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FACTORY OF THE FUTURE SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC AND STRATASYS BRING THAT VISION CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

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ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

VOLUME 24 ISSUE 6

ISSN 1751-0333

EDITORIAL HEAD OF CONTENT

James Woodcock james@rapidnews.com GROUP EDITOR

Daniel O’Connor daniel.oconnor@rapidnews.com DEPUTY GROUP EDITOR

Laura Griffiths laura.griffiths@rapidnews.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Samuel Davies samuel.davies@rapidnews.com NEWSDESK

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Non-Disclosure Argument “We’re doing something absolutely fantastic for a very high-profile client… … but we’ve signed an NDA and can’t tell you about it.”

ny technology editor will tell you this is a fairly common annoyance but to an industry that is very much trying to prove its worth in the world of manufacturing, as additive is, it can be strangling. Case studies are the oxygen that sparks the flicker for the implementation of 3D printing into workflows in businesses across the globe. NDAs are a frustration for machine manufacturers too, they desperately want to share how their customers are using the technology in order to sell more machines. At IMTS 2016 one OEM president told me the following anecdote: “We’ve got two neighbouring businesses using our 3D printers to create moulds, I went to visit them and when the first showed me how they were using the technology I asked if we could use it as a case study. They responded, ‘Heck no! I don’t want the guy up the road copying me.’ So off I went to see that second guy, lo and behold he’s using the exact same process so I asked him the same question, ‘Hell no, I don’t want the guy down the road knowing what I’m up to!’” It brings to mind the curious case of Dennis the Menace – the comic strip character that first appeared on 12 March 1951. If you’re reading that fact in the UK the Beano character with the mess of black hair will spring to mind, outside the UK and you’ll be thinking of the US comic of a blonde haired boy that was turned into a 90s movie starring Walter Matthau. The two comic creations appeared on exactly the same day, there was no collaboration and equally there was no plagiarism. There was no way either creator knew what the other was up to, there was no lawsuit, each just agreed to allow the other to prosper in their prospective territories.

Protecting ones IP is essential for product innovation, we understand that, but more often than not the application is simply common sense. Your competitor is probably already doing it or if not you’ll be so far ahead with that process that they cannot catch you. Despite those NDAs there are plenty of case studies to be had in this issue of TCT Magazine from our cover star – a €26 billion company using the technology to make incredible cost and time savings (page 8) – to Ultimaker using their own machine to ensure that the new printer made it to market on schedule (page 61). The next time you’ve got something you’re in two minds about sharing, share it with us, our contact details are on page three, we don’t bite. You may notice a subtle change to the TCT branding on the front of this issue. With an ever-growing range of products including an expanding conference portfolio and alternative language magazines, TCT is consistently lowering the barriers to information to truly accelerate 3D technologies. To do this the branding requires consistency, you can find out about all our products over at www.thetctgroup.com Druck on

Daniel O’Connor Group Editor

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10/10/2016 09:52:20 24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com 05

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

FROM THE EDITOR

COVER STORY

FACTORY OF THE FUTURE

Schneider Electric and Stratasys team up for incredible savings in cost and time across the €26 billion company’s manufacturing line, which includes over 400 products.

NEWS

A roundup of all the latest news from the last month, for more on each story visit www.tctmagazine.com

DENTAL FOCUS

Deputy Group Editor, Laura Griffiths, takes an in-depth look at some of the most fascinating developments in the world of 3D printing dentistry.

BREAKING NEWS

Editorial Assistant and the newest member of team TCT gets his teeth into one of the most complicated stories in the history of additive manufacturing. In the deep end!

TCT SHOW REVIEW

TCT SHOW 2016 REVIEW

The show closed its doors in September for the 21st time, get all the facts and figures of another stellar show.

START UP AWARDS

The 2016 edition of TCT Show marked the launch of the TCT awards in which companies pitched their ideas to our judges. Laura gets the scoop on the winning pitch.

WASP AT TCT

We interview one of the most intriguing companies on the TCT Show floor to see how they intend to make BIG 3D printing a thing.

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

CONTENTS

TCT | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 6

ADMATEC AT TCT

POLYMIDE 11: THE HIGH PERFORMANCE MATERIAL OF CHOICE FOR PRODUCTION PARTS IN LASER SINTERING

Launching a new machine at a trade show is fairly common but launching an entirely new technology capable of 3D printing in ceramic is another thing entirely.

UK NATIONAL AM STRATEGY

It’s the material that has changed the game in terms of functionality and durability of laser sintered parts. Arnaud Lemaitre discusses its beneficial properties.

Prof. Phill Dickens talk at TCT Show launched the UK National AM Strategy to the public consciousness and here, Phil and his fellow steering group give us the executive summary of the findings so far.

RISE OF THE ROBOTS

Group Editor, Dan O’Connor goes to IMTS 2016 to discover how robotics could change the way we manufacture forever.

STAYING POWER

Dan gets to grips with the biggest desktop 3D printer launch at formnext, the Ultimaker 3.

formnext

61 23

sponsored by Stratasys

CES PREVIEW

Yes somehow this is already the last issue of the year and that means we have CES in Las Vegas approaching fast. Take a look at our incredible line up of speakers for the 3D Printing Conference at CES 2017.

THE BIG INTERVIEW: VYOMESH JOSHI, CEO OF 3D SYSTEMS

FORMNEXT POWERED BY TCT SHOW FLOOR PREVIEW

The second edition of our German show is upon us and there is exhibitor news galore in this round up.

Dan sat down with 3D Systems’ new man in charge, VJ at IMTS to see the new direction he intends to take the company in.

FORMNEXT POWERED BY TCT CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Head of Content, Jim Woodcock, gives us the lowdown on what to expect from an exceptional line up of speakers at the formnext conference.

ip and finance

Chris Connery of CONTEXT Market Research gave such an engrossing talk at TCT Show that we’ve asked him to jot those numbers down for TCT.

SHOULD IP OWNERS BE AFRAID OF 3D PRINTING?

European Patent Attorney, Thomas Prock, discusses how companies should navigate the tricky waters of intellectual property in this world of open sharing and 3D printing.

REGULARS

05 13 82

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GUEST COLUMN TODD GRIMM COLUMN

24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com

COVER STORY

The Factory of the Future is

Here and Now WOR D S : DA N I E L O ’C O N N O R

Diamond Sponsor Panel at the Additive Manufacturing User Group back in May the gathered experts almost unanimously agreed that while there was still room for 3D printing to grow in the prototyping sector and that we are pushing towards printing end-use products, there was one application that was “low-hanging fruit” - the 3D printing of jigs and fixtures. The panel surmised that the technologies were perfectly ripe in their life-cycle to make an immediate impact for companies large and small. Using Stratasys technologies one €26.6 billion company has already plucked that lowhanging fruit enabling it to launch 400 new products this year alone with an approximate cost and time saving of 90 percent. Working in over 100 countries Schneider Electric is one of those companies that although not an immediately recognisable brand is essential to the way we live our lives. When it comes to energy Schneider is anonymously ubiquitous. From simple dimmer switches in your living room to uninterruptable power systems for hospital. It’s scope is extensive and takes pride in being first to market across its entire range of solutions. In order to maintain a standing of market leader, Schneider devotes 5 percent of sales to research and development. As such the R&D teams in Schneider look towards future proofing its manufacturing technologies, which, of course, means the company has invested a substantial amount in 3D printing. Stratasys Marketing Manager North & East EME, Simon Brandon tells TCT that Schneider is not your average multi-national. “You tend to find smaller companies innovating a lot,” says Brandon. “They get a 3D printer and because they’re small they’re flexible, everyone has access to it and all of a sudden it is touching all areas of the business. uring the



ABOVE: Schneider Electric leverages a range of Stratasys 3D printers for various prototyping and manufacturing applications to improve production efficiencies and gain cost and time improvements.

What is really good to see is a big company like Schneider Electric, who initially had a machine for prototyping, progressing to make jigs, fixtures and moulds with 3D printing.

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

ABOVE: 3D printed injection mould with resulting part, produced on a Stratasys Objet Connex 3D Printer. Using 3D printing, Schneider Electric is witnessing cost and time efficiencies of up to 90 percent.

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

LEFT: A 3D printed jig,

produced using a Stratasys Objet Connex 3D Printer, enables quick functional tests and required design iterations on the production line.

What is really good to see is a big company like Schneider Electric, who initially had a machine for prototyping, progressing to make jigs, fixtures and moulds with 3D printing.” THE MONEY’S IN THE MOULD At its Openlab model shop facility in Grenoble, France, Schneider is using a combination of Stratasys PolyJet and FDM solutions for product development, prototypes and industrialisation. At Openlab a team design and 3D print for multiple applications including assemblyline tooling, product prototypes and injection moulding. The cost saving in injection moulding has been dramatic. “We decided to make injection moulds with a 3D printer and for that we used a (Stratasys Objet) Connex machine,” according to Materials Expert at Schneider Electric, Jean-Marie Maldjian. “The cost of the (3D printed) cavity is some hundred Euros and an equivalent aluminium tool costs thousands of Euros. (With 3D printing) We can achieve the complete process within one week whereas for an aluminium tool it can take one or two months.” “That’s roughly a 90 percent saving again,” adds Sylvain Gire, Vice President GSC Transformation-Industrialization at Schneider Electric. “Which would be unfathomable with any other technology.” Like many companies Schneider Electric first bought a 3D printer to speed up the prototyping process of final parts but it has found the technology and materials are also capable of producing heavyweight prototypes for fixtures on assembly-line tooling.

When you’re creating a new product at the rate of more than one per day your assembly-line needs to be adaptable to whatever is thrown at it and the old way of validating fixtures using CNC prototypes would have taken at least three weeks per iteration. Using both Connex and Fortus technology to create jigs that exactly mimic the functionality of the final part in order to validate the ergonomics, the mechanical design and engineering department can now produce iterations in less than a week. WHY STOP THERE? “This technology has changed the way we work and changes the way we think about doing things in the future,” says Yann Sittarame, Mechanical Design Manager. “Looking ahead, we plan to 3D print the final tools, which is perfectly achievable given the accuracy and durability of our 3D printing process.” Although Schneider Electric is able to act with the agility of a small company when it comes to adopting new technology, its innovation comes from the philosophy of a company dedicated to remaining a Fortune 500 company in the long term. Schneider has a clearly defined strategy for creating the “factory of the future” and 3D printing is at the very heart. By harnessing the power of 3D printing firstly to improve prototyping and secondly, to implement Stratasys’s technology into moulding and tooling, Schneider has saved incalculable amounts of time and money. The next foreseeable step is to begin using 3D printing in the manufacture of low-volume products and it is particularly interested in the potential benefits the

technology offers towards the production of spare parts. “3D printing has speeded up Schneider’s whole product development cycle,” Stratasys’s Simon Brandon says. “It is a nice example showcasing where the industry has been with rapid prototyping, where it is now with the printing of jigs and fixtures and, with the ‘factory of the future’ vision, where it is heading.” The printing of spare parts and lowvolume parts is perfectly possibly with the current generation of 3D printing but Stratasys is keen to show blue-chip companies like Schneider Electric how it can work with them to adapt technology to its specific needs. At IMTS 2016 in Chicago the public got to see the two 3D Demonstrators (covered in-depth by Deputy Group Editor, Laura Griffiths in the previous issue of TCT) for the first time. Both the Infinite Build 3D Demonstrator and the Robotic-Composite 3D Demonstrator were in full flight with intrigued onlookers imagining how such a radically different 3D printing technology could be implemented into their workflow. “You’re no longer just limited to some 3D printers, the 3D Demonstrators are a real step-change,” explains Brandon. “Stratasys is increasingly seeing companies, such as Schneider Electric, who approach us with suggestions of where 3D printing could fit into their business. Often the vision these companies have allows them to integrate Stratasys technology into their business model to a much greater extent than originally assumed. These customers often say ‘if this is possible with 3D printing, what else could we do with the technology?’” 

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DESIGN THE DIFFERENCE

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NEWS ROUNDUP ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

MARKFORGED LAUNCHES MARK X  Markforged has announced the launch of a new, more powerful carbon fibre composite 3D printer, the Mark X, boasting a larger print volume and in-process laser inspection. The Mark X features a build volume of 330mm (X), 250mm (Y), 200mm (Z) whilst the new in-process inspection is led by a laser sensor on the print head, which is used to measure tolerances and dimensional accuracy, giving engineers and designers the ability to close the loop on production, all controlled by the Markforged Eiger software. 

SAP, UPS LAUNCH EARLY ADOPTER 3D PRINTING PROGRAM WITH HP, AIRBUS AP WORKS AND STRATASYS

SAP SE has launched the next phase in its initiative to transform industrial 3D printing into a seamless distributed manufacturing process by opening up the program to a growing list of co-innovation customers. SAP and UPS have expanded the early testing and validation phase of the program to a select number of partners including Airbus APWorks, Fast Radius, HP Inc., Krones, Linear AMS, Moog Inc., Sealed Air Corporation and Stratasys. SAP and UPS previously announced a distributed manufacturing collaboration to connect the manufacturing floor to the customer door. The collaboration integrates SAP solutions for the extended supply chain and Internet of Things with the UPS additive manufacturing and logistics network.

NEWS OPTOMEC LAUNCHES NEW TOOL SERIES FOR AFFORDABLE HIGH-VALUE METAL 3D PRINTING 

Optomec has launched a new tool series for low-cost high-value metal 3D printing. The LENS Machine Tool series combines high-quality CNC platforms from Fryer Machine Systems with LENS Print Engine technology, resulting in the industry’s first Hybrid VMC Controlled-Atmosphere System. It features three standard configurations; the LENS 3D Metal Additive System for high-value, open atmosphere processing, the LENS 3D Metal Hybrid VMC System, which combines additive and subtractive operations on the same machine at a low cost, and the LENS 3D Metal Hybrid VMC Inert System which provides an atmosphere-controlled environment to extend hybrid manufacturing capabilities for reactive metals and aluminium.

AUTODESK UNVEILS COMPLETE MANUFACTURING SOFTWARE PORTFOLIO 

Autodesk has launched a portfolio of additive and subtractive manufacturing software bringing together industry-leading products historically offered from Autodesk, Delcam, Netfabb, Pan Computing and Magestic Systems, in one complete set of hybrid manufacturing solutions. The new portfolio includes; HSMWorks, Inventor HSM, Fusion 360, FeatureCAM, PowerMill, PartMaker now included in FeatureCAM,, PowerShape, PowerInspect and Netfabb. The collection spans computer aided manufacturing (CAM), additive manufacturing, composites, robotics fabrication, factory layout, inspection and modelling.

FOR THESE STORIES IN FULL CLICK TO WWW.TCTMAGAZINE.COM

CARBON SECURES $81M INVESTMENT 

Silicon Valley 3D printing startup, Carbon has secured huge $81 million in investment from GE Ventures, BMW, Nikon and JSR to support its expansion into European and Asian markets. Carbon showcased its CLIP (Continuous Liquid Interface Production) M1 3D printing technology to the European market for the first time at TCT Show in September along with a lineup of five engineering grade materials, promising rapid delivery of prints that meet the fit, form, and function of end-use parts. This latest investment round brings Carbon’s funding total to $222 million with details of additional strategic investors involved in this round of financing to be announced in 2017. 

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011

Dental Focus: Guest Column ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

At AMUG 2016 Deputy Group Editor, Laura Griffiths saw a talk by Perry E. Jones, DDS, MAGD on dentistry that she was so enamoured with she asked him to write a column.

