Over 200 Attend art2part Inaugural Conference in Pune

PUNE, India - Dec 7, 2016 - (SimplyCAD Exclusive) "Theory is when you know everything but nothing works, likewise, practice is when everything works but no one knows why (it works)?" .... this is an excerpt from a spectacular speech on "Challenges in Micro-machining" given by Dr. Dinesh Singh Thakur, an associate professor and Controller of the Examinations, at the department of the mechanical engineering of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), DRDO, Girinagar, Pune, which kept all the attendees present in the auditorium awaken until this late hour lecture on the first day of its maiden seminar of art2part Conference 2016.

art2part 2016 - Ideation to Creation, is a first-of-its-kind, two days symposium hosted in a collaborative efforts by three Pune-based firms, namely CNCTimes.com, DailyCADCAM.com and MfgTechUpdate.com (MTU) for machine tools professionals as well as for such industrial enthusiasts at Auto Cluster Business Centre, in Chinchwad, Pune.

B. P. Poddar, VP - Sales & Marketing, FEMCO India, interacting with attendees

All eyes and ears being part of the session

The main aim of the this art2part conference was to highlight the overall product design to manufacturing cycle, right from the concept to reality and thus help the attendees to have in-depth knowledge about the latest design and machine tools such as CAD, CAM, CAE, FEA, CFD, PLM and also about the testing technologies like IoT, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Cloud solution, hardware, 3D Printing, ERP and Reverse Engineering at one STOP!

Questions, discussion and interaction...

In this two days symposium, more than 200 attendees including entrepreneurs, professionals and students had enjoyed this golden opportunity to interact with various speakers who have a great expertise in their own field. The line of speakers includes, Mr. Vineet Seth, MD, Mastercam for India, South Asia and Middle East; Mr. Ajay Deshkar, Siemens PLM; Mr. B. P. Poddar, VP, Sales & Marketing, FEMCO India; Mr. Gautam Doshi, Advisor, IMTMA, Mr, A A Qazi, Co-founder, Precihole; Mr. Ravi Moolya, Head Indian Operations, Speroni India Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Nilesh Joshi, Autodesk, Mr. Sambit Pradhan, Director Business Development, APAC, Geometric Ltd.; Mr. Vinno Thimmaiah, MD, Nimue Manufacturing Solutions; Mr. Hemant Kamat, Co-founder & CTO, Shalaka Technologies; and also the representatives from PTC, Altair, ANSYS, 3Dconnexion, Hoffmann Quality Tools India, DesignTech, etc.

Knowing the PLM portfolio at Siemens booth

Queries about machining tools at the booth of Hoffmann Quality Tools India

Know more at PTC/ KRATOS

More about additive manufacturing at the booth of Divide by Zero Technologies

In his first public appearance after association with Mastercam, Mr. Vineet Seth, had talked about the growth of the manufacturing world from its ancient past to the future challenges which the engineers be likely face in manufacturing processes.

B. P. Poddar, VP - Sales & Marketing, FEMCO India felicitated with the art2part momentous

"Industry 4.0 is nothing but a fourth manufacturing revolution", said Mr. Ajay Deshkar, Siemens PLM. He further discussed about changing the way and the innovation processes in the manufacturing.

Geometric's Sambit Pradhan, on the new trends in CAM industry - Paperless Manufacturing

"Manufacturing is the fourth industrial revolution. What we know it as Industry 4.0, Germany introduced it as "industrie 4.0" where as USA called it as "smart manufacturing", said Mr. Sambit Pradhan, Director Business Development, APAC, Geometric Ltd. He further discussed about the new trends in CAM industry - Paperless Manufacturing.

Nimue Manufacturing Solutions' MD, Vinno Thimmaih simplifies the definition of virtual reality to attendees, according to him, "virtual reality should be in 3D format, available in 1:1 ratio, realistic, immersive, interactive, it should be feel, touch and may be audible, and should be available in the virtual environment".

A detail about Autodesk's Fusion 360

While explaining cloud computing, Autodesk's Nilesh Doshi previews the exciting features and the applications of Autodesk's Fusion 360 Software to the attendees. He further reminded the attendees about Autodesk's MoU signed with the Government of Maharashtra in the Make in India Week to back MSMEs. The MoU, in which MSMEs in Maharashtra with annual turnover over Rs. one crore will get Fusion 360 Software at a price of Rs 1,999 (plus taxes) with a two years validity. The cost of Fusion 360 Software in open market is about Rs 22,000 per year (approx).

 Techies really never at the rest - "chai pe charcha" still continued...

 Few resting moments....

With such good opportunities of knowledge base at one stop, attendees were expecting the events like art2part should be held on annual basis.

At the end of all the sessions attendees were felicitated with the give-away gifts and with the attendance certificates.

About

To know more about CNCTimes, DailyCADCAM and MfgTechUpdate, visit the following links:

• CNCTimes - http://www.cnctimes.com 

• DailyCADCAM - http://www.dailycadcam.com

• MfgTechUpdate - https://mfgtechupdate.com/

Lufthansa Technik #1 to Adopt EOS EOSTATE MeltPool

KRAILLING, Germany, Sep 29, 2016 - EOS announces, Lufthansa Technik is the first customer to acquire the entire EOSTATE MeltPool solution. At the end of last year, EOS, the global technology and quality leader for high-end solutions in the area of additive manufacturing (AM), introduced EOSTATE MeltPool, an extension for its EOS M 290 system for Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). It provides automated and intelligent process monitoring in real time - for every spot, every layer and every part. In this way, it creates the conditions for the automated monitoring of the melting pool. At the same time, it enables a view inside the part during the build process, as such paving the way for building an entirely new quality system in the future. 

