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3D Printing News Briefs, June 28, 2020: Autodesk, Sinterit, BCN3D Technologies

In today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, we’re talking about software and hardware. First, Autodesk has added a new generative design extension. Sinterit has made some changes so its printers are ready for Industry 4.0. Finally, a BCN3D Technologies 3D printer has been recognized as one of Spain’s best industrial designs.

Autodesk Generative Design Extension

MJK Performance used generative design technology to create a set of lighter and stronger triple clamps for a drag bike

This week, Autodesk announced that it is allowing Fusion 360 users to take advantage of generative design capabilities more easily with the release of its new subscription offering – a generative design extension. This will give users complete access to Fusion 360 generative design for a separate subscription fee of $1,000 per month or $8,000 a year. Autodesk is now offering a special introductory price for a limited time only, so annual subscriptions to Fusion 360 and the new extension are available for 50% off the regular price through July 17th.

“We hear loud and clear that customers, especially these days, crave flexibility, and we’re more than happy to provide a solution at a price point that addresses their needs, especially for budget managers who require predictability. Most of all, we’re excited to see the momentum and incredible outcomes from casual users all the way up to major industry innovators or major brand innovators who are using generative design in the field,” said Stephen Hooper, vice president and general manager, Fusion 360.

Users can also access the generative design extension with their Autodesk Cloud Credits.

Sinterit 3D Printers Ready for Industry 4.0

SLS 3D printer manufacturer Sinterit released a new software update that makes its Lisa and Lisa Pro 3D printers compliant with the Industry 4.0 standard, which works to automate integration with factory logistics. The update provides a new function that allows the printers to generate communication output regarding print status, in addition to a more intuitive user interface and a better tool for object collision detection.

“We received questions from our clients about Industry 4.0 standards compatibility. For some of them, it was a must – a 3D printer without such compliance couldn’t be used,” explained Grzegorz Głowa, head of R&D department in Sinterit.

BCN3D Technologies Recognized for Epsilon 3D Printer

Barcelona company BCN3D Technologies announced that its advanced BCN3D Epsilon 3D printer has been recognized by the FAD Association of Industrial Design as one of the best-designed products of 2019 in Spain. The printer has been shortlisted for the 2020 Delta Awards, and an independent jury of industry experts will announce the winner during Barcelona Design Week this November.

“At BCN3D, we are design: we are meticulous, and our professional 3D printers are crafted after a long process of design and investigation to ensure that the end result is optimal. For us, this recognition is a reflection of the tremendous care we put in each product’s design and reflects on the work of every single member of the BCN3D team,” the company wrote in a blog post.

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Thor3D Updates Calibry Nest Software, Improving Workflow for 3D Scanning

Moscow-headquartered Thor3D continues to refine its software and hardware, allowing customers around the globe to continue scanning items at every range, from smaller industrial parts to facial prosthetics, and larger-scale items like automobiles. Now, the handheld 3D scanner developer is releasing an update to its Calibry Nest software—adding a host of new features for improved workflow.

Live 3D mode on.

Continuing to develop and enhance products and solutions that offer ease in capturing 3D data, as well as dealing with post-processing, the team at Thor3D has created a Live 3D option for preliminary data finalization. This means that users are able to use the Live3D feature while scanning and then quickly complete assembly of the scene, even while on the go. They can then assess the quality of the scan before uploading it to their PC.

For Calibry users who seek the ultimate in accuracy, they can also now test calibration before beginning any project.

Other tools have been added to this release for streamlined workflow during post-processing efforts. Users engaged in reverse engineering or quality control processes can complete basics like the following:

  • Pinpointing deviations in structure by comparing meshes with the Distant Map feature.
  • Cutting sections through any type of mesh for adding 2D contours which can then be converted into .SVG or .DXF format.
  • Using the inverting tool, noted as especially helpful for engineers involved in orthopedic or prosthetic applications where critical scans are required for body parts.
  • Calculating the least amount of distance from two points with the ‘Geodesic Distance’ tool, for use with polygon mesh.
  • Detecting false markers during scanning. The Thor3D team notes that while ‘momentary glares’ may occur in the final mesh and look like markers (thus causing inaccuracies), this additional tool prevents such problems.