3D PRINTING IN EVERYDAY DENTAL PRACTICE W O R D S : P E R R Y. E . J o n e s

A The milling times are now reduced such that we are able to produce a crown in an hour, from prep start to design to mill to final delivery.

DVANCES IN DENTAL technology continue to improve patient comfort, shorten treatment times, and improve the efficiency and accuracy of the restorative process. The messy, unpleasant experience associated with taking impressions is no longer a given. Today, intraoral scanners can take a full spectrum of digital impressions ranging from single unit cases, to multiunit restoration to full arch scans to implants. In 2005, after searching for a solution to eliminate the “goo” and mess of impression taking, I was the first dentist to fully integrate iTero digital scanning into everyday dental practice. The “digital” impressions captured by intraoral scanners have been used for years to create the models used by dental labs but producing models to support traditional laboratory processes does not fully leverage the possibilities of digital dental impressions. Creating restorations completely without physical models was a next logical step. The principle was simple enough, but producing the full range of restorations without a physical model, required a dental laboratory partner adept at spatial data processing, CAD/CAM additive manufacturing (AM) and design verification. Advances with in-house milling technology now allow intraoral digital scan data to be sent directly to my CAD software, and design a crown in minutes. The digital data in STL format is then sent to a milling unit capable of milling lithium silicate, lithium di-silicate and even pre-sintered zirconia. The milling times are now reduced such that we are able to produce a crown in an hour, from prep start to design to mill to final delivery. AM is a key component of the digital restorative process. It provides a bridge between the physical and the digital representation of patient data. Once the digital impression has been taken, it can be used anywhere in the restorative process in a variety of applications, such as production of surgical guides, investment patterns, try-in prostheses, temporary/provisional prostheses, denture molds, and laboratory working models. 3D printed models have many applications in dentistry particularly in the world of thermoplastic appliances made via vacuum forming or direct press down of heated thermoformed materials such as bleaching trays, retainers, athletic

mouth guards, orthodontic appliances and so on. These appliances were made in the past on gypsum models that were very fragile, only single use and inaccurate. We have left the ”Stone Ages” of gypsum for highly accurate, virtually unbreakable, multiple-use, 3D printed models. Some four years ago I began using a Stratasys Objet 30 printer in my office for everyday modelling using MED 690 polymer and MED 610, an FDA approved material to manufacture surgical guides. The world of surgical guides has undergone tremendous advances. Our surgical guide workflow is as follows: We take a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) using Mobile Imaging Solutions, a service I developed that provides onsite imaging using the latest lowest radiation dose mobile system to produce the DICOM data that will be file merged with highly accurate STL files from an iTero Element intraoral scan. That data is merged using 3shape Implant Studio 2016 software. This creates a virtual planning platform to design the location of the implant restorations as well as precise location of the implant in bone. Further, we can design the immediate screw retained premade provisional restoration that will be placed at the time of implant placement with the surgical guide. AM is used to produce the highly accurate surgical guide in a 100% digital workflow. AM extends into everyday dentistry with orthodontics where mass customisation allows products such as Invisalign to manufacture aligners. We are now able to replicate the process in our office. Tooth movement can be easily performed virtually using in-house software to segment a series of stages, STL files are used to 3D print a physical model of each stage and on this physical model a thermoplastic appliance is created. These sequential clear plastic aligners are then used to create precise tooth movements. The future is bright for AM in everyday dentistry. The efficiencies and improved dental care afforded by technological advancements can only continue to improve the speed and quality of dental treatment. 3D printing enabled by intraoral digital scanning is the next paradigm shift, offering dentists, the opportunity to move beyond traditional methods into a new world of digital dentistry. 

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15.-18.11.2016 Hall 3.1, Booth E30 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

www.arburg.com

DENTAL FOCUS

Teeth

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

3D Printing Cuts its

It’s an accepted notion that nobody enjoys going to the dentist, even when you leave with that fresh, just cleaned, Colgate smile, it’s overshadowed by the perception of the dreaded dentist chair and all of the scary, shiny tools that come with it. While there may be no magic solution to cure a fear of the dentist, dental professionals are changing things up to take the pain out of other parts of the practice with the adoption of technologies that improve the experience for doctor and patient.

WOR D S : L A U R A G R IFFITH S

common appliance like a retainer, for years dentists have been using the tried and tested method of pressing a green paste onto a patient’s teeth which is then left to set for an uncomfortable amount of time to create an accurate mould that can be used to manufacture a patient-specific retainer. For anyone who has experienced the joy of braces, you will know this is not a tidy process, it’s unpleasant and messy but remains the most common way to create a dental impression. The good news is that intraoral scanning and 3D printed moulds are taking the “goo” (as Dr. Perry E. Jones describes in his column on page 13) out of the process and replacing it with a clean digital method that implements both 3D scanning and 3D printing. As is the case with any new process in a traditional sector, adoption hasn’t happened over night but as accessibility and materials continue to improve, the uptake is ascending rapidly. Currently 3D printers are more commonly found in larger dental labs rather than day-to-day dental practices but for a growing number of smaller businesses, particularly across the U.S., digital workflows are providing a competitive edge and a certain wow factor – for dentists, the buzz around 3D printing is definitely a positive, almost trendy coup that is attracting more patients to their businesses. The introduction of compact and affordable machines means that “mom and pop” style labs are able to bring advanced technologies in house that offer their patients faster and more efficient services allowing dentists to make their own appliance on site, such as patient-specific surgical guides or retainers. “My vision for 3D printing within dentistry is to make our every day tasks simpler, potentially faster and equally more and more accurate so temporaries, surgical guides, bite guards, potentially even being able to print aligners for moving teeth,” Dr. Michael Scherer (DMD, MS, FACP), a practicing prosthodontics and dental implant surgeon in California told TCT. “If you were to ask me two or three years ago who was leading the dental market I would tell you o manufacture a



ABOVE: EnvisionTec E-Guard

My vision for 3D printing within dentistry is to make our every day tasks simpler, potentially faster and equally more and more accurate Dr. Michael Scherer

it’s the dental laboratories but that’s shifted. 3D printing is important in my every day workflow, I can’t do what I do now without my printer, it’s almost become dependent on everything but what I didn’t realise at the time was that my patients and potential patients love the fact that I use 3D printing. They say “wow this dentist is really with it” who really wants to go to their dentist that still looks like their office is out of medieval times?”. Though we’re just starting to hear more about 3D printing being used in daily dentistry, 3D technologies are no novelty to the dental lab. For years dental professionals have been using intraoral 3D scanners, a wand-like optical imaging tool that goes into a patient’s mouth to collect accurate oral data. Adoption of these devices is now growing so quickly that a recent study by 3Shape revealed that 39% of all practices are considering buying a digital impression system within the next three years. On the fabrication side, 3D printing isn’t the only digital method of manufacture that dentists have at their disposal. Milling techniques have been in use for the last three decades whereby appliances such as crowns are cut away from a block of porcelain but like many 3D printers, these machines have been typically very expensive to purchase, pricing out smaller dental labs and practices. In the case of 3D printing, Formlabs’ dental expert,

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015

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DENTAL FOCUS ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

Gideon Balloch says adoption is currently much higher in dental labs than in dental practices due to the substantial investment a high-quality machine requires but with machine prices lowering, that investment is becoming a no-brainer. “There is actually a lot of adoption of 3D technologies by dental labs whether that’s by CNC milling, dental treatment software or 3D printing,” Gideon commented. “So it is having a day to day impact, some clinics might not know that 3D technology was used to make their stuff but now what we’re seeing is the software itself is getting less expensive, companies like Formlabs are dropping the price of equipment whilst increasing quality to the point where not only is there adoption in dental labs but we’re actually starting to see adoption in dental clinics which is really exciting.” Take for example Dr. Scherer, after outsourcing all of his printing requirements to larger dental labs when starting out, he decided he wanted to bring it in house and set out to find a technology that would fit into his office without breaking the bank. He came across a Kickstarter campaign for the then little known startup Formlabs and its Form 1 3D printer, a compact desktop stereolithography system that would offer high level resolution for a fraction of the cost of comparative machines. It was a total experiment but one that has paid off both in Dr. Scherer’s practice and in the wider industry as this unexpected interest from early dental adopters caused Formlabs to take a closer look at this niche user base. “Before January this year we hadn’t really taken a look at the dental industry, we hadn’t put a single tooth on the website and yet somehow we had

ABOVE: Formlab’s dental surgical guide in

surgery

LEFT: Formlabs Dental SG

hundreds of dental professionals buying Form 1s and doing some really amazing things.” Gideon commented. “Since we’ve launched it’s grown significantly and that’s super exciting but I think we can be more than that over the next 12 months.”

MATERIAL DEVELOPMENTS 3D printing has numerous applications in the dental space both directly and indirectly and one of the biggest benefits is in surgical planning. Dr. Scherer has been using 3D printing to create surgical guides, something he has been teaching to students at the University of Nevada School of Dental Medicine and in a series of workshops for dental professionals looking to take the digital plunge. Earlier this year Formlabs released its first resin developed solely for 3D printing surgical guides. Developed with materials manufacturer Vertex Dental, Dental SG is its first biocompatible resin, a Class 1 material that allows dentists to directly print guides that can be put into the patient’s mouth to improve outcomes and make implant surgery faster and more precise. “Dental SG for us is a couple of different things,” Gideon added. “It’s not just about

the dental industry it’s more of a message that we’re going into the dental industry and it’s our first product that specialises in a specific dental application.” This year EnvisionTEC also expanded its dental material selection with two new products, E-Guard for bite guards and E-Gum for flexible gingiva masks that are integrated into 3D models. E-Guard, a material used to produce night guards has just received FDA classification as a Class 1 device that can be worn in the mouth for as long as needed and is currently shipping in Europe. The material prints particularly well on EnvisionTEC’s Perfactory Vida DLP 3D printer which allows technicians to print around five appliances on the same build plate in just 30 minutes, saving dentists at least one hour per appliance. With over 15 years of experience in DLP technology, medical represents more than one-third of EnvisionTEC’s business and is its fastest growing category by far. Within that field, dental is number one with dental professionals and orthodontists both fans of its growing materials library and superior precision and surface finish. “The dental industry has been one of the first industries to fully adapt to digital workflows whether that’s scanning or 3D printing and now we’re getting intricate enough and more advanced to where we can directly 3D print these appliances which is a really exciting step forward,” Chris Kabot, Dental Applications Specialist at EnvisionTEC commented. The classification of these materials indicates a growing confidence from federations like the FDA in 3D printed

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017

Somos

Turning up the heat

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DENTAL FOCUS ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES



LEFT: Dr. Michael Scherer delivers his 3D printing in dentistry workshop

IN-HOUSE OR OUTSOURCE?

products but it still remains a challenge to get these materials into day-to-day practice with different organisations across the globe requiring varying standards. However companies like EnvisionTEC are working with them to establish guidelines that can smooth out the process for future materials and appliances. Perhaps unsurprisingly, according to both companies, adoption is actually growing much faster in Europe under CE certification than in the U.S. “The FDA has really just started to understand additive processes and one of the first things we’re trying to do is establish some standards,” Chris added. “I think as we start to get more advanced with the technology and as we go into this next evolution of machines, standards around accuracy and resolution are going to be much more important for us as a 3D printing company and the same goes for the FDA. They care about how long this material is going to hold its shape, are any of the chemicals going to leak out and actually affect the patient?”

Of course additive developments are happening elsewhere in the dental sector away from resin. Metals is the AM industry’s fastest growing sector and dental is playing its part in that growth with companies like EOS, Sisma and Concept Laser targeting the industry with dental specific machines and certified materials. Global engineering firm, Renishaw is one company that has strengthened its emphasis on dental with the recent launch of its new Healthcare Centre of Excellence near Cardiff, UK. In keeping with the mission of its Innovation Centre initiative launched last year, the aim is to provide a place for the manufacture of custom medical devices, including dental applications, along with education and training for the life sciences community. Even for the biggest dental labs, investment in a current metal printing system is much higher than that of any resin based technology on the market and that results in most work being outsourced either before or in place of a machine purchase. Through these centres, Renishaw is providing a familiar environment for professionals to oversee the manufacture of custom devices on its metal AM systems for the likes of LaserAbutments or LaserPFM frameworks, and even practice using the latest technology before implementing it in their own labs. Renishaw provides a complete turnkey system, which comprises a range of scanners such as the blue light DS30 dental scanner and Renishaw Dental Studio software, along

with dental frameworks and metal 3D printing. A recent example shared by



ABOVE: EnvisionTEC Perfactory Vida 3D printer



FAR LEFT: Renishaw DS30 scanning tooth model

Renishaw was of Bristol-based CBC, an award winning restorative laboratory, which has improved efficiency and freed up its staff for more profitable lab work since subcontracting its metal framework manufacture to the company. Though outsourced, these complete additive solutions which incorporate multiple forms of advanced equipment are just another way today’s dentists are able to implement 3D technologies into their daily work. For an active dentist and someone who is passionate about teaching the next wave of dental professionals, Dr. Scherer believes we will see a surge in adoption in the near future and hopes that soon we will be able to directly manufacture fillings, restorations or even final crowns using 3D printing. “Those going through school right now, every single one of them has expressed an interest in this technology,” Dr. Scherer added. “For dentists, any time you do something for the first time it’s going to be difficult but let them get it in their hands and I can assure you it’s going to be astronomical. The excitement level is palpable.” 

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019

BREAKING NEWS

GE has so far spent $1.5 billion on additive technology research and will invest significantly in the Lichtenfels HQ of Concept Laser, which will become a new German centre for the group.

BELOW: Concept Laser Executive Board

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

In almost an exact replica of the last issue, things move rapidly in the world of 3D printing, so we had a stop the presses moment. TCT’s newest recruit, Sam Davies, takes a look at one of the most complicated deals in the history of additive manufacturing.

GE COMPLETES TAKEOVER OF CONCEPT LASER

AS SLM SOLUTIONS DEAL FALLS THROUGH

W O R D S : S A M DAV I E S

E’s proposed $1.4 billion acquisition of both Arcam and SLM Solutions has been talk of the town over the last two months. So confident was everyone the deal would go ahead that SLM Solutions talked openly about it at IMTS 2016 and through its reseller channels at TCT Show. Whilst the deal for Arcam remains in place as agreed, the takeover of SLM has fallen through after General Electric added an extra twist in the tale by agreeing a $599 million deal to buy fellow German metal 3D printing company, Concept Laser. The GE group published a takeover offer for SLM on September 26th 2016 and it seemed to all intents and purposes like a done deal. But at the 11th hour activist investor Elliot Advisors, who have a 20% stake in SLM, rejected the bid making it harder for GE to reach the 75% minimum acceptance threshold. A deal between GE and SLM had been proposed for a complete takeover of the 3D printing manufacturer, but the GE Group did not meet the new terms before the acceptance period expired on October 24th. Instead US conglomerate, GE, decided to place their investment with Lichtenfels-based, Concept Laser, initially purchasing 75% of its shares. The deal was swift and GE purchased a majority stake in Concept Laser, with a view to take complete control in the next few years. GE has so far spent $1.5 billion on additive technology research and will invest significantly in the Lichtenfels HQ of Concept Laser, which will become a new German centre for the group. Co-founder Frank Herzog will stay on as Chief Executive. Meanwhile SLM’s CEO Dr. Markus Rechlin expressed his disappointment in the failed takeover attempt.