EOS M 290 system for Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)

Udo Behrendt, Key Account Manager at EOS said: “With Lufthansa Technik, we are pleased to welcome an innovative partner from the industry, with whom we will continue to develop our technology for the demanding requirements for the repair of aviation and aerospace components.”

Simon Feicks, Project Manager Additive Manufacturing, Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik, adds: “We selected the EOS solution for several reasons. The underlying metal system EOS M 290 impresses with its process stability. The technology has already proven itself with engine manufacturers. During the decision-making process, we were particularly impressed with this particular combination of EOS core competencies. On this basis, we will be preparing for future component generations that are optimised for Additive Manufacturing, so that we can continue to defend our leadership position in an intensely competitive environment.” 

The EOS powder-based process complements the already established Lufthansa Technik portfolio of Additive Manufacturing methods and in view of future engine components made with Additive Manufacturing represents an essential part of new repair processes. With EOSTATE MeltPool, the company is introducing a key quality management component to the process, which shall contribute to seamless quality control during the build process in the future. Compared to other Additive Manufacturing methods currently in use at Lufthansa Technik, the DMLS technology opens up a number of potentials that could not be implemented to date: for example, Netshape geometries and the realisation of internal cavities ideally complement the repair portfolio. 

In the engine segment, Lufthansa Technik focuses on a hybrid repair approach. Feicks explains that the company wants to get ready for the day when components from the new engine generation, which are made with Additive Manufacturing, arrive in the work shops for repairs, providing customers with cost-efficient and quality-optimised repairs. He adds: “We have already noticed initial successes in the jig department as we were able to reduce lead times and costs. Yet, this technology requires our mechanics, designers and engineers to think differently. It is precisely for this reason that, in addition to the installation of the system, the education and development of our employees forms a key component for the comprehensive use of industrial 3D printing.”

Feicks concludes: “Lufthansa Technik firmly believes that Additive Manufacturing is a technology of the future. It is time to change our way of thinking. Milling was yesterday. Today, parts are selectively built where it is needed. Resource efficiency also plays an important role. We do not want to be limited by tools any longer. The limits of production variance are shifting, and we are looking towards a future that we still have to comprehend.” 

About Lufthansa Technik

With more than 30 subsidiaries and affiliated companies and over 25,000 employees worldwide, the Lufthansa Technik group is one of the leading providers of technical aviation services. The Lufthansa Technik portfolio covers the entire service range for commercial aircraft, including maintenance, repairs, overhauling, modification and retrofitting, engines and components.

About EOS

Founded in 1989, EOS is the global technology and quality leader for high-end Additive Manufacturing (AM) solutions. As the leading pioneer of Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technology, EOS also provides a unique polymer AM portfolio. For these industrial 3D Printing processes, EOS offers a modular solution portfolio including systems, software, materials, technical and consulting services. EOS is the partner of choice for industrial AM production, enabling sustainable solutions for the industry. Customers utilizing EOS AM solutions gain many benefits from the paradigm-shifting technology: lightweight structures, cost reduction based on functional integration, individualization as well as accelerated product development and production.  For more information, visit, www.eos.info.

3D Systems Launches Jaw in a Day Single Surgery Dental Rehabilitation

ROCK HILL, SC, USA, Sep 27, 2016 - 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced the launch of Jaw in a Day, the latest addition to its VSP (Virtual Surgical Planning) Reconstruction product line. Enabled by 3D Systems’ healthcare expertise and proprietary digital-to-physical workflow, this patient-specific process enables surgeons to perform a full jaw reconstruction in a single surgery. This groundbreaking capability could spare patients from months of costly, painful and disruptive medical treatment.

Traditional dental rehabilitation requires multiple surgeries and persistent care over a 6-12 month period. This pattern of procedures often results in patients missing teeth, which introduces a variety of adverse aesthetic, functional, and psychological effects to the patient. This can in turn interfere with patients’ working and social lives throughout the course of treatment.

Jaw in a Day is a single surgery jaw and dental reconstruction enabled via 3D Systems’ VSP Reconstruction service. Surgeons work with 3D Systems engineers who utilize state-of the-art digital CAD/CAM technology to create a personalized surgical plan and design patient-specific surgical guides, models and instruments. These devices are then 3D printed and sterilized for reference and use during the unique procedure. Immediate placement of a provisional dental prosthesis eliminates the need for multiple surgeries, resulting in a complete dental reconstruction months before traditional treatment options.

Jaw in a Day offers treatment at a lower cost, with a quicker recovery period. Because patients are able to limit operating time to a single procedure, Jaw in a Day also reduces the chance of infection and complications that may inherently be more likely with the multiple surgeries of traditional treatment plans. According to David L. Hirsch, DDS, MD, Director of Oral Oncology & Reconstruction, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, and Co-Developer of Jaw in a Day, "This single-stage reconstruction technique has streamlined the treatment of my patients. It avoids multiple procedures, shaving months off the time required for full dental rehabilitation."

To watch Dr. Hirsch explain how Jaw in a Day is transforming jaw reconstruction, click here.