Live 3D mode on. A screenshot from Calibry’s screen

“Thor3D team has also added a random generator of names to label each new result as they are formed,” states a recent press release sent to 3DPrint.com.

‘Distance Map’ feature in action.

Inverting normal tool

Geodesic Distance tool

Other small changes have been made to the Calibry Nest software also. Users can now accelerate the speed of loading textured models. A new progress bar has been added for hole-filling functions, with separated hole filling now available in a different thread—leading to further optimization of the workflow. The tracking process has also been further improved for users during the scanning process.

Currently, Thor3D has offices in both Moscow and Dusseldorf. Founded in 2015, the Thor3D team is well-known for the development of their wireless, handheld scanner. Find out more about their products here.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Source / Images: Thor3D]

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3D Systems Streamlines Software for Reverse Engineering

3D Systems has announced the latest versions of its Geomagic Design X and Geomagic Wrap  software, this time claiming “first-to-market capabilities” for streamlining workflows and improving design precision.

New features within Design X meant to exemplify this claim include improved workflows and expanded modeling pathways for complex, revolved parts. In particular, the software includes an Unroll/Reroll function that makes it possible to model said components in a simpler, yet more precise fashion. The tool allows users to extract a 2D sketch automatically so that they can modify it and then reroll it, purportedly reducing the need for trial and error typically associated with modeling these geometries. In turn, part precision, efficiency and downstream usability are said to be increased. For a comparison of the revolve process in another CAD software, see here.

Unrolling of a 3D scan of a tire for mold modeling in Geomagic Design X. Image courtesy of 3D Systems.

The software also includes a new Selective Surfacing Feature, which is meant to make modeling with 3D scans faster and more precise. According to the company, users will be able to “highlight portions of the a (using mesh selection tools, or curves) and surface just those portions in a way that makes downstream ‘hybrid modeling’ much easier.”

3D Systems has also released a method for previewing yet-to-be fully released features. Geomagic Design X customers on-maintenance can access R&D capabilities using plugins that will allow the company to receive feedback on these tools before they are released more generally.

Hybrid Modeling Workflow of a topology optimized part in Geomagic Design X. Image courtesy of 3D Systems.

Geomagic Wrap 2021 offers a variety of new capabilities for manipulating 3D scan data and imported files for various applications. This includes a new scripting editor enabling engineers to customize their workflow using Python that allow for the use of new tools that include ‘auto complete’ and ‘contextual highlighting’. API documentation for the software will be continuously updated online.

Geomagic Design X 2020 streamlines Hybrid Modeling Workflows for molding, casting, topology optimization, and medical applications. Image courtesy of 3D Systems.

Texture manipulation tools are integrated directly into Geomagic Wrap 2021 that make it possible to manipulate and re-touch colors, logos and other visual elements obtained from 3D scans within the same workflow. A new HD Mesh Construction tool is meant to make the construction of 3D data from point clouds more effective and aid in dealing with challenges associated with large data sets and scans with missing information.

Example of using the updated scripting editor showing the real time error tracking, contextual highlighting, and autocomplete tools. Image courtesy of 3D Systems.

All of these tools help to strengthen 3D Systems larger strategy of cohesion across its digital manufacturing products, which also include additive manufacturing, virtual reality and simulation systems, inspection software and more. Altogether, the company has a solutions for many steps along the design-to-manufacturing pipeline (or “digital thread”).