He said: “Being part of the GE Group would have given us the opportunity to accelerate on our growth track. GE had made serious and credible commitments to expand our locations and distribution network. “In our view, a successful offer would not only have been in the interest of GE but also in the interest of our company, our employees and our shareholders.” The Management and Supervisory boards had unanimously recommended the offer be accepted. As such, SLM is still looking to pursue its strategy of further developing itself into an integrated system provider in the additive manufacturing area. SLM have already teamed up with Austrian company, CADS GmbH and had already founded a company for the development of specialist software for the design and construction requirements of selective laser melting in February 2016. With 3D Metal Powder GmbH being formed, together with the main shareholder of TLS Spezialpulver in July, their plan is to advance the development of metallic powders and produce 100 tonnes of aluminium powder per year. Uwe Bögershausen, CFO of SLM, believes the company has proved its worth in the industry, though the failed takeover has brought about some ambiguity within the AM market. He said: “We have shown in the past that SLM Solution in its current independent structure is well positioned – especially with the technology we have developed and the strategy we are pursuing. “However, the takeover offer and its course have caused increased uncertainty in the market for additive manufacturing and for our customers and employees.” Despite the uncertainty, SLM are still confident the performance indicators revenue and adjusted EBITDA can still be achieved. 

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TCT REVIEW ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

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REVIEW

some of s we’ll sUM up ge pa w fe xt at we saw at Over the ne and trends th es gi lo enty no ch the te ow. There’s pl ion of TCT Sh it our ed on 16 ly 20 e ar th e particul in nl Co d ha e at more to be nel, subscrib YouTube chan ine az ag tm com/user/tc www.youtube.

“I love TCT, over the last 12 years I’ve been here numerous times and it is always a good opportunity to see where the industry is at in a very targeted way.”

-Jonathan Jaglom, CEO of MakerBot

GLOBAL FOCUS ON TCT SHOW The UK’s annual showcase of 3D technologies for product development, manufacturing and engineering closed its doors in late September to rave reviews from visitors and exhibitors alike. TCT Show, which took place for the 21st time in 2016, featured a plethora of world-class speakers, global technology releases and multiple European and UK debuts for new 3D technologies and their applications. The event once again drew the global 3D tech world’s focus, with 20% of the 7,000+ attendees* arriving from more than 40 countries to see 250 exhibiting companies from 24 countries.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES DRAW THE CROWDS From the minute the doors opened the hall buzzed with activity as visitors flooded in to see for the first time technologies from Carbon, RPS, HP, Admatec, Trumpf and more. The thirst for knowledge ensured that every development was given a hearing. This enthusiasm poured over to the TCT Show Conference, where hundreds of attendees were able to hear about state-of-the art developments in 3D tech from Airbus, Thales, 3M, DARPA, and Siemens. One of the most powerful sessions — both demonstrating the power of the technologies on display at TCT Show and the power of the show itself — came from Sutrue and the Royal Brompton Hospital. In 2015 the team behind Sutrue presented their concept on the Main Stage and explored the exhibition where they discovered the technology that would push their lifesaving project to the next level. By the 2016 event, the team were about to conduct the first heart surgery using the devices that 3D printing had helped them develop. ››

“TCT has always been a major player by combining a high diversity of professionals and earlyadopters in one place.”

- Michael Sorkin, European General Manager at Formlabs “For Laser Lines the TCT Show is the biggest show of the year, this year saw our biggest investment and we have been totally run off our feet from the moment the doors opened. We’ve been here before, we’ll be here again next year.”

- Mark Tyrtania, Sales Director, Laser Lines “We come back to TCT year on year because it is THE industry event in the UK, but it is more than that. It is a showcase to where the industry is heading.”

- Simon Brandon, Marketing Manager North & East EMEA, Stratasys “People that visit TCT are really innovative and are definitely looking at investing in the 3D printing industry.”

Karsten Edelmann, Regional Sales Manager, Concept Laser

24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com

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TCT REVIEW ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

THE RETURN OF THE TCT START UP ZONE AND INSPEX Returning for the second year, the TCT Start Up Zone gave international 3D technology start ups a platform to present to the global stage. Each of the 16 companies were able to give their ‘elevator pitch’ to a packed auditorium — including the judges for the TCT Start Up Zone Award. The eventual winners, Laykanics, pitched an educational initiative with desktop 3D printing at its heart. Advertising in the TCT portfolio and consulting from leading AM expert, Todd Grimm, accompanied their cash prize. The increasing focus on the inspection and metrology needs of the advanced manufacturing industries were reflected on the show floor and Tech Stage with the relaunch of the Inspex brand at TCT Show. Leading inspection companies such as Olympus, Nikon, FARO, Autodesk and EuroPac exhibited under the Inspex banner, with plans to enhance this feature further in 2017.

POSITIONED FOR GROWTH

During the event organisers Rapid News announced that from 2017 the show floor would be an impressive 30% larger and the event would span three days from 2017 onwards

During the event organisers Rapid News announced that from 2017 the show floor would be an impressive 30% larger and the event would span three days from 2017 onwards. This increased capacity will allow the popular Inspired Minds education programme to return, provide space for a larger Start Up Zone and bring for the first time three free-toattend conference stages to the show floor. With the increasing influence of the 3D tech industry, the organisers also announced the TCT Annual Awards, which will be the global black-tie event that recognises the important contributions of this innovative community on the lives and businesses of the wider community. Duncan Wood, COO Rapid News Publications, owner of the TCT Group, said: “The overwhelming feeling from the floor is one of increased quality as the hype around 3D printing fades resulting in increasing numbers of buyers on the show floor. Many exhibitors are reporting that they did business directly on their stands, and this coupled with our exciting announcements for 2017 ensures TCT is set to remain as the hub of our global event operations and extremely important to everything we do internationally.” 

TCT Show 2017 takes place 26–28 September 2017, Hall 3, NEC, Birmingham, UK For more information visit www.tctshow.com *full audit pending

24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com

025

TCT SHOW



BELOW: Carbon makes European debut of CLIP 3D printing technology at TCT Show.



BELOW: Packed out main stage conference for Mr. Richard Trimlett, Consultant Adult Cardiac Surgeon at Royal Brompton Hospital and Alex Berry, Founder, Sutrue .

ABOVE:

HP brings it Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution to the UK for the first time at TCT Show.



RIGHT: Stratasys brought along the world’s largest complex 3D printed drone.

026

24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com



BELOW: TCT Start Up Zone.

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

LEFT:



BELOW: Robot Bike Co’s bespoke bike frame made with Rensiahw metal 3D printing.

Graham Tromans presents An Introduction to Additive Manufacturing to a full house on the Tech Stage.



LEFT: 3D printed motorcycle on the Zortax stand.



RIGHT: Student Rebecca Wilkes’ 3D printed jewellery project using selective laser sintering on Digits2Widgets’ stand.



BELOW: TCT stalwart Todd Grimm gives his main stage keynote presentation.



BELOW: Inpex returned to TCT this year covering all things metrology and inspection.



RIGHT: RPS unveils UK engineered stereolithography system NEOS 800. 24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com

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LAYKANICS ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

TCT Start Up Award Winner:

Laykanics

HE TCT SHOW has been championing the most innovative 3D technology startups in its Start Up Zone for the last three years, providing a platform for up-and-coming companies to showcase their products amongst the industry’s biggest players. This year, the Start Up Zone was given a boost with the introduction of the very first TCT Start Up Award, a prize awarded to the most promising young company making its TCT Show debut. Battling it out in a showcase of five minute pitches from each Start Up Zone company, the winner was UK-based Laykanics which impressed the judges with its take on engineering education through a range of 3D printed mechanical toy projects. Officially launched in February this year, Laykanics is a platform of useful mechanical engineering projects that, unlike other 3D printing marketplaces, provide not only functionality but hands-on experience with mechanical engineering principles. Alfonso Villanueva, Director at Laykanics and an engineer by trade, says that the decline in interest in STEM subjects along with the emergence of new technologies like 3D printing, inspired him to set up the company. “There are all these initiatives trying to revamp STEM skills and trying to push and generate more interest in the younger generation,” Alfonso explained. “I thought “how come interest is being lost in something I’m so passionate about?”. I saw these emerging, amazing technologies like 3D printing and I thought, being a design engineer myself, I could definitely link them together and start something that would be helpful for these initiatives and at the same time continue my career path.” With around 200 users already signed up to the service, Laykanics has seen a wide range of users taking an interest in its projects from hobbyists and students to engineering professionals. The projects are available in two sign-up tiers, both free and paid, which allow different levels

WOR D S : L A U R A G R I F F I T HS

of access. As the database increases and more projects are added, the team envisions more full subscriptions particularly within local STEM initiatives and hackerspaces. “We really want engineering to be for whoever wants to take it,” Alfonso commented. “As a start up we want to gather as much information as we can from potential users and see which groups are actually becoming more interested than others.” As winners of the Start Up Award, Laykanics were awarded a one-on-one consultation with additive manufacturing stalwart and leading industry consultant Todd Grimm, along with an extensive TCT marketing package and £3,000 cash to help grow their business. On winning the grand prize, Alfonso believes Laykanics’ use of 3D printing as a tool rather than trying to create the fastest or cheapest 3D printer on the market, provides more value and opportunities to scale up and have an impact. The company is now exploring expansion options for which they see three clear paths including academia where the platform is quickly adopted by schools or universities using the projects as educational tools. The

second is establishing relationships with big industrial firms though sponsorship opportunities where they could incorporate their products or principles into Laykanics’ mechanical toys. The third is by looking at new technologies or gadgets outside of 3D printing that could also help increase the educational capabilities of their projects. The company is also set to hold its first round of investment in the coming months, which will help boost its expansion plans. For now, Laykanics is focussing its efforts on promoting projects just about anywhere where 3D printers are accessible to increase its user base and continue its mission to drive passion and fun back into STEM subjects. “Additive manufacturing is playing a role but also the maker movement, hackerspaces and so on. I think that interest in STEM has started to turn a little and there are STEM initiatives all over the world. Obviously you can’t measure it and say, “we’ve managed to revert the tendency for STEM skills to be lost” but I do see the change in perception, that’s for sure.”  For more information visit www.laykanics.com

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TCT SHOW WASP ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

Building the perfect city

with 3D printing W O R D S : L A U R A G R I F F I T HS

LEFT:

A chair 3D printed on the WASP 3MT

longside the many launches and world firsts, one of the most interesting companies on the TCT Show floor was a Bolognabased outfit, WASProject. The four-year-old 3D printing company not only caught our interest thanks to its huge delta 3D printer printing full scale pieces of furniture live but rather its humanitarian approach to how this technology could be used to benefit communities on a global scale. WASP stands for World’s Advanced Saving Project with a mission to use 3D printing as a tool to build sustainable homes, particularly in disaster-struck communities using natural resources from the local environment. The company is self-funded by the sale of its small-scale delta printers which could be seen printing on the booth alongside its huge sister machine, the DeltaWASP 3MT. But at three metres high, it’s not the biggest printer in WASP’s portfolio. WASP’s largest machine is the BigDeltaWASP, which at a whopping 12 metres tall with a 6-metre build envelope, is the result of a research project in sustainable housing construction targeted at areas facing humanitarian emergencies where access to transport and electricity is limited. Despite its mammoth scale, the machine can be easily put together by just three people in less than six hours. Powered by solar energy, the machine recently completed its first architectural model made with clay and straw fibres demonstrating how, with open access to information, similar builds could be carried out anywhere in the world. TCT spoke to Flavio Gioia, designer at TeamWASP on the show floor about the growth of the project and how it’s delivering “starter kits” packed with all the data needed to build the perfect city.



RIGHT The Maker Economy Starter Kit and BigDeltaWASP

“What we have now are different construction companies that only have their knowledge so it’s all divided and split. We want to unite all of this knowledge,” Flavio explained. “The great idea is that you have all of the knowledge on an SD card. We want to create a network of knowledge so if I build a house that is working in Africa and there is someone who wants to build the same house in Asia there’s no problem, just send the file and they can print what we’ve done.” WASP has also erected a unique Technology Village concept in Massa



LEFT: The Maker Economy Starter Kit and BigDeltaWASP

Lombarda, Ravenna, Italy, with the BigDelta WASP at the core. It’s being used to build an eco-friendly village with low energy consumption and acts as an experiment to show how the same principles could be applied elsewhere using this compact set of tools. The Technology Village, or Shambhala as it’s been named, will produce houses with 3D printed foundations and components in collaboration with artists across the globe. Everything from furniture to vertical vegetable

gardens and wind turbines will be printed in the park. Flavio explained: “We called it Shambhala, which is in the Zen ideology, the perfect city so we want to build the perfect city and we have a container that we call the Maker Economy Starter Kit that contains everything you need to start a city from scratch. That’s our main goal, it’s hard but we’re working in that direction.” These Maker Economy Starter Kits are quite literally a huge container filled with the basic tools needed to create a house using natural resources. The kit includes all Delta WASP 3D printer models, raw material kit and an SD card filled with all the info needed to start building. “We already are a little park and we’re trying to grow,” Flavio added. “We have our first house and we’re planning workshops, it’s also a call for all the makers who want to come and visit us because we want new ideas and new ways to develop the city. It’s something that has never been done before so everything is new and there is a lot of enthusiasm in us.” The project is on going but if successful WASP hopes it will inspire growth in the emergence of micro independent communities that are completely selfproducing.  24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com

031

TCT SHOW ADMATEC ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

Dutch 3D printing company Admatec marked the official launch of its first industrial 3D printer, the ADMAFLEX 130 during its TCT Show debut. One of several high-profile launches at the event, the ADMAFLEX 130 marks an important step for a relatively untapped section of the market, 3D printed ceramics.