3D Systems will showcase Jaw in a Day at booth #706 at the AAOMS (American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons) 98th Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Las Vegas, NV, Sep 21 - 23.

For more information on Jaw in a Day, click here.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on-demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. 3D Systems’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, 3D Systems has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models. For more information, visit www.3dsystems.com.

3D Systems Names John McMullen as Executive VP, CFO

ROCK HILL, SC, USA, Jun 19, 2016 - 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced that John N. McMullen will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective July 1, 2016. Elected by the Board of Directors and reporting to President & CEO Vyomesh Joshi, McMullen succeeds David Styka in the CFO role. Styka will remain with the company to provide operational and financial support to Management.

McMullen brings to 3D Systems over three decades of progressive finance leadership experience, most recently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kodak (NYSE: KODK). Before that, McMullen led a successful 32-year career at HP and its acquired companies, Compaq Computer and Digital Equipment Corporation. His positions included Senior Vice President of Finance and Corporate Treasurer of HP, Chief Financial Officer of HP’s Imaging and Printing Group, and Vice President of Finance and Strategy for Compaq’s Worldwide Sales and Services Group. Since 2011, McMullen has served on the Board of Directors and as Audit Committee Chair of Vocera Communications.

“We are excited to have a leader of John’s caliber join our team,” commented Vyomesh Joshi (VJ), President & CEO, 3D Systems. “John’s demonstrated ability to deliver an appropriate cost structure, scalable processes and an effective business model at global technology companies can help us drive transformation and profitable growth. I am deeply grateful for Dave’s many contributions to the company and am pleased that he will continue to lend his expertise as part of our evolving team.”

“It is a tremendous opportunity to be part of 3D Systems at such a pivotal time for the company and the 3D printing industry,” commented McMullen. “Based on our successful and productive history, it is a privilege to work alongside VJ once again.”

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on-demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. 3D Systems’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, 3D Systems has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models. For more information, visit www.3dsystems.com.

Stratasys to Offer Universal Design-to-3D Print Software with GrabCAD Print

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, USA and REHOVOT, Israel, May 18, 2016 - Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, unveiled a bold, new software strategy designed to make 3D printing significantly easier, more intuitive and highly accessible. The approach is powered by a new, open architecture "design-to-3D print" workflow application, GrabCAD Print* - residing on the popular GrabCAD SaaS platform and supported by a community of more than 3 million designers, engineers and students.

Unified Platform for Job Preparation, Scheduling and Monitoring

3D printing techniques are typically characterized by significant "model fixing" time which forces businesses to devise costly, manual solutions to construct an acceptable workflow. GrabCAD Print is designed to make 3D printing fast and easy-to-use, while reducing errors by eliminating requirements to translate and repair computer-aided design (CAD) files. Product designers, engineers, and 3D printer operators can now send native CAD files to Stratasys 3D Printer or service bureau directly from their familiar CAD environments. Further bolstered by an extensive new business intelligence environment, the application also accelerates data-driven decision-making.

"When we acquired GrabCAD two years ago, our vision was to provide a digital manufacturing backbone to support adoption of 3D printing technologies," said Josh Claman, Chief Business Officer, Stratasys. "Underscoring the critical nature of software as an essential ingredient for complete and smooth 3D printing workflow, GrabCAD Print is our first new application built on the GrabCAD platform - empowering customers with a single, open, cloud-based environment for job preparation, scheduling and monitoring. Accelerating integration of additive manufacturing on the shop floor, GrabCAD Print also generates real-time business intelligence which can be prepared in actionable reports for Stratasys 3D Printers on the user's GrabCAD Print network."

The GrabCAD Print solution’s easy-to-use and intuitive print preparation environment removes typical complexities from the design-to-3D print process.

An Open Environment for 3D Printing Expansion

GrabCAD Print works with a variety of Stratasys FDM and PolyJet 3D Printers and can natively read several popular CAD formats from PTC Creo, Dassault Systems' SOLIDWORKS, Siemens PLM Software's NX software, CATIA and Autodesk Inventor. The application also facilitates data sharing related to job scheduling, print queue status, material usage and historical usage. All information is readily available via standard Web browsers, mobile applications or locally installed clients while securely managed through the GrabCAD Platform.

New GrabCAD Print simplifies the 3D printing process with an intuitive, streamlined workflow that includes actionable business intelligence.

Committed to architecting an open and partner-friendly solution, Stratasys is making full use of a powerful 3D design ecosystem - creating additional value-added applications based on the GrabCAD Platform. Industry leading CAD solution providers such as PTC, Dassault Systems' SOLIDWORKS, and Siemens PLM Software will be collaborating with Stratasys to further simplify key functions in CAD-to-3D print workflow. Users of these offerings will be able to access Stratasys 3D printing solutions, analyse designs for 3D printability, and prepare and print jobs from their native CAD environment.

"When keeping up with fast paced development, frequently things will change in the last minute. In the past when a build had to be switched to a different 3D printer I'd have to do a clean restart - redo all of that file preparation work. With GrabCAD Print it's easy to switch between 3D printers within a single app. That's a huge step forward in improving the workflow," said Jimmy Callaway, Design Engineer, Joe Gibbs Racing.

*The GrabCAD Print application is planned for public beta in North America this summer with additional releases planned throughout the year alongside new language and regional support.

For more information, visit www.grabcad.com/print. 