To be discussed in an upcoming report from SmarTech Analysis on software in the AM industry (and update to its 2017 report), 3D Systems has one of the more diverse portfolios of 3D printing software. The Geomagic suite, which also includes design and haptic sculpting tools, makes the company unique among 3D printer manufacturers in part for the 3D scanning and inspection software included. Meanwhile, its metal build preparation software, 3DXPert, has even been sold to customers who didn’t even have 3D Systems printers and the company’s CAM solutions, Cimatron and GibbsCAM, give it a leg into the toolmaking industry. In total, SmarTech estimates 3D Systems to hold a significant share of the market for both 3D printing and scanning software. The total value of the AM software industry is projected by SmarTech to be worth $2.4 billion by 2026.

Modeling of a complex part with cylindrical drum slots in Geomagic Design X. Image courtesy of 3D Systems.

It competes against a number of other companies, both 3D printer manufacturers and software developers. This includes Stratasys, which has grabbed and increasing amount of the software space with the acquisition and development of GrabCAD, as well as Materialise, Autodesk and Dassault Systèmes.

Geomagic Design X 2020 will be made available late May 2020, while general availability of Geomagic Wrap 2021 is slated for late July 2020.

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3D Printing News Briefs: July 19, 2019

We’ve got a new partnership to tell you about in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, followed by a software update and some news about 3D printing in the hospital. FIT AG and Mitsui & Co. Machine Tech Ltd are partnering in Japan. Volume Graphics has released Version 3.3 of its CT software solution. Lastly, Rady Children’s Hospital is bringing the technology in-house with a new 3D printing lab.

FIT AG and Mitsui & Co. Machine Tech Ltd. Announce Partnership

Back, L-R: Alexander Bonke, CEO, FIT Production GmbH; Carl Fruth, CEO, FIT AG; Albert Klein, CFO/CSO, FIT AG)
Front, L-R: Shigeo Watanabe, General Manager, Business Planning Division, Corporate Planning & Strategy Unit, Mitsui & Co. Machine Tech Ltd.; Yasushi Murata, Director Project Management, Japan FIT AG, Takahiro Sueki, Business Planning Division, Corporate Planning & Strategy Unit, Mitsui & Co. Machine Tech Ltd.

German company FIT Additive Manufacturing Group (FIT AG) and Mitsui & Co. Machine Tech Ltd have announced that they will be partnering up to give Japanese manufacturing companies access to proven 3D printing solutions. Mitsui Machine Tech, which is a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Mitsui & Co., Ltd. will propose that its Japanese customers use FIT’s engineering, manufacturing, and project management services in cooperation with subsidiaries FIT Production GmbH and FIT Japan K.K. In addition, it will offer FIT’s 3D printing solutions to customers in Japan who are looking to invest in their own AM capacity.

“The cooperation of Mitsui Machine Tech and FIT offers Japanese customers the combination of trust and expertise. This is essential during the introduction of new technologies,” stated Carl Fruth, the CEO of FIT AG. ” We have developed a well-defined set of services in the additive design and manufacturing of final products and volume parts, and now Mitsui Machine Tech and FIT offer this to the Japanese market. Our cooperation with Mitsui Machine Tech fills us with pride and joy. We have high expectations as to the results.”

The news about the partnership was announced at the recent German-Japanese Additive Manufacturing Forum.

Volume Graphics Releases Updated Version of Software

Multi-material surface determination

Volume Graphics GmbH has over two decades of experience in developing and providing software for non-destructive testing based on industrial computed tomography (CT). Now, the company has released the latest generation of its advanced CT data analysis software. Version 3.3 of its VGSTUDIO, VGSTUDIO MAX, VGMETROLOGY, and VGinLINE include multiple updates, such as multi-material surface determination and volume meshing for simulations, and Volume Graphics has also announced the addition of a Technical Consulting unit that will provide customers with professional consulting and evaluation services.

Christof Reinhart, the CEO and Co-Founder of Volume Graphics, said, “With version 3.3 of our software solutions, we are once again laying the foundation for customers to make their processes smarter.

“For example, using the new data export, metrology data derived with the tremendous measurement capabilities of our software can be seamlessly shared with QA systems, where the values can then be combined and checked over time. More than ever before, this new feature enables customers to better integrate leading-edge CT technology into their existing software landscape. The new export feature is based on the native support of the widely used Q-DAS format, which makes using results in third-party statistical or analysis software especially easy.”