ADMATEC:

ABOVE: Admaflex 130

3D PRINTING WITH CERAMICS

“W

E ARE VERY excited to show the ADMAFLEX 130 for the first time,” Michiel de Bruijcker, Managing Director at Admatec told TCT at the show. “It’s a ceramic 3D printer which will provide high density ceramic components.” The technology has been in development since 2013 and is the result of a collaboration between Formatec Ceramics and Energy Research Centre the Netherlands (ECN). Following a soft launch in May this year when the company announced the commercial availability of the machine, the company is now ready to start taking orders. “We’ve been using the technology in our own job shop since 2014 and we are now mature enough and have enough flying hours to make the step and start to provide the equipment,” Michiel commented. Those “flying hours” account for more than 5,000 hours of production where the machines have undergone rigorous testing in Admatec’s facility in the Netherlands. “Since May we have built three pieces of equipment, one of which is here today [at TCT Show] and the others are in testing at the moment,” Michiel continued. “We expect to deliver the first ones this year to the customers.” This patented technology allows users to print with stable and easy-to-clean ceramic materials including zirconiumoxide, aluminiumoxide and fused silica. Excess material can also be recycled and re-used through a re-conditioning system, which helps to eliminate waste and saves on material costs. Applications in the medical, dental, jewellery and even micro reactors have already been suggested by the company, which claims this machine is the most cost effective solution in its class available on the market today. “Ceramics is an important material, it’s a domain that hasn’t really been discovered for printing yet there are a few activities but not a lot,” Michiel added. “When metal fails or plastic fails due to temperature resistance, acid resistance or due to wear resistance these applications are definitely filled by ceramics. Think about high tech components, micro reactors, sensor applications, dental also bone replacement material. It’s a wide industry that is waiting or could be served by printing ceramic components.” The ADMAFLEX technology uses a DLP (direct light processing) technique which processes ceramic powders mixed with a

photosensitive resin to create complex ceramic parts layer-by-layer. Once cured, parts are sintered to leave a solid ceramic component strong enough to be polished, ground or further assembled. There are several potential application areas for ceramics and Admatec is looking to provide for that currently very open market with a range of materials that will provide significant advantages particularly in the medical and dental sectors. But its ambition stems much further and they’re not resting on their laurels with just one material in the bag. “Ceramics includes a wide range of materials, more precisely zirconiumoxide, aluminiumoxide and fused silica, those are definitely materials we would like to develop and contain in our material portfolio,” Michiel added. “Secondly the dream is to come out with an indirect metal printer which will be able to print metals ... nothing to announce at this moment but we are working on R&D.” Right now Admatec is focusing its efforts on ramping up production of the ADMAFLEX 130 machine and fulfilling its first batch of orders. Leading the way for a new pocket of this forever-growing market, Michiel says he is enthusiastic about the role the company is set to play in the wider industry. “It’s a very exciting time to be part of this industry, it’s still not settled and for ceramics it’s just new and the attention this morning (at TCT Show) was tremendous. People think “ceramics, I’ve worked with this material, now it’s being 3D printed”, we are only so far in a relatively big market.”  24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com

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UK STRATEGY ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

UK NATIONAL ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING STRATEGY At TCT Show 2016, The University of Nottingham’s Professor Phill Dickens gave an update on the UK National AM Strategy to a jam-packed audience. Afterwards Phill was inundated with questions so here is a summary of the findings supplied by the UK strategy steering group.

dditive Manufacturing (AM), also referred to as 3D printing, is a truly transformational cross-sectoral technology that is having a disruptive impact on design, manufacturing, company location and on business models. It is set to revolutionise businesses globally by providing a radically new method of production that enables new and better designs to be realised at lower cost, with enhanced productivity and greater sustainability. In so doing it will transform supply chains and the way businesses operate that will result in completely new business models. AM is a method of making production parts and products directly from design data, building accurate components by adding layers of material to obtain the final shape with minimal waste and without expensive dedicated tooling. It permits radical product re-design and creates new material properties. It is a lead technology, recognised as one of the main manifestations of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. What’s the opportunity? The worldwide market for all Additive Manufacturing products and services in 2014 was worth £3.59 billion and has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 31.5% in the last three years. This was driven by direct part production, which now represents 51.3% (up from 42.6% in the previous year) of the total

revenues. This rapid growth is forecast to continue and accelerate over the next decade. The UK is well placed to take advantage of this rapidly expanding market as it is already: • A global force in advanced technology, life sciences and medical manufacturing, • Equipped with a strong capability in universities, Catapults and R&D organisations • At the forefront of the technological advancements in AM. It is estimated that the UK can win up to 8% or £5bn of this rapidly growing global market for AM products and services which is forecast to reach £69bn by 2025. This will have a strong effect on protecting existing jobs (63,000 by 2020) while also generating new employment. The UK is a world leader in additive manufacturing capability and we have been at the forefront of developing this technology. However, there is a globally competitive race underway with major government backed programmes already established in the US, Japan, Singapore and Germany. If the UK does not capitalise on its position it will likely seed technology leadership, valuable IP and its share of the global market to others. ››

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UK STRATEGY

THE CHALLENGE A Steering Group, formed in 2014, has established that there is widespread industrial support to address the co-ordination issues and accelerate the industrialisation process of this disruptive technology. It has developed a strategic approach for this purpose and in 2015 it enabled senior industry representations to be made to government. The Group set out its vision for Additive Manufacturing in 2025: • The UK as the leading country in terms of exploiting AM • Direct manufactured AM parts are commonplace in most sectors • Where most of these AM parts cannot be replaced by conventionally made parts economically • AM is enabling the transformation of existing sectors and providing completely new and disruptive business opportunities • AM is a fundamental building block of the Fourth Industrial Revolution where every customer’s individual product needs are delivered quickly • High quality, multi-functional and multi-material AM parts are being used • High value manufacturers which have not embraced AM have lost significant market share Further work by the steering group has identified five key programmes they will lead that form a framework for UK activity to ensure maximum exploitation of AM technology: 1. Co-ordination and communication 2. Strengthen the industry sectors 3. Developing knowledge and skills 4. Invest in UK capacity 5. Measuring progress

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

To enable the full economic potential of AM to be realised, action is required to provide better co-ordination and focus of research, innovation and investment activities and to develop industry-led solutions.

To ensure successful delivery of the framework’s five key implementation programmes, the following recommendations are made: 1. Sector Councils and Leadership Groups should embed Additive Manufacturing in their strategies and identify the business opportunities and barriers related to AM. Co-ordination with the relevant cross-sector activities is also necessary. 2. Trade associations and other institutions involved with the industrialisation of advanced manufacturing technologies should consider the impact of this framework on their areas of expertise/interest and liaise with the strategy process to identify areas for joint or coordinated activity. 3. Local Enterprise Partnerships and City Regions should use this framework to support and accelerate their industrial exploitation of AM and to position AM as part of their smart specialisation strategy. Local business support programmes should be cognisant of the opportunities presented by AM. 4. Government should ensure alignment of policy and programmes with the strategic needs of AM industrialisation. 5. Public and private sector skills and education providers need to deliver sufficiently trained people to ensure the industrialisation of AM is not held back by workforce shortages. This will involve delivery of high-quality multi-disciplinary education and provide learning at all ages, including through part-time study and workplace training. 6. Industry should work together to design appropriate apprenticeship standards and assessment approaches for Additive Manufacturing. 7. Standards setting bodies should engage with industry on the development of AM standards. 8. UK Trade & Investment should embed AM within their strategy for the UK regarding inward investment and export. 9. Future funding support for Research and Innovation in AM is required to support the priority needs identified by industry. 10. A single point of focus such as an association for Additive Manufacturing should be explored by Industry and trade associations. A key role would be to raise and maintain awareness, boost adoption and drive collaboration and technology transfer and improve UK competitiveness.

PLATFORM FOR ENGAGEMENT – YOUR OPPORTUNITY The Steering Group’s objective is to see the UK achieve the £5bn opportunity by being a leader in AM technology development and exploitation. The Steering Group wants to engage and co-ordinate with government and organisations that support UK industry to align and promote AM activities, to capture investment in capability development and to support research and innovation in the delivery of industry led solutions. The Steering Group intends to publish a UK Strategy for AM around April 2017 and would like to invite any organisations wishing to contribute to contact any member of the Steering Group or directly with the AM programme management team on 02476 647359, by 1st December 2016.



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ROBOTICS ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

RISE OF THE

ROBOTS Daniel O’Connor takes a look at the proliferation of robotics entering the additive manufacturing (AM) industry.

COLLEAGUE WHO had just returned from

K Show in Dusseldorf said to me, “There were robots everywhere, they even had robots playing basketball!” This reminded me of the Kuka stand at IMTS 2016 in Chicago where one robot was making coffee for the attendees. Not necessarily the most useful technology to the wider world but it was one effective marketing tool. Kuka is one of the most recognisable brands in the robotic industry. The German company has been in existence since 1898 and has continued to expand its automation capabilities with every advance in technology. At IMTS AM was proving to be a logical and fruitful nextstep for Kuka. I headed to the stand originally hoping to learn about the company’s recent foray into AM through a partnership with Stratasys on its Robotic-Composite 3D Demonstrator. What was clear from the moment I quaffed my robotically made coffee was that the Stratasys application was just the tip of the iceberg. Over on the Stratasys booth the team were previewing the 3D Demonstrators to the public for the first time and Steve Mickelson, Principal Automation and Controls Engineer talked me through the potential for 3D printing with robots: “We first started working with robots about a year ago, and what you see on the Robotic-Composite 3D Demonstrator is eight axis of motion, we have six on the robot and two on the table plus an extra one if you count the extruder. Any time you try to extrude you need something to extrude against but because we can turn the tool or turn the head you don’t need support. This means faster build times. The other benefit is that weakness with traditional 3D printing is the z-axis. If the part fails it is almost always between the layers. The way this part (fig 1) was built, the dome itself is a spiral so it is one continuous tool path. As this technology evolves the parts will get very strong and they won’t have that z-axis weakness.”

THE APPLICATIONS ARE ENDLESS It isn’t just Stratays that Kuka is using to showcase its technology benefits for AM, there were two robotic arms either side of the coffee maker both showcasing 3D applications thanks to strategic partnerships. To the west was Faro using a Kuka robotic arm to automate inspection. Four Cobalt Array Imagers – the metrology-grade non-contact scanner using blue light technology - are attached to an arm to rapidly scan and inspect an object. Coincidentally, the part that was being inspected at IMTS was from Stratasys’ other 3D Demonstrator, the Infinite Build one. A member of the Faro team explained that the technology came in particularly useful when it comes to large 3D printed moulds for composite layups. The system will immediately flag up any imperfections in the print before the expensive layup process begins. On the opposite side of the gargantuan booth was a huge enclosed chamber with the sign “Additive+” dangling from the ceiling. The gathered crowd peered through the tinted windows to see another Kuka robot using metal wire to build up components. This is a partnership with Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. (MWES), a manufacturing company that has been innovating manufacturing solutions for quarter of a century. That experience, according to Senior Sales Engineer, Peter Gratschmayr, meant MWES could move very quickly once they spotted an opportunity: ››

LEFT: Figure 1 - built by the

Stratasys Robotic-Composite 3D Demonstrator

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ROBOTICS ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

“We only had our first conversation with Kuka in December 2015, we were working on some large format projects with one of our suppliers that was doing a welding application. It was strictly welding but the precision of the welding application was some of the best we’ve ever seen and we’re welding experts. We saw this capability and thought it would be really neat if we could turn this into an additive manufacturing format because the weld profile, the wire and the laser is so excellent and the quality is so controllable that we’re able to create awesome components. What we’ve decided to do is put together a combination of sensory feedback so that we get a closed loop system with the robot and we’re using laser to do very precise temperature control. The bottom line is that we’re able to construct parts that wouldn’t be made before that you consider possible when you’re working with a wire-based system.” The process is not unique to MWES, we have seen MX3D use an industrial robot to additive weld in metal and is currently working on a project to build an entire bridge in Amsterdam. But this enclosed, monitored process is less about conceptual pieces and more about functional parts with strong metallurgic properties. “Let’s say you’re on an off-shore oil rig and you’re components fail from wear down,” says Peter. “You’re losing $100,000 a day because your oil rig is down. If you have a machine on the rig we can take that component, scan it, get the existing condition, take the nominal to determine the difference between the current and original component to generate the product back up, finish machining and now you can re-use this component.”

ABOVE: Clocksie from top left: Faro Inspection; Parts made

with the MWES-system; Video monitor of inside the MWES chamber; Stratasys-Robotic-Composite-3D-Demonstrator.

The system will immediately flag up any imperfections in the print before the expensive layup process begins.

More to the point this process offers an extremely cheap metal additive process. Not only is wire more readily available in exotic metals like iridium, cobalt and titanium, it is a magnitude more affordable compared to powdered metals used for many other metal AM processes, “Powder costs somewhere between $12-$25 an ounce especially when you start getting into exotics, the price of wire is $3-$12 a pound!” Exclaims Peter. Just as Stratasys is not the only 3D printing company embracing robotics, Kuka is not the only robotics brand being used by the additive manufacturing industry. 3D Systems have been developing what it now calls Figure 4 Technology for over a year using a Denso Robtoics arm. Applications Engineer at 3D Systems, Patrick Dunne, was quick to stress how important it is for 3D printing to harness the power of automation. The engineer who switched the Figure 4 on for the first time came running upstairs and said, “I’ve run out of gloves!”, he’d depleted his entire cupboard of gloves in an hour. As technology gets faster the humans become the bottleneck. Why reinvent the wheel? If you go to any production line at a major factory there’s extensive installations of robotics. Take an industrial ruggedised, off-the-shelf robot and address the bottleneck. What with the 3D Systems Figure 4 technology, Stratasys’s Robotic-Composite 3D Demonstrator, MWES metal machine, Faro’s inspection and the likes of 3D Platform intending to implement the technology as a finishing process, it is safe to say that the robots have well and truly risen. 

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ADVERTORIAL

TRANSFORMING EYEWEAR

AND THE EYEWEAR INDUSTRY:

YUNIKU

What makes an an innovation truly groundbreaking? Sometimes it’s how it revolutionises a product, or turns around a business model. It could transform an operational process, or the customer experience. And sometimes, you come across a transformative product that manages to do all four. That’s Yuniku by HOYA, the innovation that’s set to change the eyewear industry, in partnership with Materialise.

hen 3D Printing meets

the right application and the right partners, it has the potential to turn around an entire industry. We know this because Materialise has helped it happen before. When 3D Printing met hearing aid manufacturing, the digital manufacturing of in-ear hearing aids went from 20% of the total to nearly 100% in just two years, enabled by custom software designed by Materialise. Now, the eyewear industry is poised on the edge of something equally momentous. A system that can give any eye care professional the ability to offer their customers fully customised frames, manufactured at one of the world’s most sophisticated Additive Manufacturing factories. Meet Yuniku, the world’s first 3D-tailored eyewear to introduce vision-centric design — and an open digital platform that allows any eyewear brand to do likewise.

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VISION-CENTRIC DESIGN AND WHY IT MATTERS Conventional eyewear design begins with the frame. Once a customer in an optician’s shop has chosen the frame that they like, the optician selects and places the optical lenses that fit the customer’s visual needs. But placing lenses into a chosen frame can negatively impact lens alignment, resulting in less-than-ideal lens performance. SO HOW DO YOU BUILD EYEWEAR WHICH ACTUALLY GIVES THE WEARER OPTIMAL VISUAL EXPERIENCE? Yuniku uses 3D scanning, parametric design automation and 3D Printing to design the frame of a customer’s choice around the optical lenses chosen by the optician. “Since the position of the lenses are preserved, this concept ensures the ideal orientation of the lenses in your final glasses, in turn ensuring the best visual performance,” says Felix España, Global NewMedia Manager at

HOYA Vision Care. Besides, 3D Printing allows for complete customisation of the frames for the customer’s anatomical features as well as aesthetic preferences. Hoet Design Studio, the design partner for the base collection of eyewear frames to be used by Yuniku, is already seasoned in 3D-printed eyewear. For Bieke Hoet, Yuniku is an opportunity to take high-performance eyewear from a luxury concept into a normal eye care professional’s reality. “As an eyewear designer,” Bieke says, “I’m already familiar with how 3D Printing can revolutionise this industry. And now with Yuniku, we can share this potential with the world.” CO-CREATING A FULLY DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN “When we started working with Materialise in 2014, for the HOYA Vision Simulator and EyeGenius, the collaboration led us to start thinking about bigger breakthroughs that our combined knowledge could trigger,” recalls Felix. “What we were looking for was not only a manufacturing partner but an all-round collaborator at every stage.” To start, in a co-creation, the Materialise Design & Engineering services began adapting their 3D scanning technology to gather a highlydetailed digital 3D scan of the customer’s facial features and thereby meet the needs of the HOYA NewMedia team. Meanwhile, the Materialise R&D team worked with HOYA to develop the Yuniku software. The software allows the eye care professional to take the customer on a journey. After the scan is taken, advanced software designed by HOYA uses facial and visual data to determine the ideal position of the lenses in relation to the eyes and communicates this with Materialise’s software, which in turn tailors the frame around the lenses according to the wearer’s unique

ADVERTORIAL

facial characteristics. Frame design, colour and finish can all be adjusted to match the customer’s individual style, guided by the expertise of the eye care professional. The integrated software solutions work in the background to ensure that both ideal lens positioning and fit are preserved. When the perfect 3D-tailored glasses are designed, a back-end ordering system sends HOYA the data required for lens production, and Materialise, the data needed for manufacturing the frames. At Materialise, the frames are manufactured using Laser Sintering technology dedicated for eyewear, tuned to highly precise parameters using the Materialise Control Platform to access nuanced hardware settings. Finally, the frames undergo the multi-stage postproduction treatment of Materialise Luxura. Every frame that comes out of this manufacturing process is entirely unique, and authenticated to an individual end-user. “Materialise innovations have a long track record of developing end-toend solutions to enhance interaction mechanisms between customers and professionals, enabling novel experiences and innovation in product development,” notes Alireza Parandian, 3D-printed wearables expert at Materialise. “But HOYA Yuniku goes a step further, by introducing an open system that reaches far beyond any single brand.” A YUNIKU EXPERIENCE, WITH AN OPEN PLATFORM Although the experience will undoubtedly feel unique for any lifelong glasseswearer, the Yuniku platform is an open one which can be implemented across any number of stores with

any number of brands. Yuniku has been launched with a base collection designed by Hoet Design Studio, and will eventually grow to include frames from other designers as well. For glasses-wearers, Yuniku represents a future where lenses and frames work together rather than compromising each other; where their specific optical needs and aesthetic preferences can be met in a single pair of glasses. For eye care professionals, the Yuniku system empowers them to use their knowledge and take their customers on a novel and exciting journey. But for the eyewear industry and for Additive Manufacturing, Yuniku is not only design automation but a launch pad of innovation. Images courtesy of HOYA Vision Care

Interview with Stefaan Motte, Vice President • How has Materialise helped shape the 3D printing industry into what it is today? For 26 years, Materialise has been working with industries to leverage the power of 3D printing and realise meaningful innovations. Moreover, in partnership with industry-leading companies in several fields, we have introduced transformative innovations that take the benefits of 3D printing to new heights, as can be seen in our partnership with HOYA.