About Stratasys Ltd.

For more than 25 years, Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) has been a defining force and dominant player in 3D printing and additive manufacturing - shaping the way things are made. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, the company empowers customers across a broad range of vertical markets by enabling new paradigms for design and manufacturing. The company's solutions provide customers with unmatched design freedom and manufacturing flexibility - reducing time-to-market and lowering development costs, while improving designs and communications. 

Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and SolidScape, and the Stratasys ecosystem includes 3D printers for prototyping and production; a wide range of 3D printing materials; parts on-demand via Stratasys Direct Manufacturing; strategic consulting and professional services; the GrabCAD platform with over 3 million professional users; and the Thingiverse and GrabCAD communities with over 2 million 3D printable files for free designs. With more than 2,700 employees and 800 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents, Stratasys has received more than 30 technology and leadership awards. For more information, visit www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com/.

3D Systems Releases Geomagic Freeform 2016

ROCK HILL, SC, USA, Apr 3, 2016 - 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced the release of its Geomagic Freeform 2016 software products, including Geomagic Freeform, Geomagic Freeform Plus and Geomagic Sculpt. These updated software products offer professionals an organic engineering solution for precise, sculpted 3D design that bypasses the restrictions of geometric CAD platforms and enables the quick transition from design to production.

New StructureFX tools in Geomagic Freeform 2016 software products deliver the ultimate in rapid creation of lightweight, complex structures, lattices, cages and more for 3D printed designs (credit for scan: Artec 3D) 

The new Geomagic Freeform 2016 products allow engineers, designers, artists, model makers and sculptors to solve complex design and manufacturing challenges with the industry’s most comprehensive organic 3D engineering tools. These professional-grade products allow users to manipulate virtual clay models into any detail or form with an advanced set of tools to support 3D printing. Geomagic Freeform Plus extends these toolsets with advanced manufacturing design capabilities, including automatic conversion of digital clay and polygons to NURBS surfaces, mold and die design, shelling, draft analysis, parting line and surface creation tools for complex organic shapes.

New features and functions of the 2016 Freeform products include:

• Improved 3D CAD and direct scan data input. 3D data can be scanned directly into Geomagic Freeform products using the Geomagic Capture scanner for a seamless scan-to-design workflow. Imported CAD data can serve as the basis for organic designs as well as be subjected to a complete Boolean toolset, ideal for subtracting mechanical parts from the finished product design.
• New StructureFX toolset for lattice structures, delivering the ability to create custom, internal and external lattice structures for intricate and lightweight designs. Advanced cage creation tools assist the design of structures for functional applications such as custom medical implants. StructureFX tools work alongside Freeform’s advanced 3D print analysis tools to successfully 3D print advanced designs.
• Improved 3D print analysis and printability tools to streamline the design to manufacturing workflow. Freeform 2016 products include enhanced feature size analysis and print alignment tools to enable quality and repeatability in 3D printing. Integration with 3DSPRINT enables direct support of 3D Systems’ suite of 3D printers, including print monitoring and queue management. Geomagic Freeform 2016 solutions also offer simple tools to repair faulty and low-grade 3D data for 3D printing, traditional manufacturing or a wide range of file format exports.
• New Wrap for Freeform Plus, enabling an enhanced workflow of improved CAD surface output for use downstream. Existing Geomagic Freeform Plus customers on current maintenance now also have access to a version of Geomagic Wrap at no charge.

Geomagic Freeform products work exclusively with 3D Systems Touch haptic devices to deliver the physical sensation of sculpting in a virtual environment. This intuitive mode of interacting within the digital space reduces learning curves, speeds the design process and helps deliver high quality 3D data.

“Geomagic Freeform shifts your horizons regardless of whether you are an artist, industrial designer or engineer,” said Scotty Ziegler, international artist, designer and user of Geomagic Freeform Plus. “Digital design becomes tangible with these tools, allowing you to achieve that perfect design and immediately bring it to life via 3D printing or traditional manufacturing processes.”

“3D Systems Geomagic Freeform products deliver an advanced design environment that enables designers and engineers to create incredible products,” said Calvin Hur, Vice President, Co-Chief Operating Officer and Chief Revenue Officer, 3D Systems Software. “The 2016 release of these Geomagic Freeform products represents 3D Systems’ commitment to delivering the very best tools for design, engineering and manufacturing.”

For more information about Geomagic Freeform 2016 products and to get free trial software click here.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. 3D Systems’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, 3D Systems has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models. For more information, visit www.3dsystems.com.

3D Systems Announces Delay in Filing of Form 10-K

ROCK HILL, SC, USA, Feb 26, 2016 - 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD) announced that it will delay filing its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The company will file a Form 12b-25, Notification of Late Filing, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which allows the company to extend the deadline to file its Form 10-K to March 15, 2016. The company noted that the delay in filing is related to the completion of work related to the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charge. The delayed filing has no impact on 3D Systems’ customers or the operations of the business.

Consistent with its prior announcement, the company expects to record a non-cash goodwill and intangibles impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2015 in the range of $510 million to $570 million. These impairment charges will not impact the company’s future business activities or cash flows. As of December 31, 2015, the company closed the quarter with approximately $156 million of cash on hand and had no borrowings under its $150 million revolving credit facility.

Additionally, the company reaffirms its expectation to report revenue for the fourth quarter of approximately $183 million and that the previously disclosed charge related to inventory write downs and purchase commitments in connection with its shift away from consumer products will be approximately $27 million.