Rady Children’s Hospital Opening 3D Innovations Lab

San Diego-based Rady Children’s Hospital – the largest children’s hospital in California and the region’s only pediatric trauma center – has decided to stop outsourcing its 3D printing projects and bring the technology in-house. The hospital knows the positive impact that 3D printing can have on the outcome of a patient, and is opening its first 3D Innovations Lab, which will be centered around the HP Jet Fusion 580 Color 3D printer. The system will be used to make anatomical models for specialists and surgeons to use in pre-planning, which can help lower the risk of complications in the OR. One example is that of Leanne Wilbert’s son, who needed open heart surgery for a condition where two of his main arteries were switched. A scale model of his heart was 3D printed to allow the surgeon to practice different approaches.

“3D printing and 3D innovations as a whole has a major role in a hospital,” Justin Smith, PhD, a research scientist at Rady Children’s Hospital, said in a video. “It helps our surgeons, helps our doctors, helps our students, helps the families themselves, helps the whole team. By creating a workflow that enabled 3D printing, we brought this incredible technology in house. It’s helping improve our patient outcomes, but also helping our economics, in helping new opportunities for device design and fabrication.”

In addition to 3D printing, the hospital’s new 3D Innovation Lab will also include virtual and augmented reality technologies.

Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

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3D Printing News Briefs: December 8, 2018

We’re starting with a little bit of business news in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, before moving on to a new material and a software update. PostProcess is partnering with CUBRC, and both Launcher and 3YOURMIND have announced new executives. ElogioAM released its new Facilian HT material, and Simplify3D has a software update.

PostProcess Technologies Partnering with CUBRC

This week, PostProcess Technologies, which provides automated and intelligent post-processing solutions for 3D printed parts, announced that it was partnering with CUBRC in order to accelerate its patent-pending 3D printing software platforms. PostProcess will leverage CUBRC’s Heartwood Analytics machine learning suite in order to advance its work in fully digitizing 3D printing. Its AUTOMAT3D and CONNECT3D platforms both use a data science approach to 3D printing, which helps improve performance while also reducing the amount of guesswork and manual steps customers have to deal with during support removal and surface finishing. By using Heartwood Analytics, these platforms will be even more efficient.

“PostProcess was founded on software as the first component of our solution. We’ve known since the beginning that data analytics was an essential part of doing data science at scale,” said Daniel Hutchinson, the Founder and CTO of PostProcess Technologies. “That’s why we’ve chosen CUBRC for its experience and expertise in data extraction, alignment, analysis and systems optimization technologies to enhance and expedite our post-printing software platforms.”

Launcher Hires Chief Designer

Launcher, a startup making 3D printed rocket engines to help deliver small satellites to orbit, has hired Igor Nikishchenko as its Chief Designer. Nikishchenko has over three decades of experience with high-performance liquid rocket engine development, and was most recently working in Italy for Avio, which is an important contractor for the Ariane and Vega launchers developed by the European Space Agency. He will work at Launcher’s main office in New York City, and will help the startup achieve its first goal of developing the least expensive, highest performing liquid rocket engine for small launch vehicles: the 3D printed Launcher E-2, which features 22,000-lbf thrust and a closed cycle liquid rocket engine.

“We’re not doing science here, not trying to make a breakthrough. We’re trying to use a proven high-performance engine design, applied to a smaller size,” said Max Haot, the Founder and CEO of Launcher.

According to Haot, Nikishchenko will have a role similar to that of a chief engineer or chief technology officer, and will be responsible for all of the startup’s engineering and design efforts.