• What role has your software played? When Materialise started, our struggle with the software of the first generation 3D printers led us to develop our own. Instead of keeping this software to ourselves to secure an edge over competing service bureaus, we chose to contribute to greater industry growth by offering our software to the market. Over the years, our industrial software has evolved into an open platform of solutions known as the Materialise Magics 3D Print Suite, which continues to successfully empower impactful applications for customers and partners around the world.

• What is Materialise’s position in the move from prototyping to industrial manufacturing? Industrial manufacturing succeeds for those able to take control of their 3D printing processes to manufacture end-use parts that meet established industry standards. For example, at Materialise, we manufacture flight-ready parts for the Airbus A350 XWB, because we meet the extremely high quality and regulatory requirements of both the aerospace industry and Airbus. What’s the secret to our success? In-depth process knowledge combined with powerful software that enables quality inspection and control.

• How important are partnerships and collaborations? They are crucial! Professionals require integrated solutions that allow them to choose the best technology from different providers, combined into a seamless production workflow to fit their needs. Although Materialise enables this through our integrated backbone of software and solutions, it is through collaboration (or rather, co-creation) that we are able to understand the specific needs of our partners and then tap into the software and solutions required to meet them. Likewise, for our newly launched Inspector software, we seek to address the imminent inspection needs of the industry, but recognise that needs evolve and the best solutions are those that are crafted together. Therefore, we have launched our Industry Leader Program, through which a select group of users can work with us to fine-tune Inspector to meet the certified additive manufacturing needs of both today and tomorrow.

Manufacturers that are preparing for high quality AM production can subscribe for the Industry Leader Program of Materialise Inspector. More info: software.materialise. com/inspector

043

Vibratory finishing of 3D printed parts MACHINE SALES & 24-HOUR SUBCONTRACT FINISHING SERVICE Newbury-based rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing specialist, 3T RPD, uses a vibratory finishing bowl from PDJ Vibro to speed surface finishing of its SLS prototypes and production components. The bureau reports that the introduction of a 400-litre capacity bowl for automatic batch finishing has eliminated a large amount of labour intensive and hence costly rubbing down. The gentle action of the variablespeed vibratory process smooths the surface of parts much faster. Even internal features of components such as channels, holes and voids can be finished, depending on their geometry. Clive Hardy, Workshop Manager at 3T RPD says , “Reduction in manual work allows us to focus on fine finishing. That is our actual area of expertise, which is being increasingly requested by customers.”

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Leading design and model making bureau Ogle Models and Prototypes, Letchworth, has two PDJ Vibro vibratory bowls to automate and speed the finishing of its 3D-printed SLS parts. Components become more flexible after vibratory finishing, as the plastic absorbs water from the bowl, replacing some of the material’s natural moisture that is lost during laser sintering at 175 to 180°C. David Bennion, Ogle’s Sales & Marketing Director comments, “Our SLS parts have an attractive texture after surface preparation and hydration in a vibratory machine, more like that of a plastic injection moulded component.” “If parts are to be painted, the lead-time to prepare the surface is reduced by one-third compared with hand finishing using abrasive cloth, allowing jobs to be turned around faster.”

Digits2Widgets (D2W) in central London has enhanced the surface finishing of its 3D printed parts with a vibratory bowl from PDJ Vibro Ltd. The machine is dedicated to high quality polishing of Nylon SLS parts and produces a very smooth, ivory-like finish. D2W Design Director Jonathan Rowley explains, “Purchase of the PDJ Vibro bowl was initiated by a potential customer that asked if we could undertake large-scale vibratory finishing. “After processing some samples, we decided that the results were sufficiently impressive to purchase a machine. “As a result, we started working with this client, which subsequently launched its vibrofinished 3D printed lights onto the market. Now we offer the added-value process to other customers as well.”

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CES PREVIEW ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

CES 2017

PREVIEW

There’s nothing quite like a business trip to Las Vegas to throw yourself straight back into work during the post-Christmas slump, but that’s exactly what team TCT will be doing when we head to CES 2017 on 5-8th January.

owever glamorous that may sound, it’s all work (and maybe a little play, it is Las Vegas after all) as for the fourth year running the TCT Group will be sponsoring the popular 3D Printing Marketplace, which brings together the latest machines and technologies in the consumer 3D printing space at the world’s largest gathering for consumer technologies. Artec3D, LulzBot manufacturer Aleph Objects, Beijing Tiertime, CRP USA, Dassault Systemes, Formlabs and MarkForged, to name just a few, will be amongst nearly 50 companies exhibiting their latest innovations on the show floor. Alongside the marketplace, TCT will once again be organising the 3D Printing Conference track, a full day of insight from today’s leading developers and users of 3D technologies which till take place on Friday 6th January. The theme of this year’s conference is “3D Printing: Evaluating the Evolution” and aims to explore the reality of how consumers will be affected by 3D printing in the following areas:

 3D printing for health and fitness: How 3D printing will impact our physical wellbeing  3D printing for transport: How 3D printing will help evolve how we move both locally and globally  3D printing and the IOT: How 3D Printing will enable a new class of connected devices This year’s line-up truly is one of the finest ever assembled by the TCT Conference team, with talks from the likes of Local Motors, the automotive manufacturing company famed for producing the world’s first 3D printed car, and Oscar-nominated animation studio Laika which released its fourth feature, Kubo and the Two Strings this Summer. Groundbreaking metal 3D printing company XJet will also take to the stage to showcase its new NanoParticle Jetting technology, whilst leading additive manufacturing consultant and TCT’s only re-occurring speaker, Todd Grimm will deliver his inimitable commentary on the current state of the 3D printing industry. In addition to many more high-profile speakers, the conference agenda will conclude with a lively panel session with opportunity for the audience to pose questions to the day’s speakers. ››

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CES PREVIEW ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

CES 2017

3D Printing Conference Highlights TECH SESSION 09:30-10:00

TRANSPORT 13:00-13:30

NANOPARTICLE JETTING TECHNOLOGY FROM XJET – REDEFINING METAL ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING.

FROM ECONOMY OF SCALE TO ECONOMY OF SCOPE: HOW 3D PRINTING WILL BRING VEHICLE CUSTOMISATION TO THE MASSES

DROR DANAI, Chief Business Operator, XJET XJet, founded by industry veteran Hanan Gothait, may be a new name to the 3D printing industry but with a team made up of industry-experts who were instrumental in the creation of several groundbreaking print technologies, it already boasts an enviable track record of experience in the market. Dror Danai, CBO at XJet, will introduce 3D Metal Jetting and its associated NanoParticle Jetting technology, a new and revolutionary approach to metal additive manufacturing. This presentation will look at this unparalleled technology’s “3-dimensions of innovation” which focus on details, dispersion and design freedom.company sees CES as the perfect place to demo its full HD colour printing systems.

HEALTH AND FITNESS 10:15-10:45 DIGITAL FABRICATION FOR THE HUMAN BODY DEREK MATHERS, Director, Advanced Applications Development, Worrell Derek Mathers is a Director of R&D at Worrell, a design and strategic consulting firm that creates technologies for the improvement of the human condition, and focuses on applying new technology platforms to medicine. Derek has presented 3D printing trends and case studies to a host of leading trade shows and publications and is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota, teaching the Big 10’s first dedicated course in 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Join Derek to find out how Worrell is applying digital fabrication to change the game for healthcare.

ALEX FIECHTER, Head of Product Development, Local Motors For more than a century, vehicle manufacturing has been a one-size-fits-all game. Traditionally, OEMs reduce costs by producing vehicles that will appeal to the widest audience possible. Minimal customisation options are reserved for the luxury market. 3D printing is unlocking the economic advantage of high levels of customisation by vastly reducing factory tooling costs. As the performance of 3D printers improves and printing itself becomes a more practical technology for production, Alex will present how consumers can expect that vehicles tailored to their preferences, and even their geographic locations, will become the norm.

TECH SESSION 13:30-14:00 DIGITAL FABRICATION FOR THE HUMAN BODY BRIAN MCLEAN, Director of Rapid Prototype, LAIKA With the technology ever evolving, LAIKA sits at the forefront of 3D printing and this year was recognised with a Scientific and Engineering Award Academy Plaque for its innovation in the use of rapid prototyping for facial animation. Join Brian McLean for this session, which will highlight the studio’s unparalleled dedication to science and ingenuity through its four award-winning feature films. Celebrating 10 years of bold filmmaking, LAIKA specialises in animated features and to date has produced three Oscar-nominated animated films: The Boxtrolls (2014), ParaNorman (2012) and Coraline (2009) as well as the CG short Moongirl (2005).

This year’s line-up truly is one of the finest ever assembled by the TCT Conference team

INTERNET OF THINGS 14:45-15:15 3D PRINTING IN THE HOME: MYTH OR TRUTH? NOAH FRAM, Schwartz Since the Star Trek replicator first mesmerised the public in the 70’s, we’ve been obsessed with the idea of bringing such a magical machine into the home. 3D printing as it’s known today however, has failed to deliver. What barriers must be overcome for 3D printing to penetrate into the homes of hundreds of millions around the world? When will the disruptive qualities of 3D printing finally be brought to the masses? Join Noah, former leader of Google’s 3D manufacturing and design lab and now heading up strategy at NYC’s fastest growing hardware company, to find out how these technologies will really affect the consumer space. Registration for the conference is now open, be sure to book your pass soon to make sure you don’t miss out! For full details on ticketing and timings head over to: HTTP://MYTCT.CO/CES_2017

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047

BIG INTERVIEW

The BIG Inter

3D Systems’ CEO, Vjom While team TCT were just getting stuck into the expo area at AMUG 2016, news broke that 3D Systems (3DS) had appointed a new CEO almost six months to the day after Avi Reichental had departed. Vyomesh Joshi (VJ) was the man stepping up to the plate and a quick glance of his C.V. confirms the direction the board decided VJ was the man to push them in.

MASTER’S DEGREE IN electrical engineering from Ohio State University saw VJ join Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 1980. 32 years at HP saw VJ rise to executive vice president of the company’s Imaging and Printing Group overseeing a period of phenomenal change towards the, now omnipresent, digital press. When it comes to states of flux VJ has been there, done that, and printed the t-shirt.

BELOW: Figure 1 HP and 3D Systems Share Price History.

048

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WO R D S : DA N I E L O ’C O N N O R

HP was a company that had struggled to integrate a large number of acquisitions and struggled to keep a grip of markets it traditionally thrived in. Sound familiar? Take a look at HP’s share prices and compare the peaks and troughs of the early 2000s to what happened to 3DS a decade later, it is eerily similar. Whilst Avi Reichental helped put 3DS on the mainstream map, the direction he was trying to force the company in simply wasn’t reflective of the market. Avi pushed hard on the consumer brand, Cubify, and the manufacturing solutions of which 3DS

has an impressive portfolio, suffered. Avi loved CES choosing the consumer orientated show to launch a host of ill-fated technologies like three generations of the Cube, the CubeJet, the CubePro C and the CeraJet. It became clear that 3D Systems were not making the most of their portfolio by trying to flog desktop machinery. It was therefore apt that I caught up with VJ for the first time at IMTS 2016 – a show dedicated to manufacturing technology – where his direction for 3DS was evident. It’s safe to say that Cubify won’t be being resurrected any time soon…

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

rview

mesh Joshi

ABOVE: Vjomesh Joshi at IMTS

Daniel O’Connor (DOC): Do you ever see a future for consumer 3D printing? Vyomesh Joshi (VJ): I am very direct about this; I don’t want to be into the consumer arm. You can’t just say, “everybody in their garage is going to have a 3D printer...” If they buy a 3D printer how much usage are they going to have out of it? Will they use it once a week? Once in a month? Once in a year? The more interesting thing is how we make 3D production real? I will focus the company on that. I will bet on that and that is the right bet. You’ve just seen how GE validates the market. DOC: You have kept Chuck Hull very close, how has he helped with your 3D printing education? VJ: Once you talk to Chuck you really get the understanding of what it (3D printing) means, what 3D Systems is all about and the portfolio that we have. The first phase for me was listening and learning, going around with Chuck and Chuck’s people, our teams in Rock Hill, in Denver, in Leuven, in Israel, in Korea. I got to understand this fantastic portfolio but the problem was execution, it’s as simple as that. All of our problems are internal, it’s not the market, it’s the technology, it’s not the portfolio. With 36 years in the industry it is something I know how to do, know when to commercialise and how to get to operational excellence. I think that’s why I get so excited. I also noticed that all these companies that we acquired weren’t integrated properly, we never really told the story the way I felt the story needed to be told. It is all about hardware, software AND materials, it’s all about application engineering. Materials is the core and software is the glue. Partnership is fundamental; you need to ride the shoulders of giants. The story’s not about me; it is about our people, our partners and our customers. I think that is really what you are seeing, and now I feel I have the right team augmented with the good people we have, now we just need to execute. It is not more complex than that. An organisation structure requires three basic principles; simplicity, accountability and a focus on cost so that we can invest back into the business with innovation.