Excluding the goodwill and intangibles impairment charge, the company expects to report that operating expenses decreased sequentially to approximately $90 million.

In connection with the extension for its Form 10-K filing, the company will postpone its previously announced February 29, 2016 conference call and webcast to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2015 results. The company will reschedule its fourth quarter and full year 2015 conference call and webcast to coincide with its filing of its Form 10-K, which it expects to be on or before the extended deadline.

These are preliminary results and estimates based on current expectations and are subject to year-end closing adjustments and completion of goodwill and intangibles impairment testing. Actual results may differ.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on-demand parts services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. 3D Systems’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, 3D Systems has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models. For more information, visit www.3dsystems.com.

MecSoft Releases Visual3DPRINT 2016

IRVINE, CA, USA, Feb 17, 2016 - MecSoft Corporation, the developer of industry leading CAD/CAM software solutions, has announced the availability of Visual3DPRINT 2016, the newest version of MecSoft’s standalone 3D Printing Solution.

Visual3DPRINT is a plug-in from MecSoft Corporation that runs inside the VisualCAD modeler. This product offers efficient, easy and automatic tools for preparing 3D data that otherwise cannot be 3D printed. The combination of VisualCAD’s modeling and extensive file import functionality, and Visual3DPRINT’s data preparation tools enables the user to 3D print models from almost any input source, and any major 3D format.

Visual3DPRINT has been significantly enhanced and improved in this 2016 release to provide customers with a powerful and complete manufacturing platform. Some of the newly enhanced features are:

• Support Generation for holding up areas that have overhangs
• Determination of best orientation of geometry for printing
• Generate nozzle deposition patterns and associated G-code to drive FDM printers
• Ability to cycle through holes in a mesh and manually fix them
• Intersect and Splitting two sets of meshes
• Ability to select and manipulate selected portions of a mesh using a graphical manipulator

“This new release launches Visual3DPRINT to the forefront of products for the 3D printing market. The toolset offered by Visual3DPRINT along with the functionality offered by VisualCAD make it a complete, robust, and cost effective solution for 3D printing. The added benefit of having VisualCAM running under the same platform cannot also be overstated.” stated Joe Anand, President and CEO of MecSoft Corporation.

To download a free software demo of Visual3DPRINT 2016, visit http://mecsoft.com/visual3dprint/.

About MecSoft

Headquartered in Irvine, California, MecSoft Corporation is a worldwide leader in providing Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software solutions, addressing both Additive and Subtractive manufacturing technologies, for the small to mid-market segments. These solutions include products VisualCAD/CAM/3DPRINT, VisualCAM for SOLIDWORKS and RhinoCAM & Rhino3DPRINT. These software products deliver powerful, easy-to-use and affordable solutions for users in the custom manufacturing, rapid prototyping, rapid tooling, mold making, aerospace, automotive, tool & die, woodworking, and education industries. For more information, visit mecsoft.com or call (949) 654-8163.

3YOURMIND Offers 3D Printing Plug-in for Vectorworks

BERLIN, Germany, Feb 17, 2016 - After concluding a second financing round in which Dr Hans J. Langer (founder and CEO of EOS GmbH) positioned himself as the new lead investor of the company in December 2015, Berlin based 3YOURMIND GmbH continues to develop new 3D printing plugins for CAD programs. The latest addition: Vectorworks 2016, a line of 2D and 3D software developed by Vectorworks, Inc. that helps designers to communicate effectively and bring their visions to life while keeping building information modeling (BIM) at the heart of the design process.

With this new plugin, Vectorworks 2016 users can check, analyze and repair their 3D file to optimize it for 3D printing. With one click on the 3D printing extension inside Vectorworks, the file is uploaded to the 3YOURMIND comparison tool, where it can be scaled and previewed in different 3D printing materials available. Finally, users can instantly compare prices for their 3D model and order it online.

"We're thrilled to have teamed up with 3YOURMIND to offer this free plugin to our user community," said Jim Wilson, user experience manager at Vectorworks. "Now, users are just one click away from uploading their 3D files via this plugin to services that cater to all their 3D printing needs, where a wide range of materials are available to choose from and where secure file transfer with SSL is guaranteed.”

Learn more about 3YOURMIND's plugin for Vectorworks software here and explore Vectorworks' partner products at here. The new plugin can be easily installed at either site.

About 3YOURMIND

3YOURMIND offers intelligent 3D printing solutions for industry and architecture. Their comparison tool on 3yourmind.com presents a convenient way of ordering a 3D printed model of a prototype online. Users can upload their 3D file, which is automatically repaired to achieve a better 3D print result. Afterwards, the user can compare prices of various 3D printing services, and choose from different materials. 3YOURMIND gathers DAX-30 groups and 3D printing suppliers as their clients and partners. For more information, visit https://www.3yourmind.com.

About Vectorworks, Inc.

Vectorworks, Inc. is a global design software developer serving the architecture, landscape and entertainment industries. Since 1985, we have been committed to helping designers capture inspiration, nurture innovation, communicate effectively and bring their visions to life. We’ve developed the best CAD and BIM software for Mac and Windows that puts BIM at the heart of the design process, enabling the flexibility needed for efficient iteration throughout the design life-cycle. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Vectorworks, Inc. is a part of The Nemetschek Group. For more information, visit www,vectorworks.net.