3YOURMIND Names Head of Global Marketing

Stefan Ritt and Aleksander Ciszek sign employment contract at formnext 2018

Software company 3YOURMIND announced that it has recruited additive manufacturing veteran Stefan Ritt to join the company as its new Head of Global Marketing, in order to continue serving its expanding international customer base. Ritt has spent over 20 years working in the AM industry on a global scale, most recently as the VP of Global Marketing and Communications for SLM Solutions, and has served as the Chairman of the Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace work group at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) since 2015. Throughout 2019, 3YOURMIND plans to increase its presence in both Europe and the US by adding more AM production and machine manufacturing experts to the software development team, and Ritt will be integral to the company’s mission of integrating 3D printing into series manufacturing.

“I am very pleased with the trust that Aleksander Ciszek, Stephan Kuehr and their team have placed in me,” said Ritt. “I am convinced that adding the integration of AM machines within 3YOURMIND’s comprehensive software will be the solution the AM industry needs to make the step from individual prototyping to advanced industrialization and reliable serial-batch production.”

ElogioAM Introducing Facilan HT Material

This summer, high-performance 3D printing filament producer 3D4Makers and specialty chemicals company Perstorp AB signed a joint venture agreement, which resulted in the new 3D printing materials company ElogioAM B.V. Now, the company is continuing to develop new filament solutions, like Facilan C8, for 3D printing, and this week introduced its latest addition: Facilan HT. The copolyster material was designed, like all Facilan products, to be easily 3D printed with minimum warping on most conventional FDM 3D printers, which require stronger, more durable materials. It’s fully amorphous, with high temperature resistance and high stiffness, which makes it possible to optimize designs for faster rigid part print jobs.

Matthew Forrester, the 3D Printing Tech leader for L`Oréal, said, “Excellent technical support from the Elogio team, Facilan HT is as easy to print as PLA, with a good level of translucidity, perfect for our prototyping needs.”

Facilan HT is now available for pre-order in 1.75 mm diameter, 750 gram spools for €37.50.

Simplify3D Announces Software Update

Just one month ago, Simplify3D, which is one of the most popular brands of professional 3D slicing software, launched Version 4.1 of its software suite. Now, the company has come out with Version 4.1.1 of the software.

This latest release comes with many improved features, in addition to multiple bug fixes for issues like disabled force retraction between layers. For example, the corkscrew printing (vase mode) has improved seam locations, and users can transition this mode to create smooth spiraling outlines without adding any additional artifacts. The skirt and brim placement has been updated to remain closer to the outline of the model for better adhesion, and the solid layer placement has been improved in order to create high-quality top solid layers.

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3D Printing News Briefs: December 2, 2018

We’re covering everything in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, from software and metal 3D printing to education and cosplay. MatterHackers is introducing MatterControl 2.0, while Digital Alloys is defining application criteria for metal 3D printing. The MakerBot Innovation Lab in Georgia provides a professor with some much-needed 3D printed primate skulls for class, and Melissa Ng of Lumecluster recently attended the New York Comic Con with some 3D printed armor.

MatterHackers Introducing MatterControl 2.0

This year, the development team at MatterHackers has been working hard to make a new and improved version of its free, open source, All-In-One design/slice/print software MatterControl. Now, the company has announced that MatterControl 2.0 is finally here.

“Loaded with lots of new features and tools to create, slice, and control your 3D printer, MatterControl has more capabilities than ever for newcomers and advanced users alike,” MatterHackers wrote on its website. “While some updates are behind-the-scenes like how the slicer operates, there are some major changes within the interface.”

MatterControl 2.0, which includes new features like Print Recovery, Re-Slice, and Software Bed-Leveling, is a unique 3D printing software that’s able to integrate design, preparation, and 3D printing all into a single, simple platform. MatterControl 2.0 features pre-configured 3D printer and material profiles for easy set-up, and offers users with endless customization options, thanks to integrated Design Apps and Design Tools. MatterControl 2.0 is now available for download on both the Windows and Mac operating systems.