››

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BIG INTERVIEW ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

ABOVE: VJ on stage with Chuck Hull

DOC: 3D printing is big news here at IMTS, do you think the manufacturing industry is finally waking up? VJ: I had a great conversation with our partners who basically said, ‘you know VJ the thing I’m really amazed about at this show is the job shop community is talking about how they have to be in additive manufacturing.’ I remember Drupa (the 2D printing industry’s Mecca) in the 90s was all about idle book press, go today and it is all about Heidelberg press. I think that same thing is going to happen to this show, it is not subtractive it is not additive it’s a mixed environment and we need to be in that environment. We think that we have a unique opportunity to be part of. DOC: On the Additive Manufacturing Pavilion the first thing you see on 3D Systems’ booth is the Figure 4 technology the first prototype of which we saw at CES 2016, how good was it to have an innovation like that to come into? VJ: I know where I need to put my resource, when I saw Figure 4 I said ‘That’s it!’ I really believe that we have a multi-cavity digital mould machine. It is integrated with all our inspection and material technologies and it is just the beginning. There is a big revolution coming. I believe that when you have a phenomenal team and you augment the team and you focus them on where the value creation is going to happen you will see meaningful results. What we are saying (with the Figure 4 Technology) is that if you have a 3D printer, that architecture has a lot of limitations, first of all the cost structure point of view, you have all of these skins you don’t need and you’ve got to do post-processing anyway, why can’t you just make this into a linear approach with multiple engines? With pick-and-place so that you will be able to really enhance productivity, which is the ultimate goal. DOC: How do you see Figure 4 Technology transforming the speeds at which we manufacture? VJ: A lot of people talk about print speed but when I speak to our customers they all say. “It is all about productivity, not print speed.” It has to be about productivity, repeatability and durability of parts.



INSEt: Figure 4 Technology in action at IMTS

I believe that when you have a phenomenal team and you augment the team and you focus them on where the value creation is going to happen you will see meaningful results.

When you really think about the total cost of operation, it is not just about materials cost. It is the line, the line layout, the productivity uptime, how you’re going to integrate the software for automation, it is integrating into you manufacturing ERP system. As an engineer I know; I’ve got to think about how I’m going to get through the whole process, compress the time and make it so my manufacturing manager sees it as a no-brainer and says, “well, of course I’m going to integrate’. I’m not just going to think about a 3D printing factory, I’m going to integrate it into a workflow, which could include subtractive and additive. DOC: Is the prototyping market still unvalued in this industry? VJ: Prototyping is very important because the value proposition is so clear - you can have a 50-70 percent time and cost reduction, it is a no brainer. The problem is that people don’t understand that this technology has evolved. The manufacturing industry is very conservative, if I’m a manufacturing manager I’m not going to take risks because if you take a risk and there’s an issue, my CEO is going to be all over me and say what is this stuff? Why are you experimenting? This is a mega-industry you can’t transform that unless you build the entire infrastructure. At HP we used to generally have a three-year development cycle; you go from investigation phase to lab phase and I make one lab prototype, then I go from lab to production prototype phase, I’ll make twenty, from production prototype to manufacturing I’ll make a thousand. That whole three years can now be done in six months. People think 3D printing needs to be geared just towards production, no, no, no! It is about the whole process, the innovation process, going from lab prototype, to production prototype to production. Prototyping is just the initial part of going to production so I don’t think those are separate processes. They are a continuum of the innovation process. The needs of production are different to prototyping but the path to production is through prototyping. If you drive and focus on the needs of production, prototyping is included, that’s the beauty of it; they’re not distinct. 

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FINANCE

After seeing a strong 5-Year CAGR of +28% through 2015, the 3D Printer market began to sputter a bit at the end of 2015 with woes continuing into 2016. CONTEXT data revealed a +15% growth in total shipments through the first half of 2016, but ironically with the personal/desktop category massively outperforming the industrial/professional segment making it even more clear that the industry is beginning to shake out into two distinct markets. PERSONAL VS. INDUSTRIAL Industry leaders Stratasys and 3D Systems scaled back their efforts in the desktop 3D Printer space in 2015 but this market continues to grow none-the-less, seeing a +15% growth in shipments in 1H’16. XYZprinting remained the global leader in this segment, with a 19% share of the market in the first half of the year, while Ultimaker, M3D and Flashforge all grew in the top five. When it comes to professional 3D printing, this side of the market saw -15% fewer printers ship in 1H’16 compared to a year ago. While Stratasys and 3D Systems remained tops in market share, both saw year-on-year shipment declines and each continued to overhaul management structures and realign strategies in the first six months. And while mindshare appears to be swinging

Chris Connery leads the 3D printing effort for CONTEXT with over a quarter-ofa-century of experience in brand management, marketing and industry analysis of various aspects of the IT market. His talk at the 2016 TCT Show received so many plaudits that we’ve asked him to write up his findings here:

to the likes of HP, Carbon and metal 3D printer makers, the two showcased new technologies, which they anticipate will keep them on top. Most of the decline in the Professional came by way of the plastics side of the market, with metal-based solutions continuing to shine, with +17% more units shipped in the period than the same time last year. And because of the relatively high price points of these printers, this growth helped the segment record a +3% year-on-year growth in revenues despite that significant shipment decline. The market also got a shot in the arm when GE announced plans to acquire the #2 (SLM Solutions) and the #4 (Arcam AB) metal 3D Printer companies to form an entirely new business to sell printers (as well as to produce printers for its own use). 1H ‘16 Unit Shipments

1H ’16 Share

XYZprinting

25,800

19%

Ultimaker

11,348

M3D

11,180

Flashforge

8,305

Stratasys/Makerbot

8,240

Rank Company

1 2 3 4 5

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

3D Printers: Desktop Market Still Growing but Metal Printers Prop Up Struggling Industrial Segment in 1H 2016

Figure 1: Top 5 Vendor 3D Printer Market Share by Unit Volumes, Global Desktop/Personal Printers, 1H’16

DESKTOP SUCCESS TO CONTINUE As for the next six months, the desktop market remains bullish, being on track for an eventual +35% year-on-year growth. That’s despite Mattel cancelling plans to revive the ThingMaker brand through the shipment of a $299 3D printer in 2016. Market leader XYZprinting looks set to offer a handful of printers under $300 and plenty of crowdsourced pre-orders are still due to ship in this calendar year. On the industrial/professional side there’s unlikely to be any major growth in shipments, with HP yet to ship and other newcomers like Carbon and Ricoh still being new to the industry. What we are likely to see in the longer term, however, is the plastics side of the market start to shift focus to end-part production next year and beyond, following the lead of the metal 3D printer segment which has already made this transition. Then the market will really start to accelerate.  Rank Company

1 2 3 4 5

Stratasys

1H’16 Printer Revenue (M)

1H’16 Revenue Share

$208.0

36%

EOS

$93.8

16%

3D Systems

$76.5

13%

SLM Solutions

$33.7

Concept Laser

$27.6

Figure 2: Top 5 Vendor 3D Printer Market Share by Printer Revenue, Global Industrial/Professional Printers, 1H’16

LEFT:

CEO Frank Herzog

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IP & FInance ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

Should IP owners be afraid of 3D printing?

WO R DS : T h om a s P r oc k , U K , G e r m a n a n d E u r o p e a n Pat e n t At t o r n e y a nd Pa r t n e r, M a r ks & C l e r k

hen a new

manufacturing method like 3D printing becomes widely commercially viable, it breaks down barriers to market entry for thousands, if not millions of companies. TCT’s pages are full of stories of businesses that owe their success to semi- or fully automated additive manufacturing. Innovative companies enjoy reduced costs for shipment of their creations to markets far and wide. Many other players also use additive manufacturing to operate on the back of others’ creations. Websites allowing sharing of CAD designs of physical objects are particularly popular, giving individuals or companies that already have access to additive manufacturing devices all they need to “print” their own copies of others’ products and creations. Sharing CAD files and creating associated objects in this manner can of course allow private individuals to enjoy hobbies harmlessly, and can even spark creativity in those willing to invest time in creating their own designs. However, with the need to have access to manufacturing skills when trying to access a market diminishing, innovative companies relying on new product lines to stay ahead of their competition are likely to suffer. A recent study by PWC indicated that over 22 percent of surveyed companies consider additive manufacturing a threat to their intellectual property rights (patents, trade marks, design rights and others). It is often cited that up to 80 percent of company value resides in companies’ IP, and so many could be

forgiven for thinking that the proliferation of additive manufacturing is a threat to their very existence (and to the jobs associated with the company and its supply chain). This threat is particularly pronounced for the most innovative companies, such as start-ups and SMEs. The music industry has already gone through the trials of having to deal with illicit file sharing threatening its business models. Lessons learnt by the companies that had to deal with this are already providing food for thought for many companies in the age of 3D printing. There are very positive signs of designers of physical products and their professional advisers seeking to develop new business models that accommodate customers’ desires to file-share and/or 3D-print their products, with some business seeking to push further and use the on-the-spot and on-time manufacturing abilities provided by additive manufacturing to positively modify their supply chain. ››

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IP & FInance ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

Although measures exist to help companies pursue parties providing CAD files to others for them to manufacture products through 3D printing, it is more difficult to apply these measures than to stop infringing physical goods.

New business models may help companies positively engage with parties that would otherwise infringe existing IP rights. However, a continuing need for strong IP protection will remain, allowing companies to deal with direct illicit competition from aggressive and uncooperative parties. Our current IP law systems are geared towards dealing with the manufacture, distribution, sale, etc. of physical goods. One commonly used method for enforcing IP rights is cross-border customs detentions, but on-the-spot manufacture and manufacture of very small production runs mean that the number of products crossing international borders is reducing, rendering border detention ineffective. And, as the music industry learnt, in a world where some or all IP infringement is carried out by private individuals or other small scale IP right infringers, it quickly becomes unrealistic and economically pointless to go after all infringers. If the distribution of electronic files used to manufacture new products could be stopped, then infringing activities could be more readily counteracted. Current IP law systems are, however, not well suited to dealing with this kind of file distribution. Although measures exist to help companies pursue parties providing CAD files to others for them to manufacture products through 3D printing, it is more difficult to apply these measures than to stop infringing physical goods. Fears that parliaments will pass laws to ease this burden have been voiced for a while but even if parliaments around the world decided not to follow any such calls, it is inevitable that the courts will, sooner or later, come across a situation in which intellectual property rights are flagrantly infringed, but where standard interpretations of current law has not yet had to deal with any such new but evident abuse. The law cannot anticipate all the problems arising from future technological developments. This is why laws steadily evolve and adapt to new situations by

courts interpret existing laws in new unforeseen situations, generating case law that can later be relied upon by other parties in similar situations. As courts hear more cases involving IP infringement from additive manufacturers, new case law will increase legal certainty for the public and IP rights holders. But, few companies will want to be involved in the “test cases” that create that new case law, given the uncertainties involved. There are some things that companies can do now to avoid such potentially risky disputes – for example, by having patent applications drafted from the outset in a way that helps prevent unauthorised parties from creating and distributing CAD files of an innovative product. It is critical that relevant steps are taken at the planning and creation stages, for example when a patent application is drafted before its filing with a patent office. This can be a difficult task for two reasons. Firstly it is necessary for professional advisers not only to understand their clients’ business, but also to have a good understanding of the legal challenges that may conceivably lie ahead over the full term of the patent (20 years). In rapidly developing areas of technology, this can be a challenge for Patent Attorneys who advise companies on their IP and draft and file patent applications, unless they maintain a high level of sector knowledge. Secondly, given that additive manufacturing techniques are conceptually very different from traditional manufacturing techniques, patent applications drafted with only traditional manufacturing techniques in mind may well be technically unsuitable for covering additive manufacturing. Because of this, it is likely that companies continuing to manufacture in traditional ways will face situations where their IP protection is no longer fit for purpose. Whatever their reason for not embracing additive manufacturing, they should still bear in mind the dangers to their IP rights associated with alternative, additive manufacturing methods. 

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ARKEMA ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

Polyamide 11: the high-performance material of choice for production parts in Laser Sintering WOR DS : A r na u d L em a i t r e A R K E M A F r a n c e (C e r dat o )

aser Sintering (LS) is the most developed Additive Manufacturing technology for the production of industrial parts thus far. It is best suited to carry the industry beyond prototyping due to the mechanical properties attainable by sintering.

ORIGIN AND CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYAMIDE 11 Polyamide 11, also known as Nylon 11, was launched as a commercial product in 1947 as an alternative to the Polyamide 6.6 developed for textile applications. Polyamides are semi-crystalline polymers obtained by a polycondensation process from monomers; for example amino-11-undecanoic acid for Polyamide 11, and lauryllactam for Polyamide 12. The major difference resides in the number of carbon atoms in the polymer chain (11 carbons for Polyamide 11), which leads to highly different crystalline structure and hydrogen bonding resulting in superior mechanical properties to Polyamide 12. Polyamide 11 is derived from castor oil while Polyamide 12 is derived from fossil oil. According to ISO 14040, the Eco Profile of Polyamide 11 shows a -41% CO2 emission and a –44% fossil energy use compared to Polyamide 12 (1). POLYAMIDE 11 AND LASER SINTERING Having been used since the 1990’s, Polyamide 11 was qualified for flying LS parts in aerospace in the 2000’s. With the development of new powders specially designed for this demanding technology, Polyamide 11 is now broadly used either neat or filled (carbon fibers, glass beads or fibers, fire-retardant) in industries such as aeronautics and racing (2), automotive, sport, and medical. Processing Polyamide 11 has been dramatically improved (3) over the last 5 years with the development of optimised LS grades. The processing window for neat Polyamide 11 is larger than that of neat Polyamide 12 resulting in greater choice of processing parameters to obtain reproducible mechanical properties (4).

BENEFITS OF POLYAMIDE 11 IN LASER SINTERING All LS test specimens described herein have been manufactured using an EOS Formiga P100 machine, and the parts have been conditioned 2 weeks @ 23°C under 50% Relative Humidity. Figure 1

ELONGATION AT BREAK Thanks to its more ductile crystalline structure (5), Polyamide 11 exhibits superior tensile properties such as elongation at break, especially in the Z direction (usually the weakest direction of AM technologies). (See figure 1) IMPACT RESISTANCE Low temperature has a very negative effect on the resistance to impact of Polyamide 12, 6, and 6.6, however this has no influence on the excellent resistance of Polyamide 11 (See figure 2).

Figure 2

FATIGUE TESTING Regarding fatigue, the superiority of Polyamide 11 is particularly evident in the Z direction, with a +60% performance at high number of cycles vs. Polyamide 12 (See figure 3). ELASTIC MEMORY One of the key characteristics of Polyamide 11 is the excellent elastic memory due to the higher ductility before irreversible plastic deformation: figure 4 shows that when submitted to a 20% distortion, the part made from Polyamide 11 can fully recover its initial dimension, whereas the part in Polyamide 12 keeps a minimum 5.6% distortion. AESTHETICAL AND FUNCTIONAL PARTS MADE FROM 100% RENEWABLE ORIGIN Parts manufactured in LS using Polyamide 11 have a very distinguished look and can be either natural or deep black for excellent finish with little required posttreatment. On top of this, Polyamide 11 is the only LS material that is manufactured industrially from castor plants, a non-GMO, non-edible crop growing on poor soil in semi-arid areas and using very few pesticides. As a result, the manufactured LS parts are using 100% renewable carbon resources.

SUMMARY The use of Polyamide 11 in Laser Sintering is the best existing, commercial answer to deliver functional parts that exhibit excellent mechanical properties (elongation at break, impact resistance, fatigue behavior, elastic memory), while being the only current solution to delivering parts made from 100% renewable origin. It is particularly exciting that Polyamide 11 is exhibiting fairly isotropic mechanical properties, as opposed to most of the materials used in Additive Manufacturing technologies. The excellent performance of the parts

Figure 3

Figure 4

made with Polyamide 11, in all directions, and especially in the Z direction, is the current solution to the manufacturing challenges of the Industry 4.0.

