances also has teams in APAC and the DACH region of Europe.
Sigma Labs Names Mark K. Ruport New Executive Chairman
Speaking of new additions, 3D printing quality assurance software developer Sigma Labs has appointed Mark K. Ruport as its executive chairman, and a member of its board of directors. Ruport is an accomplished software executive, with over three decades of experience in both public and private companies, and will work with fellow board member, and the company’s CEO, John Rice to help drive the formation of strategic relationships and sales strategies, increase shareholder value, and speed up growth.
Ruport said, “The ability to have an immediate, tangible impact on Sigma Labs with the apparent adoption of its incredible technology in the marketplace is a unique and exciting opportunity. My focus will be on accelerating our commercial adoption with strategic partners and amplifying the recent success John and his team have achieved. This blueprint is something I am very familiar with given my experience with disruptive companies in the software sector and I look forward to working with the entire team at Sigma Labs to drive forward its strategic initiatives.”
As an inducement award outside of its 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, Sigma Labs granted Ruport non-qualified stock options, in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
Save the Date for NAMIC Summit 2020
NAMIC (National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster) is hosting its AM Summit 2020 at the Marina Bay Sands EXPO and Convention Centre in Singapore, May 11-15. In addition to a full conference, featuring more than 1,000 local and international delegates and industry leaders, the summit will also include workshops and certification courses, an industry showcase, behind-the-scenes tours at several industry facilities, and the NAMIC Start-up Innovation Forum, held at SGInnovate on the last day of the summit.
“Presenting a variety of activities and programmes with the NAMIC Conference anchoring the summit, this will be a unique experience for global 3D printing experts, adopters, innovators and professionals to interact for knowledge sharing and discussions on the latest 3D printing innovations, designs and process development as well as wide-spread industrial adoption,” the NAMIC AM Summit 2020 states on its website.
You can register your interest in attending the latest summit by NAMIC here.
Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.
The post 3D Printing News Briefs: December 15, 2019 appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.
New 3D printing jobs: BigRep, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Mogassam
Looking for a new job in 3D printing? A host of new opportunities are now open through 3D Printing Industry. In 3D Printing Jobs, we offer candidates and employers the opportunity to search and advertise vacancies in this rapidly changing sector. In this update, we have new roles from BigRep, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and […]
3D Printing Industry jobs, career moves and facility openings update: Evolve Additive Solutions, Re:3D, Sigma Labs, Senvol, GE Additive
If you’re searching for a 3D printing job or seeking to hire additive manufacturing experts, our jobs site has new positions available. This jobs update details new opportunities from re:3D, and Evolve Additive Solutions, as well as recent hires from Senvol, Sigma Labs and a facility opening from GE Additive. Embedded Software Engineer, Re:3D, Houston, […]
3D Printing News Briefs: June 11, 2019
Starting with a little business in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, Materialise has signed an MoU with Sigma Labs, and Carpenter Technology Corporation launched an additive manufacturing business unit, while Ampower just released a metal 3D printing technology map. Moving on to news about 3D printers, 3D Potter has introduced a compact version of its Scara clay 3D printer, and a UK service bureau installed an HP Jet Fusion 4200 system.
Materialise and Sigma Labs Sign MoU
Back in 2014, Sigma Labs signed an agreement with Materialise to integrate its PrintRite quality inspection technology into the Belgian company’s 3D printing software. Now, five years later, the two companies have entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to evaluate this integration together.
The mission behind the MoU is, according to MarketScreener, “to create an integrated product solution composed of sophisticated control technology enhanced with in-situ process monitoring for metal additive manufacturing.” Materialise and Sigma Labs have a shared vision to ultimately set up a formal licensing agreement, or a formal joint marketing collaboration, for a truly integrated product.
Carpenter Launches Additive Business Unit
Carpenter Technology Corporation has been working to build on its reputation as a metal powder supplier in order to become a leader in the 3D printing industry, and it appears to have worked. Recently, the company launched a new business unit, called Carpenter Additive, which offers a wide range of products and services, such as finished component production capabilities, metal powder lifecycle management solutions, and integrated AM and R&D facilities. The new business unit even made an appearance at the recent RAPID + TCT 2019.