Digital Alloys Defines Metal 3D Printing Application Criteria

Massachusetts 3D printing company Digital Alloys, which introduced its Joule Printing for metals this summer, also has its own blog. Earlier this month, the company published the first part of a two-blog series that focused on finding the highest value applications for metal 3D printing; this week, the second post was published. Titled “Digital Alloys’ Guide to Metal Additive Manufacturing,” the company looks to help readers define application requirements for metal 3D printing “in a way that easily maps to the capabilities of the various metal AM technology options.”

“As is true for any manufacturing process, each metal AM technology has its own set of capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses which dictate when and where it is useful,” the post reads. “Applications for metal AM have specific requirements. Using a structured framework helps determine whether these requirements can all be met by a particular technology.”

The post continues on to provide application criteria, such as materials and part specifications, that users should consider when choosing the best metal 3D printing method for their product, and details about the criteria. To learn more, check out the Digital Alloys blog post.

3D Printing Primate Skull Replicas

While teaching a biology class about primates, University of North Georgia (UNG) faculty member Dr. Jessica “Jess” Hartel was in need of some specimens, so that her students would be able to compare differences between the various species; unfortunately, the biology department did not have a collection of primate skulls. But rather than ordering expensive replica skulls, Dr. Hartel was directed by Dr. Nancy Dalman, the head of UNG’s biology department, to the UNG MakerBot Innovation Center. Together with Dr. Jon Mehlferber, professor of visual arts at UNG, Dr. Hartel worked out a way to use some of the 32 3D printers in the center to replicate a variety of detailed primate skulls for a lot less money…the most expensive print of the bunch only cost $20.

Dr. Mehlferber explained, “We had to get permission from the Smithsonian Institution to use their digital scans to create the skulls, and then we were able to make the primate skulls for Dr. Hartel.”

The MakerBot Innovation Center – the only one located in Georgia – has been on UNG’s Dahlonega campus for four semesters now, thanks to a Presidential Incentive Award allocated by UNG’s President Bonita Jacobs. The award was granted after Dr. Mehlferber, Technology Integration Assistant Director Enes Aganovic, former UNG physical therapy faculty members, and UNG graduate students received funding for a research project that used 3D printing to create devices for children with disabilities.

3D Printed Cosplay Armor by Melissa Ng

L-R: Melissa Ng cosplaying as Edward Elric and Megan Dellario cosplaying as Winry Rockbell from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

If there’s one thing that my favorite maker Melissa Ng excels at…and that’s silly because there are so many things, but go with me…it’s how to combine 3D printing with cosplay. Self-taught 3D artist, designer, and dreamer Ng sells and showcases her amazing designs on her Lumecluster blog, and while she has previously worn her own designs in public, the recent New York Comic Con (NYCC) was her first foray into interpreting a character from an existing fandom – specifically Edward Elric from the popular anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Not only was Ng nervous about cosplaying for the first time, but the decision was also last minute, as she decided to create and 3D print a fully articulated interpretation of Elric’s automail arm in just five days, with an already full schedule.

“A sensible person would have probably skipped the cosplay…but I don’t like backing out once I’ve decided to do something,” Ng wrote on Lumecluster. “I’m stubborn like that. So, suffer I did! For art!”

“Needless to say, it was truly an experience that challenged all my expectations.”

Luckily, Ng had help from her friend Megan Dellario and sister Fiona Ng, and got to work, drawing inspiration for the automail arm from a different armor styles. She modeled the arm in Blender, 3D printed the parts out of flexible materials on her Form 2 and TAZ 6 3D printers, spent a lot of time finishing the plates, and then riveted them all together. Needless to say, Ng’s cosplay went over famously at NYCC. You can learn more about her experience in the video below:

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3D Printing News Briefs: November 7, 2018

We’re starting with more formnext announcements on today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, then moving on to classes and workshops. Verashape is launching a new 3D printer at next week’s event in Frankfurt, while Cubicure will be presenting its new CSS software solution for 3D printing. In the meantime, SelfCAD is releasing an updated version of its software. Finally, the EU-funded METALS project has published an online 3D printing course, and the people behind a new program for 3D printed construction technology in India are organizing a workshop on construction 3D printing.