SOURCES

(1) Arkema internal data (2) TCT Show UK 2015, Brett Lyons, Patrick Warner, Rick Booth, Developing Materials for Aerospace and Motorsports (3) SFF 2012, Ben Fulcher, David K. Leigh (Harvest Technologies), Effect of Segregated First and Second Melt Point on Laser Sintered Part Quality and Processing (4) iCAT 2014, Andreas Wegner (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany), Influence of Process Parameters on the Part Properties of Laser Sintered Polyamide 11 (5) 2008, Patrick Dang, Sylvie Tence-Girault, Polyamide 11 and Polyamide 12 : So close but So different, Why PA11 is the best!  24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com

059

ULTIMAKER ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

In this ever-evolving industry where even multi-nationals fail, Ultimaker – the Dutch Company started in a FabLab - has continued to grow and at formext powered by tct it will showcase its third generation of powerful machinery. Daniel O’Connor explores one desktop 3D printing company’s remarkable resoluteness.

W O R D S : DA N I E L O ’C O N N O R

Staying Power

ack in the early 2010s the two most recognisable desktop 3D printing brands were MakerBot and 3D Systems’ Cubify brand. They personified the Gartner Hype Cycle; they peaked at CES 2014 with MakerBot launching three new machines and 3D Systems launching even more. It became a Sega vs. Nintendo-like battle and featured prominently in the documentary Print The Legend. The peaks were high but the lows of the trough of disillusionment hit them hard. MakerBot was sold for $400m and subsequently struggled to live up to expectations. There was a substantial backlash from its customer-base for a malfunctioning hardware and an extreme cost-cutting exercise involving substantial staff cuts was required. MakerBot is currently in the process of reestablishing itself as a professional brand. 3D Systems launched and acquired a host of technologies designed to put a 3D printer in every room. That ill-conceived pipe dream failed, the CEO departed and the consumer arm, Cubify, was shut down. The new CEO is adamant that it will never return (page 51). At the same time as those peaks and troughs, Ultimaker was growing quietly, steadily and organically. Creating a substantial user-base for its reliable open-source desktop 3D printer, those users built-upon the machine and the company listened to their requests for new features, adding them as they went along. “Rather than Ultimaker concocting a strategy of where we think the industry should go, by being community orientated and listening to the customers, we’ve gone where the customers have found the applications.” Says Director of UltimakerGB, Paul Croft. “The

By being community orientated and listening to the customers, we’ve gone where the customers have found the applications.

trough of disillusionment has never happened for us because we’ve stayed humble, we don’t think we know best when it comes to what our customers use the printers for.” While this may sound like the talk of a plucky little ma & pop company only after the small-fry maker market the truth is quite the contrary. Ultimaker launched the Ultimaker 3 in a synchronised global event that echoed that of an Apple launch complete with talks from companies like Onshape and Jabil. Speaking at the New York launch, Vice President of Digital Manufacturing at Jabil said on the installation of a farm of Ultimakers at a high-volume Jabil factory, “Within hours of setup we already solved the needs of replacement parts that can go directly into the workflow in minutes, for fractions of the cost.” This kind of validation is gold-dust for Paul Croft and his team, “For somebody at a company like Jabil to say that, to me, is the social proof that the whole industry needs, it is not just about Ultimaker.” “We’ve now got soluble support and industrial materials,” continues the Director. “We are seeing people who have been using

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ULTIMAKER ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

RIGHT: The Ultimaker Bot farm

additive manufacturing for a substantial amount of time, starting to think, ‘maybe we don’t need that £100,000 industrial printer that only has one build platform?’ It may be better for them to invest in multiple machines that give your designers and engineers more innovation capacity because they’ve got that flexibility in terms of the hardware they have at their disposal.”

THE NEW FEATURES As Paul mentioned the big upgrade on the Ultimaker 3 is dual extrusion that allows the printing with a soluble support material. Although that is nothing new in the wider world of 3D printing it has been plagued with issues of inaccuracy, oozing and slow build times. The Ultimaker seal of approval means users can now reap the benefits of a thoroughly thought out technology. “I can remember launching the Ultimaker 2 at TCT Show two years ago and talking about the possibilities of dual extrusion then,” explains Paul. “But we didn’t want to come to market with a product that isn’t ready, we’ve taken our time. When it comes to down to people actually using it and having access to the technology we want them to have the best possible experience.” The Ultimaker 3 (£2795 + VAT) and its bigger brother Ultimaker 3 Extended (£3535 + VAT) come with that dual extrusion. Part of Ultimaker’s unique offering is the auto nozzle-lifting system that ensures there is no nozzle collision while printing and no problematic oozing. Other features include new print heads that Ultimaker is calling ‘print cores’, which are easily swapped in and out. Out of the box the Ultimaker 3 has print cores for build and support material. The print nozzles have sensors that allow you to automatically level the build-plate, which has also seen improvements in stability.

Although Ultimaker is dedicated to open-source and allows the user to experiment with new materials, for easeof-use the Ultimaker materials come complete with NFC tags. The Ultimaker 3 reads the NFC tag and adjusts the profiles immediately. The NFC reader is embedded into the new spool-holder - the manufacture of which offers quite the 3D printing case study...

3D PRINTING FOR PRODUCTION As the launch of the Ultimaker 3 appeared on the horizon a last minute design change was required in order to stop the second filament becoming loose, an anti-entanglement clip and NFC reader were implemented in the design, which could significantly delay the launch. “All the spool holders for the 500 beta units were 3D printed on Ultimaker 3s using a dual extrusion set up,” explains Paul Croft. “We had a farm of machines running around the clock as part of the production process because we couldn’t get the injection moulded spool holders quickly enough to meet the Oct 18th launch.” The new connectivity features of the Ultimaker 3 allowed a team in Zaltbommel, Netherlands to set up 28 interconnected printers. The farm produced 700 spool holders in under four weeks, with a print success rate of over 86% and a calculated average uptime of 92%. Each spool holder was printed using the dual build feature and the new PVA soluble support material. After printing parts were bathed in water under 30˚C overnight. Parts then just needed to dry and be quality-checked before final assembly. “That’s not only a fantastic way to test your product as a manufacturing application,” says Paul. “It is also a great way for us to say, ‘we can see where the market is heading and it isn’t just for prototyping,’ we’re seeing a move to end-use parts and jigs and fixtures being made on desktop 3D printers.” This is not a 3D printer in every home but Ultimaker’s journey shows that the market for desktop 3D printing is very much alive and kicking.  For more information visit www.ultimaker.com

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063

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HE FIRST EVER formnext powered by tct in 2015 launches and technologies you can expect to find on the amassed over 14,000 square metres of exhibition show floor. space, showcased over 230 exhibitors and was Accompanying the chockfull exhibition space, the TCT attended by around 9,000 international visitors. Conference team has once again put together another That’s a fairly impressive set of figures but this year’s edition of unbeatable line-up of speakers for a huge conference the Frankfurt event is set to completely smash those numbers agenda, which this year will take place across four full days with an even bigger space and concentration of world market in its own dedicated arena off the show floor. Delegates leaders coming together for the leading international event will hear inspiring presentations from the likes of paraon next generation manufacturing technologies on 15-18th athlete Denise Schindler, BMW Gorup, BAE Systems and November. many more big names taking to the main stage. Running Something not many tradeshows can say, the formnext alongside the main conference, the TCT stand will host a powered by tct floor plan was locked in months before the series of presentations from Fraunhofer, HP, 3D Systems, doors are set to open, with well over 260 exhibitors selling SLM Solutions and more. out an additional 40% of exhibition space in Hall 3.1 of Messe Frankfurt. SHOW FEATURES Last year’s event saw a influx of new technologies from Returning this year will be the formnext Start-Up Renishaw, Ricoh, Additive Industries along with many others, Challenge, which invites young innovative additive and this year will follow suit with launches and new machines companies to exhibit amongst some of the industry’s anticipated from both industry heavyweights and newcomers. biggest names. Five winners; 3YOURMIND, Additive Visitors can expect a new Laser Metal Fusion system from Elements GmbH, Gravity Sketch, Mcubus and Xioneer, will Trumpf, new machines from EOS, and Concept Laser will each exhibit in the Start-up Area. officially launch its AM Factory of Tomorrow modular concept. Also taking place will be the Purmundus challenge, which In addition, Nano Dimension will demonstrate its DragonFly recognises the best forward-thinking product design ideas 2020 3D printer for professional PCBs, Dyemansion will launch under the theme of “3D Printing for the Mobile Individual”. an automated blasting system and a new upgrade to its DM60 A special area at the show will be dedicated to exhibiting colouring technology, whilst Stratasys will demonstrate how the shortlisted designs based on quality, concept, its advanced 3D printing capabilities are transforming the face originality and use of of product development. 3D printing. The winner The following pages of our will be announced on formnext powered by tct takes bumper formnext preview site on 17th November place on 15-18th November will highlight those and and receive a cash at Messe Frankfurt. many more of the big prize and suite of To attend visit: SolidThinking software.

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makingACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

Main, 17– 20 November 2015

obal. Act Frankfurt.

he tool/form-making and additive technologies/ well as their suppliers and partners will be tise to trade visitors from around the world at rom 17 – 20 November 2015.

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DESKTOP FORMNEXT 3D PRINTING PREVIEW ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

SponSOred by

STRATASYS STAND H40

International exhibition and conference Exhibitor Highlights on additive technologies and tool making

Stratasys will demonstrate how its advanced 3D printing technologies are transforming the face of product development and manufacturing. Visitors will be able to hear how world-leading names such as Airbus, Opel, BMW and Schneider Electric, are utilising 3D printing to transform traditional manufacturing processes such as composite tooling, injection moulding and robust final part production. The company will also highlight how its FDM and PolyJet technologies are streamlining the design cycle and securing substantial efficiencies within concept modelling and advanced prototyping applications. Stratasys will also host an informative ‘Future Zone’ where visitors will hear about the company’s recently announced huge Infinite-Build and Robotic Composite 3D Demonstrators designed to break barriers in part performance and propel production efficiency for aerospace and automotive manufacturing. 

Frankfurt am Main, formnext.com

Think global. ENVISIONTEC STAND E10

EnvisionTEC will debut a new large-format 3D printer and its Viridis3D Robotic Additive Manufacturing (RAM) technology for the first time in Europe. The Vector Hi-Res 3SP will make its global debut, the high-resolution version of the Vector 3SP is a 3D printing machine built for the production of large parts without sacrificing the surface quality and part accuracy. With a build envelope of 300 x 200 x 200 mm, The Vector HiRes provides resolution down to 60 μm in X and Y, an improvement of 40 μm. Additionally, the new 3D printer provides improved resolution of 25-100 μm in Z, depending on material and user settings. EnvisionTEC’s RAM technology will also be demonstrated live throughout the show. The RAM 123 uses a robot arm from ABB outfitted with a unique print head and software that uses binder jetting technology to print sand moulds and cores up to 1 x 2 x 3 feet, or 30.48 x 60.96 x 91.44 cm.

Representatives from the tool/for 3D printing sectors as well as the showcasing their expertise to tra formnext in Frankfurt from 17 – 2

Benefit from this fascinating new world’s most spectacular halls. NANO DIMENSION STAND B60F

Where ideas tak

Nano Dimension will demonstrate its highly anticipated 3D printer for professional PCBs and electric circuits. The DragonFly 2020 3D Printer is the world’s first desktop-sized 3D printer designed for the production of professional multilayer PCBs and was first delivered to customers in Israel and the U.S. in the third quarter of 2016. The company has also recently started to 3D-print circuits beyond PCBs, including antennas, moulded interconnect devices (MIDs), and more. Visitors to the booth will be able to see a wide range of PCB and circuit samples printed by the DragonFly 2020 whilst the company’s Co-founder and CBO, Simon Fried will discuss the future of 3D printed electronics on the TCT Stand Stage on 17th November at 4pm.

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Exhibitor Highlights

DESKTOP FORMNEXT 3D PRINTING PREVIEW

FARLEYGREENE STAND C02

Farleygreene will present the SIEVGEN 400-US sieving system equipped with an ultrasonic screening system for classifying and recycling of metal and fine powders pre and post build. With the high operator costs incurred using different media types, this new system gives the user a low cost method of giving quality assured powder, with the added benefit of reclaiming used powders.

ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

Think global. SponSOred by

Representatives from the tool/form 3D printing sectors as well as thei showcasing their expertise to trad formnext in Frankfurt from 17 – 20

Benefit from this fascinating new e world’s most spectacular halls. RENISHAW Stand F68

Where ideas take

Renishaw will highlight the role metal additive manufacturing plays in the manufacturing process with the Moto 2 motorcycle and the Robot Bike Co. R160 bespoke mountain bike frame, one of the latest innovations to come out of Renishaw’s global network of Solutions Centres. Launched at last year’s formnext, the stand will also feature Renishaw’s latest metal AM system, the RenAM 500M, aimed specifically at industrialised additive manufacturing for series production. Visitors will be able to view the TransFIORmers Moto 2 bike, a unique racing motorcycle with an additively manufactured titanium wishbone. Another highlight on the booth is the Sprint system, the company’s high-speed, high-accuracy contact scanning system for CNC machine tools.

DYEMANSION Stand J80

Taking the successes and lessons learned from previous projects, the SIEVGEN 400-US was created leveraging 40 years of expertise into one ergonomic and simple package to bring powder handling in-line with today’s high end AM machines. In addition, the Sievgen Design Service has been set up specifically to answer current and future requirements, working with customers to create bespoke solutions to fulfil their needs.

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After the launch of its DM60 colouring system for laser sintered plastic parts, DyeMansion will introduce its new Powershot blasting system designed to deliver high quality SLS surface finishing. The technology provides SLS parts with a matt glossy look, valuable haptics, significantly better dirt repellence and is an efficient alternative to common tumbling. The DM60 system has also undergone an upgrade with an additional reservoir by which dye from black colour cartridges can be reused to ensure faster lead times and reduces costs. At formnext, the company is also focusing on the growing demand for coatings for SLS parts and will introduce new coating solutions that promise hydrophobic, antibacterial and ultra UVor write to formnext@mesago.com resistant surfaces.

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Tradition and Innovation Sodick’s new OPM250L: additive manufacturing plus CNC milling combined for the first time in one machine

The new and unique Sodick OPM250L combines the latest metal additive manufacturing technology with the very best integral linear motor drive milling centre - creating the first one-step solution to the entire additive manufacturing/CNC milling process. If you are looking for the rock solid security of Sodick’s unsurpassed machining expertise together with the ultimate flexibility of additive manufacturing to give you that all-important competitive edge, you need to check out the OPM250L. So, call us today and get ahead of the game. Sodick Europe Ltd., Rowley Drive, Baginton, Coventry, CV3 4FG Tel. +44 (0)24 7621 4314 Email europe@sodick.eu.com www.sodick.org

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ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

Exhibitor Highlights

DESKTOP FORMNEXT 3D PRINTING PREVIEW SponSOred by

CONCEPT LASER Stand F48

CAMBRIDGE TECHNOLOGY Stand C77

For the first time Cambridge Technology, part of the Novanta Photonics Group, a leading company with a long history in galvanometer based beam steering technology, will be exhibiting at formnext. Taking pride of place will be the Lightning II digital galvanometer scanning solution. Lightning II represents the culmination of many decades’ experience in the beam steering industry. Built on a 24bit digital architecture, offering class leading precision and accuracy, the system is extremely capable, flexible and has already been integrated into numerous application domains. Lightning II complements the evolution in additive manufacturing with a solution based on the six core technologies shown in the image. 