“From powder production to manufacturing and finishing parts, the full spectrum of our capabilities is what differentiates Carpenter Additive from the rest of the AM industry. We are revolutionizing how customers approach this disruptive technology by offering end-to-end solutions through an array of technical expertise, powder production, parts production, and material lifecycle management,” said Carpenter’s President and CEO Tony R. Thene. “Carpenter Additive is working with our customers and driving industry-wide change.”
Ampower Releases New Technology Map
Metal 3D printing consultancy Ampower is working to prepare for its metal additive manufacturing report, which will be released at formnext in Germany this fall. While compiling the report, Ampower closely studied all of the available metal AM technologies and counted them up, arriving at a total of 18 falling into seven different categories, including powder, wire, and granulate. In addition, Ampower analyzed the supply chain and counted up nearly 90 different metal AM machine vendors. Now, the consultancy has put all of its findings together in a high-resolution metal AM technology map, which can be downloaded from Ampower’s website.
“In our Technology Map for Metal Additive Manufacturing, we subdivide the procedures based on the ASTM / ISO 52900,” Ampower wrote on its website. “However, methods are now known that elude a known classification. Systems from vendors such as Vader and Fabrisonic use completely new approaches to energy input and raw materials. However, these technologies still have a relatively young degree of maturity. In addition, it should be noted that even with the same classification, the procedures may still differ. For example, the technology of 3DEO can only be classified as binder jetting as it incorporates a milling process at the same time.”
To learn more, download the metal AM technology map today.
3D Potter Launches Compact Version of Scara V3 3D Printer
Florida-based company 3D Potter, formerly known as DeltaBots, makes low-pressure, high-powered 3D ceramic printers. These delta-style printers are completely dedicated to 3D printing ceramics and pottery, and the company is now the 3D printer manufacturer for over 200 aerospace and defense entities, research facilities, and universities. Recently, 3D Potter introduced a lightweight, compact version of its Scara V3 – the 3D Potterbot Scara Mini V1, which has no air compressor and features a single joint Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA), which operates on a rotational x and y-axis. The printer’s 200 ml extruder is easy to clean, and there’s no weight limit for final 3D printed products, which achieve high accuracy and even consistency with no air bubbles. The Scara Mini V1 is fully capable of 360° multiple object printing.
“The other advantage for universities and architectural departments is that it can do architectural objects. It can actually print inside an object,” explained 3D Potter president Danny Defelici.
To see the new Scara Mini V1 in action, take a look at the video below.
Design Reality Service Bureau Installs HP Jet Fusion 4200
UK industrial design consultancy and service bureau Design Reality, headquartered in Wales, is made up of design and electronics experts who work to create products for clients in the medical, industrial, and consumer industries. Recently, the company made the decision to install an HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200 3D printer in order lower outsourcing requirements and improve upon its design and production capabilities, which will in turn provide its customers with a consistent, end-to-end solution and faster turnarounds. Since the system was installed, Design Reality has already attracted some new customers.
“Our ambition is to make lives healthier and safer with the products that we design. We want to leverage any advantage we can to improve product development quality, performance and speed of delivery,” said Graham Wilson, the Owner and Design Director at Design Reality. “The technology offered in the HP Multi jet Fusion HP 3D 4200 enables reliable prototyping and additive manufacturing, providing quality products into the hands of our clients, faster and at a lower cost. Our clients no longer have to wait for conventional tooling and manufacturing processes, and the investment that is associated with it.”
Design Reality is mainly sticking with HP’s Nylon 12 material in order to lower waste, and is using HP’s subscription pricing, which is the first pay-per-use subscription model in the industry, for its materials.
Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.
Sigma Labs and Materialise sign MoU to commercialize metal AM quality assurance system
Sigma Labs, a Santa Fe-based developer of in-situ quality assurance systems, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Belgian 3D printing software company Materialise. According to the MoU the two companies will combine their expertise to develop an integrated in-situ quality assurance (QA) system for metal 3D printing with a view to commercializing […]
What happened in 3D printing at RAPID & TCT 2019?
As one of the biggest 3D printing events of the year, last week’s RAPID + TCT conference created the busiest news week of 2019 so far. Reporting live from the show, backed by a team covering all of the latest press releases from the event, 3D Printing Industry provided leading coverage of North America’s must-see […]