VSHAPER 500 Med Launching at formnext

Just like Polish 3D printer manufacturer Verashape introduced its 5-Axis VSHAPER 3D printer at last year’s formnext, the company is taking advantage of the 2018 event in Frankfurt, estimated to gather a record number of participants in its largest space yet, to launch its newest 3D printer – the VSHAPER 500 MED, which was developed to meet the growing demands for spatial printouts used in the medical field. The VSHAPER 500 MED, which includes a vacuum table, a closed chamber with UV light, and silver-based antibacterial coatings, is perfect for creating precise, high quality 3D printed medical models. The 3D printer also has a 420 x 420 x 400 mm workspace, along with an extruder with two V-JET heads.

“3D Printing technology is becoming an increasingly valuable tool in medical diseases treatment, fighting disabilities and increasing the effectiveness of complicated surgeries,” said Marcin Szymański, the company’s VSHAPER Product Manager. “The technology is already used to aid the creation of dental crowns, bone parts, blood vessels and hip-joints prosthetics.”

To see the new VSHAPER 500 MED 3D printer for yourself, visit Verashape at formnext from November 13-16 at Stand 3.1-G88.

Cubicure Presenting CSS Software Solution at formnext

Cubicure, a spin-off company of TU Wien, will be presenting its new, platform-independent software solution for additive manufacturing data preparation at formnext. The software, called CSS for Cubicure Support & Slice, can generate complex support geometries, as well as edit STL files. The comprehensive tool allows users to generate, edit and repair 3D models, in addition to easily exporting layer information for the 3D printing process. Developed with graphic software provider DeskArtes and based on 3Data Expert, CSS is applicable for DLP and SLA (stereolithography), and Cubicure’s own Hot Lithography technology, and also comes with an intuitive import function of several surface models, a user-friendly GUI, and data conversion tools.

Dr. Robert Gmeiner, the CEO of Cubicure GmbH, said, “With this software solution Cubicure offers another important product for the additive manufacturing value chain.”

You can visit Cubicure Booth G59 in Hall 3.1 at formnext.

SelfCAD Releasing Updated Software

Browser-based 3D design platform SelfCAD, founded in 2015, combines 3D modeling, slicing, and several other tools and functions in one easy program. Now, SelfCAD has launched an updated version of its software, which was developed based on users’ expectations of powerful but easy to use 3D modeling software. Version 2.0 of the modeling software includes more capabilities, like a 3D sketching toolset to increase the user’s level of freedom, and simplified design, including an intuitive user interface with a less confusing toolbar that makes it easy to use, even for beginners.

Additional features include new selection modes, a simple objects view with both light and dark modes, a measurement option for easier design of accurate models, new sketching brushes, and new shapes. What’s not new is that SelfCAD, with a price of $14.99 a month or $139.99 a year after a 10-day free trial.

METALS Project Publishes Online 3D Printing Course

The three-year MachinE Tool Alliance for Skills (METALS) project, funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ program and coordinated by CECIMO, ended last week, but not before releasing a free, online course about the fundamentals of AM. The project was characterized by a comprehensive partnership across Germany, Italy, and Spain, with a goal of increasing the competitiveness of Europe’s machine tool industry by providing the necessary skills to benefit from new disruptive technologies, such as 3D printing. The e-learning course, which is available in English, German, Italian and Spanish, intends to support the development of the AM workforce, and includes 27 learning units divided along three main areas: knowledge of AM, work-process, and entrepreneurship.

“Training and education are important elements for the industrialisation of additive technologies in Europe, which is the objective of CECIMO,” said Filip Geerts, CECIMO’s Director General. “With METALS, learners will be able to access relevant online knowledge at no cost and start building their competences to interact with AM. Coupled with on-hands training, which remains essential, initiatives like METALS are useful to increase the overall awareness of what AM concretely is and entails.”