3D Systems Q4, FY2015 Conference Call on Feb 29, 8:30 AM ET

ROCK HILL, SC, USA, Feb 12, 2016 - 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced that it plans to hold a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2015 on Monday, February 29, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

In connection with its annual goodwill and intangibles testing, the company expects to record a non-cash goodwill and intangibles impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2015 in the range of $510 million to $570 million. These impairment charges will not impact the company’s future business activities or cash flows. As of December 31, 2015, the company closed the quarter with approximately $156 million of cash on hand and had no borrowings under its $150 million revolving credit facility.

Additionally, the company expects to report revenue for the fourth quarter of approximately $183 million and that the previously disclosed charge related to inventory write downs and purchase commitments in connection with its shift away from consumer products will be approximately $27 million.

“Industry conditions remain challenging and demand may be uneven in the coming periods. However, we are confident about the long-term opportunities for our technology and solutions,” commented Andy Johnson, Interim President & CEO and Chief Legal Officer, 3D Systems. “We are prioritizing our resources around professional and industrial applications to foster sustainable growth and improve profitability.”

The company plans to release its fourth quarter and full year 2015 financial results and file its Form 10-K on February 29, 2016. 

These are preliminary results and estimates based on current expectations and are subject to year-end closing adjustments and completion of goodwill and intangibles impairment testing. Actual results may differ.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Conference Call:

• Date: Monday, February 29, 2016
• Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
• Listen via Internet: www.3dsystems.com/investor
• Participate via telephone:

1. Within the U.S.: 1-877-407-8291
2. Outside the U.S.: 1-201-689-8345

The recorded webcast will be available beginning approximately two hours after the live presentation at www.3dsystems.com/investor.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides advanced and comprehensive 3D digital design and fabrication solutions, including 3D printers, print materials and custom-designed parts. Its powerful ecosystem transforms entire industries by empowering users to bring their ideas to life using its vast material selection, including plastics, elastomers, metals and bio-compatible materials. 3D Systems’ personalized medicine capabilities include end-to-end simulation, training and planning, and printing of patient-specific surgical instruments and medical and dental devices. Its 3D digital design, fabrication and inspection products provide seamless interoperability and incorporate immersive computing technologies. 3D Systems’ products and services disrupt traditional methods, deliver improved results and empower its customers to manufacture the future. For more information, visit www.3dsystems.com.

Autodesk Footwear to Host 2016 NA FTF in Boston on May 24, 25

BIRMINGHAM, UK, Dec 22, 2015 - Following the success of the Footwear Technology Forum in Portland, Autodesk Footwear will host its 2nd North American FTF at the District Hall, Boston, MA, on the 24th and 25th May 2016. The FTF is an educational event aimed at designers and manufacturers of footwear around the world who are keen to learn about ‘The Future of Making Things’.

Topics for discussion will include 3D printing, 3D prototyping, sustainability of materials, manufacturing, customisation and orthopaedics, and scanning technology. For the first time, the event will also include foot-health topics previously discussed at the Ortho Technology Forum.

The FTF brings together industry leaders and like-minded professionals from both the footwear and custom insole industries to talk about technology for future innovation. Presentations at the Portland event, attended by more than 120 people in May 2015 at the Pensole Footwear Design Academy, were delivered by industry professionals including Lucy Beard from Feetz, Luigi Ferracuti from Crocs and Philippe Ribera from Lectra.

Those wishing to attend the 2016 North American event in Boston can take advantage of an early bird rate available to all delegates who book before 12th April 2016. This will save $50 on the normal $299 entry price. Bookings can be made now at www.footwear-events.com/ftf/index.asp#register

Luigi Ferracutti, the Senior Director of 3D Development and Tooling at Crocs who has attended Forums in North America and Europe, said: “The FTF is a very interesting experience because there are so many topics related to footwear technology, meaning you can find out what is new in the market.”

As well as footwear designers and manufacturers, the popular forum also attracts footwear and foot-health professionals such as pattern/design engineers, product development or technical managers, company presidents, pedorthists or laboratory managers. Previous events have attracted a varied audience including representatives of high fashion brands Prada, Ferragamo and Gucci, as well as popular sportswear companies such as Nike, Reebok, Adidas and Decathlon.

Maryam Roufar, a shoe stylist for Shoes of Prey based in Sydney, Australia, attended the Portland event and said: “You get to talk to people and bounce ideas off each other, and it creates innovation within a conference even.”

The Footwear Technology Forum bridges the gap between the creative world of design and engineering technology, bringing the two together to allow the footwear industry to develop new ways of doing things. To view the highlights of the previous NA FTF, including an introduction by Pensole Academy founder and revolutionary footwear designer D’Wayne Johnson, click here.

A dedicated website for the event has been set up and will be updated regularly as the speakers and the agenda are confirmed. This is now live at www.ft-forum.com.

For further information about attending the event or being a sponsor, please contact Hannah Harlock or Simon Hamilton at Autodesk Footwear on ftf-na@autodesk.com.

MecSoft Releases RhinoCAM 2016

IRVINE, CA, USA, Dec 10, 2015 - MecSoft Corporation, the developer of industry leading CAD/CAM software solutions, has announced the availability of RhinoCAM 2016, the newest version of MecSoft’s integrated CAM solution for the Windows version of Rhinoceros 5.0.