Recently acquired by GE the metal additive manufacturing company, who launched its first ever product in Frankfurt a number of years ago will showcase a new machine architecture at formnext. With the integration into the machine environment, decoupling and automation of process stages, the lead times until the finished 3D part is ready are massively reduced. Oliver Edelmann, Vice President Global Sales & Marketing: “As a trend-setter, Concept Laser is once again providing different solutions to the competition. And this is a good thing too. With its new machine architecture, Concept Laser will again set a milestone and benchmark in the Additive Manufacturing of metallic parts. This approach follows completely new paths and enables economical series production. We want to significantly enhance the added value for our users.”

ADDITIVE INDUSTRIES Stand H60

Last year Additive Industries showcased its MetalFAB1 printer at formnext… virtually. Virtual Reality headsets allowed attendees to see the machine that is designed for series production of metal parts. This year gone are the headsets as the MetalFAB1 and the Additive World Platform will be physically on site for attendees to see first hand. ”

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DESKTOP FORMNEXT 3D PRINTING PREVIEW ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

SponSOred by

DMG MORI Stand F80

ARBURG Stand F70

formnext will offer an opportunity for the tooling giant DMG to showcase its advancements in the world of additive manufacturing. On display will be the LASERTEC 65 3D and the ULTRASONIC 20 linear. The LASERTEC 65 3D marks a significant step into additive manufacturing by DMG, it combines laser deposition and milling in a single setup. “This enables the production of highly complex components”, says Friedemann Lell, sales director for laser machines. This technology opens up dimensions in construction that would have been unthinkable before, like many 3D geometries with undercuts or, for instance, conformal cooling of injection moulding tools, where the mould with its internal cooling channels is built up by laser deposition welding and finished by 5-axis milling in one set up. 

Arburg will be presenting the potential and further development of the Freeformer and of Arburg Plastic Freeforming (APF). Qualified standard granulates will be used to produce fully functional parts in an additive process. The materials processed will include high-temperature plastic (PEI), medical-grade polylactide (PLA) and a biopolyamide (PA). Three exhibits at formnext 2016 will demonstrate the wide range of applications of the Freeformer and of APF in industrial additive manufacturing. The system, which works on the basis of inexpensive, qualified standard granulates, continues to be developed on an ongoing and practical basis. The focus is on qualifying further materials and on process-reliable continuous operation.

ROBOZE Stand K80

One year on from debuting its industrial grade desktop manufacturing systems, the Italian company is back with a new and improved machine , the Roboze One + 400. The name links to the fact that it is capable of printing in over 13 advanced thermoplastics thanks to its ability to exceed 400°C extrusion. “This occasion provided us the opportunity to engage users from different segments, looking for unique solutions for advanced additive manufacturing applications.” Says Ilaria Guicciardini, Roboze’s Marketing Manager. “Clearly, the focus was on the ability to produce durable parts for extreme environmental testing and end use applications, a capability no other 3d company could fully provide. The inputs we got were great and helped us better understand the users needs and even implement some of their requirements… later on this year we started to deliver our the Roboze One+400 to the market. Right from the start, we got amazing feedbacks, especially from large corporations who decided to adopt our technology as part of their long-term plan to implement 3d printing in their manufacturing process.”

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Join us. Together, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re about to engineer the never-before. Voxel by voxel. Visit the HP Booth K50, at Hall 3.1

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DESKTOP FORMNEXT 3D PRINTING PREVIEW ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

SponSOred by

EOS Stand G70

At formnext EOS will mark the European debut for its fastest Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) system to date, The EOS M 400-4. The EOS M 400-4 expands the high-performance offerings of DMLS systems. It offers a large building volume of 400 x 400 x 400 mm and is equipped with four 400 Watt lasers operating independently in 250 x 250 mm squares each including an overlap of 50 mm. The beam and power stability ensures highest DMLS part quality. The system builds on the wellestablished and validated process of the EOS M 290 technology.

NANOSCRIBE Stand D22

TRUMPF Stand H20

After launching two new machines at formnext 2015, the laser manufacturer Trumpf return with new improved TruPrint 3000. The new system comes with a 500 watt laser and can manufacture components of up to 400 millimetres in height and 300 millimetres in diameter. It works on the basis of an industrial exchangeable cylinder, which allows for parallel setup and post-processing and guarantees a high level of machine availability. “With the TruPrint 3000, we are shifting the focus onto the industrialisation of additive manufacturing based on the whole process chain. That means that we consider not only the manufacturing technology itself, but also – and this is quite in the spirit of Industry 4.0 – the work steps that precede and follow it,” says Peter Leibinger, Head of TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH.

Attendees to formnext will be able to see what the German company Nanoscribe are calling ‘the world’s highest resolution systems for threedimensional nanoand microfabrication’. Based on the technique of two-photon polymerisation, these 3D laser lithography systems offer submicron feature sizes on or below the length scale of the wavelength of light. When common additive manufacturing technologies like stereolithography reach their limits, these 3D printers reveal their full potential providing a 100x higher resolution. Previously unavailable design freedom in microfabrication and structural heights far beyond conventional lithography techniques guarantee best solutions and make them a tool for scientific as well as industrial customers.

VIRTUAL GRAPHICS Stand A22

Volume Graphics, a leading developer of software for the analysis and visualisation of industrial computed tomography (CT) data, announced a new addon module that allows customers to predict if and where a part would break solely based on CT data. The Structural Mechanics Simulation Module for the high-end software VGStudio MAX 3.0 will be released before the end of 2016. This module can reliably predict the locations of structural weak points in a part. A comparison of simulation results with real-world tests proved the astounding precision of these predictions: The part fractured at the exact spot the software had anticipated. 24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com

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EOS e-Manufacturing Solutions

Plastic gripper for handling of chips packages, built with EOS P 396. (Source: Formrise) Metal weight optimized bracket, built with EOS M 400-4. (Source: Airbus, Sogeti)

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FORMNEXT DESKTOP 3D CONFERENCE PRINTING ACCELERATING 3D TECHNOLOGIES

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FormNEXT CONFERENCE

PREVIEW BREADTH AND DEPTH Held for the first time in The second 2015 and featuring speakers Formnext from Audi, EDAG, Schunk, powered BMW, Fraunhofer and more, by TCT the Formnext powered by conference TCT Conference immediately revealed itself as a musttakes place attend event for anyone 15-18th interested in 3D technologies. November — The 2016 programme here’s what expands on the previous year you can with 33% more content — a expect. reflection of the increasing diversity of the event as a whole, and the continued rapid evolution of the industry. The programme has been carefully curated to ensure it covers the topics most pertinent to users and potential users of 3D technologies today while signposting the developments to follow for the future. Organisations interested in 3D tech for product development, for manufacturing or for other engineering projects will be well catered for. OPENING WITH THE WOW FACTOR The first hour of each day is dedicated to broad but fascinating stories from our Keynotes and Blue Chip users. The very first

The programme is packed full of the best speakers from the world of additive manufacturing and those from traditional manufacturing in order to demonstrate how the two seemingly disparate technologies are converging on factory floors across the globe.

speaker, Denise Schindler, is a para-athlete whose natural abilities are unleashed by 3D tech. Her inspiring story demonstrates perfectly the versatility of 3D technologies and the real and tangible impacts they can have on people’s lives. While the personal stories are often most powerful, sessions from high-tech multinationals like Thales, BAE Systems, P&G and GE will reveal another side of 3D technologies and their impacts not only on business models but also users of products from all walks of life. Following the keynotes the main body of presentations spans applications from SMEs, insights into the current research projects around 3D technologies, explorations of important and often overlooked aspects of the technologies such as recruitment, training and the legal implications for both users of the technologies and brands looking to secure their IP. Speakers from Deutchsche Bahn, Mecuris, DQBD, Brechmann and the Aachen Center for Additive Manufacturing are set to reveal the state-of-the-art across the plethora of technologies, services and support systems for successful deployment of 3D technologies into businesses large and small.

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DESKTOP FORMNEXT 3D PRINTING PREVIEW SponSOred by

TCT INTRODUCING AT FORMNEXT

New for 2016 is the TCT Introducing at Formnext stage. With the impressive growth in the exhibition floor it is more challenging than ever to see every innovation on show. The TCT Introducing at Formnext stage bring the exhibitors to the visitors, with each vendor assigned 20 minutes to update the crowds on their latest product and service developments. A couple of hours in these sessions could save a lot of shoe leather! The ‘Introducing’ stage will also play host to Graham Tromans Introduction to AM — a rightly popular session that

is perfect for beginners or those looking to refresh their knowledge of the multiple AM technologies and systems available today. Graham’s session is free-to-attend but is always busy, so arrive early if you want a seat.

A CORNERSTONE OF THE GLOBAL SERIES

The Formnext powered by TCT conference is one of a global series produced by the TCT Conferences team, including TCT Show UK; TCT @ CES, Las Vegas; RAPID + TCT, Pittsburgh; TCT @ MATOF, Korea and TCT Asia, Shanghai.

THE FORMNEXT KEYNOTES Denise Schindler, Professional Para-athlete Tuesday, 15.11.2016, 10:00 - 10:30 hrs Sport Without Limits: New Technologies Pave The Way for Big Goals

Due to the amputation of her lower leg Denise Schindler had a difficult relationship with sports for quite a long time. When she discovered cycling, she experienced how much energy and vitality she got from that and realised that other disabled people need to have this possibility as well. As sport prostheses are very expensive and not affordable for most amateur athletes, Denise has devoted time to working on a new method for producing prostheses. Here, the stump is measured by a laser scanner, modelling a prosthetic attachment in Autodesk Fusion 360 and printed using a 3D printer. With this procedure sport prostheses can be produced more quickly, precisely fitting and above all, cheaper. Attend this presentation to hear Denise Schindler talk about her athletic career, the project with Autodesk and what benefits new technologies have for prosthesis production. She will also reflect on the role of the innovative prosthetics at the Paralympic Games in Rio.

Prof. Tsung-Yuan Tsai, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hosptial Wednesday, 16.11.2016, 10:00 - 10:30 hrs Additive Manufacturing Technology is Widely Entering the Medical Field - Shanghai Experience

3D printing technology facilitates the cooperation between doctors and engineers, and the conversion between the basic medical research and clinical applications. It allows doctors to practice personalised medicine to meet the specific needs of individual patients. In orthopedics, individualised prostheses can be tailored precisely to each customer’s whims. Through 3D printing technology, custom-made tissue engineering scaffold can be produced to build bone, cartilage, tendon or bone/cartilage complex, and even complete seeding live cells with growth factor in the printing process, which is known as bioprinting. 3D printing technology is transforming contemporary medicine and this talk will share the experience of using 3D printing technology to treat complicated clinical cases at Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital in China.

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Terry Wohlers, Wohlers Associates Inc. Thursday, 17.11.2016, 10:00 - 10:30 hrs The Future of Additive Manufacturing

It has never been more exciting to be a part of the additive manufacturing and 3D printing industry. Investment in R&D and the commercialisation of new AM products and services are at an all-time high. For example, 31 companies sold industrial AM systems in 2011. This number doubled to 62 companies in 2015. Consider also that more than 55 companies now offer third-party materials for industrial AM machines. These choices are unprecedented. However, the question for many is this: To what extent will these developments, coupled with many new national programs and large corporate investments, advance the industry? And, how does my company fit into this developing ecosystem? In this presentation industry consultant, analyst, author, and speaker Terry Wohlers will provide his views, opinions, and insight around these and other issues that are reshaping this fast-moving industry.

Mohammad Ehteshami, GE Aviation, Friday, 18.11.2016, 10:00 - 10:30 hrs Additive Integration at GE Aviation

Mohammad Ehteshami was named to his current position as Vice President, Additive Integration in September 2016. In this role, Mohammad provides strategic direction and operational leadership to GE’s additive manufacturing ecosystem. Having recently acquired two major metal 3D printing companies integration has become and essential part of GE’s portfolio. Join the final day’s keynote to see how one of the world’s leading engineering corporations sees additive manufacturing as crucial to its future.

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GRIMM COLUMN

FIND YOUR SHERPA

elusive and difficult to achieve even when the goal is clear and the path is obvious. Neither may be true for additive manufacturing, which makes success even more challenging. We are in a dynamic period where we are still discovering the real potential and value; when the possibilities are numerous; and when the landscape is everchanging. The opportunities are there, but they are often vague and nebulous. Compounded by the constant stream of new technologies, new players and new machines, it can become overwhelming, perplexing and bewildering when attempting to map out the goals and plans for your additive manufacturing efforts. Last month, both in the TCT Magazine and from the stage at the TCT Show, I recommended that we focus on use cases, rather than broad-based application concepts, to address the challenge. While the idea was well received, many asked how to go about identifying use cases that will yield real benefits and how to select the right technology to achieve success. In these dynamic times, companies are seeking direction and guidance. They need sage advice and wise council, not hope, hyperbole and speculation. They need to seek out a navigator, a sherpa, that can lead them onward and upward. Your additive manufacturing sherpa can take many forms but must be skilled, knowledgeable and dedicated. While a fulltime sherpa may not be possible, or even advisable, he/she must be allowed to dedicate time to investigate the additive manufacturing landscape on a weekly basis, at a minimum. As a guide, they would be ineffective if all other job responsibilities take precedence. There is simply too much to absorb for a casual observer to be effective in charting the course. The time allotted to additive manufacturing endeavors will also be used to uncover real applications with real benefits within your operations. But to do so, your sherpa should be observant, inquisitive and vigilant. uccess is often

This is a time when strategic plans supersede reactionary responses.

Todd Grimm

is a stalwart of the additive manufacturing industry, having held positions across sales and marketing in some of the industry’s biggest names. Todd is currently the AM Industry advisor with AMUG

tgrimm@tagrimm.com

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24 : 6 www.tctmagazine.com

WORDS : TODD GRIMM

Throughout the day, he/she should be pondering if a task, project or plan could be improved through additive manufacturing. When those opportunities appear, they should then question the value to the company. Your sherpa should also have a blend of optimism and pragmatism. A personality that easily justifies the status quo is just as harmful as one that chases unrealistic dreams. Innovation is at the core of unleashing the full potential of additive manufacturing, but it must be balanced with a heavy dose of realism. That balance can be achieved through those that possess capabilities that span technology, operations, business and finance. He/she does not need to be experienced in all these areas, just capable of learning and appreciating the fundamentals of each. Experience in additive manufacturing and in your industry are also optional. Those can be learned. In some cases, it may even prove advantageous to follow the lead of a sherpa who does not start with preconceived notions about what works, what doesn’t and what is possible. The critical element is finding the right personality, the right blend of skills and the right outlook. Without a sherpa, additive manufacturing machines may sit idle and opportunities may pass by. Without a sherpa, companies are left to act on instinct and supposition rather than insight and awareness. In many ways, additive manufacturing is a solution looking for problems to solve. With the right sherpa, you will reverse that and attack the challenges, as well as the opportunities, with additive manufacturing as a tool for consideration. If you believe that a sherpa is in order, start by looking within your company. Your sherpa may already be an employee that just needs grooming and a revision to his/her job responsibilities. The sherpa may also be you. If a candidate cannot be found, then seek to hire the sage advice and wise council of someone that can lead your additive manufacturing efforts and adapt to the everchanging landscape. 

In these dynamic times, companies are seeking direction and guidance. They need sage advice and wise council, not hope, hyperbole and speculation. They need to seek out a navigator, a sherpa, that can lead them onward and upward.

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