National Workshop in India on 3D Printing Construction

Indian 3D printing startup Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, based out of Bangalore and Chennai, is a design and manufacturing organization that specializes in industrial 3D printing. The startup, founded by a group of alumni from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, developed India’s first 3D printed concrete structure in collaboration with the IIT Madras Civil Department. Now, Tvasta and IIT Madras are organizing a national workshop, to be held in Chennai on November 16, all about 3D printing in construction.

The objective of the conference is to present how construction 3D printing has the potential to majorly boost the country’s affordable housing sector. Many reputable speakers from around the world, including academic and industry experts, have been invited to speak about developments in automation, specialized concrete mixes, structural design, and other topics during the workshop. The conference will be held in the IC & SR Auditorium at IIT Madras.

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3YOURMIND Demonstrating Updated Version of Additive Manufacturing Part Identifier System at formnext

Last spring, EOS and 3YOURMIND worked together to develop the Additive Manufacturing Part Identifier (AMPI), a system that will scan a company’s existing parts inventory, and then identify which ones are suitable for 3D printing. This helps the company determine which parts could potentially be replaced by 3D printed versions, which in turn increases adoption of the technology. Identifying the components and parts that could be 3D printed is still a big challenge, which is why systems like AMPI are so helpful.

formnext 2018 will begin in just a few weeks in Frankfurt, and Berlin-based 3YOURMIND, which provides software for additive manufacturing workflows, will be there to present a totally revised version of AMPI.

“Working closely with customers, we added two new ways to find AM suitable parts: first, it’s now possible for any employee to suggest items for AM by feeding them directly into AMPI,” said 3YOURMIND’s CEO Stephan Kühr. “Second, by enabling newly arriving print orders to be screened prior to being placed, companies can ensure the items are a definite fit for AM before moving into production. AMPI, alongside our other platforms, enables companies to fully exploit the advantages of additive manufacturing and ensures a significantly more efficient production workflow.”

AMPI makes it possible for organizations to find 3D printing use cases in their existing inventory, which in turn helps save on time and money. The software will automatically check large part databases in order to detect which parts would be good for 3D printing, in addition to determining if it’s better for any given part to switch from traditional to additive manufacturing to fabricate it. AMPI’s analysis, based on metadata of components like material section, production requirements, CAD specs, and quality, utilizes both economic and technical aspects to figure out if a part is right for 3D printing.

One of the latest features in the updated AMPI is Use Case Screening, which allows nearly every employee in a given company, whether they work in production, procurement, or design, to use a clearly structure, digitized process to check specific parts and components for what 3YOURMIND refers to as “their economic and technical AM-feasibility.”

“The value the new Use Case Screening directly affects employee’s workflow,” explained Dominik Lindenberger, AM Part Identifier Product Manager at 3YOURMIND. “Designers, for example, can run new parts through our screening process and check whether they are potential AM parts before they even open a CAD program. They can then create an AM optimized design, avoiding costly redesigning of parts. And this is just one example of how departments can benefit from Use Case Screening. With the new version of the AM Part Identifier, we’ve stripped back the preparatory work and the expertise needed during the whole process of part identification for AM to make it even faster and even to be usable by average employees.”

The revised AMPI platform allows users to directly access the world of 3D printing by performing Use Case Screenings on possible 3D assemblies and parts with the touch of a button. AMPI can transfer relevant 3D models into 3YOURMIND’s other tools to enter an end-to-end AM workflow…making AM adoption automated and seamless.

Moving past AMPI, 3YOURMIND’s complete suite of software tools makes it easy to optimize components, material selection and price calculation, along with facilitating print job placement in the production workflow, automated printability analysis, and comprehensive data analysis for optimizing 3D printing. All of these tools have been integrated into the newest version of the company’s Enterprise platform for industrial 3D printing.

Visitors to formnext, which takes place at the Messe Frankfurt from November 13-16, can see live AMPI demonstrations at 3YOURMIND’s booth G70 in Hall 3.1

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