RhinoCAM 2016 includes four CAM modules known as RhinoCAM-MILL, RhinoCAM-TURN, RhinoCAM-NEST, and RhinoCAM-ART, each of which run integrated inside the Windows version of Rhinoceros 5 CAD program and can be bought and licensed independent of each other. All CAM modules were significantly enhanced and improved in this 2016 release to provide customers with a powerful and complete manufacturing platform.

Some of the newly introduced features are:

• Enhancements to 2 Axis, 3 Axis and 4 Axis Milling as well as Turning toolpath methods
• Enhancements to Cut Material Simulation, Tooling & Feeds/Speeds
• Enhancements to Knowledge Bases for the automation of programming tasks
• Utilities for cabinet makers to help in programming toolpaths for cabinet manufacturing
• Enhancements to the RhinoCAM-NEST module

“RhinoCAM 2016, improves upon a CAM product that consistently exceeds expectations of our users. With an emphasis on automation of programming tasks in this release, along with our continued focus on improving our toolpath generation methods, we are proud to release this product to our customers.” stated Joe Anand, President and CEO of MecSoft Corporation.

To download a free software demo of RhinoCAM 2016, visit mecsoft.com/rhinocam-software.

About MecSoft Corporation

Headquartered in Irvine, California, MecSoft Corporation is a worldwide leader in providing Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software solutions, addressing both Additive and Subtractive manufacturing technologies, for the small to mid-market segments. These solutions include products VisualCAD/CAM/3DPRINT, VisualCAM for SolidWorks, RhinoCAM and Rhino3DPRINT. These software products deliver powerful, easy-to-use and affordable solutions for users in the custom manufacturing, rapid prototyping, rapid tooling, mold making, aerospace, automotive, tool & die, woodworking, and education industries. For the latest news and information, visit mecsoft.com or call 949-654-8163.

ANSYS Releases FENSAP, SpaceClaim 2016

PITTSBURGH, PA, USA, Dec 3, 2015 - Engineers can accelerate product development time and more accurately predict in-flight icing to improve aircraft safety thanks to advancements ANSYS (NASDAQ: ANSS) has delivered with two new product releases. The most recent release of ANSYS SpaceClaim and ANSYS FENSAP dramatically enhances speed, efficiency and reliability – providing users with revolutionary workflows and unique capabilities.

As companies turn to rapid digitalization for every facet of product development, the ability to easily manipulate geometry for both design and manufacturing is crucial. ANSYS SpaceClaim 2016 transforms product development by empowering users to quickly and easily manipulate 3D models across the entire product development cycle. SpaceClaim's unique approach delivers superior ease of use and productivity, providing the user with extreme flexibility within product workflows.

"Since day one, our focus has been to provide customers with a solution to quickly create, edit or repair geometries as needed in an open platform environment," said Frank DeSimone, senior director of product development at ANSYS. "For this release, we focused on solving challenges working with complex geometry, developing new tools like the Shrinkwrap and Skin Surface to decrease the time needed to reverse-engineer parts or prepare models for 3D printing."

Whether creating designs, editing, cleaning geometries from other tools or reverse engineering existing products, SpaceClaim leapfrogs previous releases by delivering unprecedented results such as 10-times faster 3D modeling compared to other products on the market. Start-up time is two to four times improved; large model save and load stages are 100 times their former speed; and some tools, such as imprint, result in a 200-times speed improvement. From machinist to simulation analyst, existing users will see vast improvements and users of other tools will be amazed by the novel approach to geometry.

For a list of new and enhanced features, click here. (pdf)

Aerospace engineers who analyze aircraft icing can take immediate advantage of the comprehensive state-of-the-art capabilities with FENSAP-ICE and FENSAP-ICE Turbo. The new release - the first since ANSYS acquired this technology – provides improved integration with ANSYS CFX software, its class-leading turbo-machinery fluid dynamics simulation software. The enhanced integration enables users to take advantage of the unique capabilities of FENSAP-ICE and FENSAP-ICE TURBO to optimize designs and improve safety by more accurately predicting ice formation in jet engines.

The new release adds numerous enhancements for users of these two systems, enabling them to predict in-flight icing for aircraft, engines, probes and components more efficiently and accurately. The FENSAP product family incorporates speed-up and efficiency gains, enabling the user to incorporate icing prediction in their simulation-driven product development processes.

"The new release delivers streamlined import and export of required data for more efficient and accurate exchange between the FENSAP products and ANSYS computational fluid dynamics solutions," said Andre Bakker, senior director of fluids business unit, ANSYS. "Maximizing the accuracy of icing simulation ensures that the engineering insight gained from analysis and the resulting design decisions made truly serve to improve flight safety."

The FENSAP release also includes a number of enhancements and extensions that further efficiency, including more flexible meshing options, faster solution algorithms, direct extraction of key simulation results and more powerful post-processing. These contribute to reducing the time and effort required to investigate and solve complex questions associated with icing.

For a list of new and enhanced features, click here. 

About ANSYS, Inc.

ANSYS is the global leader in engineering simulation. We bring clarity and insight to our customer's most complex design challenges through the broadest portfolio of fast, accurate and reliable simulation tools. Our technology enables organizations in all industries to imagine high-quality, innovative and sustainable product designs that have an accelerated time to market. Founded in 1970, ANSYS employs almost 3000 professionals, more than 700 of them with PhDs in engineering fields such as finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, electronics and electromagnetics, embedded software, system simulation and design optimization. Headquartered south of Pittsburgh, U.S.A., ANSYS has more than 75 strategic sales and development locations throughout the world with a network of channel partners in 40+ countries. For more information, visit www.ansys.com.

John Gould Joins Stratasys as Prez NA Operations

MN, USA and REHOVOT, Israel, Nov 2, 2015 - Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, announced it has tapped Dell, Inc. veteran John Gould as the newest member of the company's leadership team. With more than 20 years of global management and technology experience, Gould will serve as president of North American operations.

John Gould, president for Stratasys North America, brings more than 20 years of global management and technology experience. Photo:Stratasys

With experience as an executive leader at computing giant Dell, Gould has deep operational expertise and a strong track record of success with go-to-market strategy and global sales leadership.

"Stratasys has helped define the market for 3D printing and next generation manufacturing," said Stratasys Chief Business Officer, Josh Claman. "With a strong market position across North America and worldwide, Stratasys is committed to investing in key people to continue its growth and leadership position. I'm excited to bring John Gould on board, and I'm confident he will lead our North American team to the next level of growth."

As president of North American operations and a crucial member of the executive leadership team, he is charged with defining the company's North American strategy to expand the business, maintain Stratasys' thought leadership position, and continue to improve both the customer and channel partner experience.

"As a defining force in 3D printing solutions, Stratasys is in the unique position to capture additional market opportunities throughout North America," said Gould. "I'm very excited about the opportunity that lies ahead for our customers, resellers and Stratasys, and I am confidentStratasys can continue to build significant momentum across the region."

Gould comes to Stratasys from online marketing and advertising solutions provider ReachLocal, Inc. where he acted as chief revenue officer and general manager of North America. With full P&L responsibility, Gould also had functional ownership for all sales channels: inside, outside, national accounts and partner channels.

At Dell, Inc., Gould served as executive director and general manager for the company's IT Consulting Division for both the Americas and EMEA regions. He delivered multi-year, double-digit revenue growth for the division (over $400 million in total revenue) while increasing the division's operating income. The industry veteran also has senior sales and marketing leadership experience from market leaders: ADP,Compaq Computer Corporation and The Mathworks. Gould has a bachelor's degree in economics from Connecticut College and an MBA in general management and marketing from Vanderbilt University - Owen Graduate School of Management.

About Stratasys Ltd

For more than 25 years, Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS) has been a defining force and dominant player in 3D printing and additive manufacturing - shaping the way things are made. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, the company empowers customers across a broad range of vertical markets by enabling new paradigms for design and manufacturing. The company's solutions provide customers with unmatched design freedom and manufacturing flexibility - reducing time-to-market and lowering development costs, while improving designs and communications. Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and Solidscape and the Stratasys ecosystem includes 3D printers producing prototypes and parts; a wide range of 3D printing materials; parts on-demand via Stratasys Direct Manufacturing; strategic consulting and professional services; and Thingiverse/GrabCAD communities with 5+ million free design components, printable files. With 3,000 employees and 800 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents, Stratasys has received more than 30 technology and leadership awards. For more information, visit www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com.

Creative Tools to Sell MecSoft 3D Printing Products in Sweden

IRVINE, CA, USA, Oct 23, 2015 - MecSoft Corporation announces their partnership with Creative Tools. This partnership allows Creative Tools to sell and support MecSoft’s 3D printing software tools along with their 3D printers to enable easy and error free 3D printing of models from almost any source.

Creative Tools is a provider of market-leading brands of 3D software and hardware in addition to supplying innovative services for product visualization and rapid prototyping. They offer a wide range of creative tools and solutions to help organizations and individuals to achieve their goals and to increase efficiency in their day-to-day challenges.

“We at Creative Tools are very excited to embrace the 3D printing future together with the team at MecSoft Corporation. Rhino3DPRINT and Visual3DPRINT now enrich our product portfolio and will augment the 3D printing capabilities of the well-established Rhinoceros user group - making 3D printing easier and more accessible for all.”, said Paulo Kiefe, CEO of Creative Tools.

For information on Creative Tools, visit http://www.creativetools.se.

About MecSoft Corporation

Headquartered in Irvine, California, MecSoft Corporation is a worldwide leader in providing Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software solutions, addressing both Additive and Subtractive manufacturing technologies, for the small to mid-market segments. These solutions include products VisualCAD/CAM/3DPRINT, VisualCAM for SOLIDWORKS, RhinoCAM & Rhino3DPRINT and VisualCAM for Geomagic. These software products deliver powerful, easy-to-use and affordable solutions for users in the custom manufacturing, rapid prototyping, rapid tooling, mold making, aerospace, automotive, tool & die, woodworking, and education industries. For more information, call (949) 654-8163 or visit http://mecsoft.com.

Delcam Releases ArtCAM Pro 2015 R2

BIRMINGHAM, UK, Oct 22, 2015 - The 2015 R2 version of Delcam’s ArtCAM Pro artistic CADCAM software features improvements in design and machining, including the ability to create support structures for 3D Printing, easier designing with vectors, more design options with real-time updating and faster machining simulations.

Unlike most other CADCAM systems, ArtCAM Pro is aimed at skilled artisans rather than engineers and requires much less knowledge of engineering or computing. It has been particularly successful in the sign-making, woodworking and engraving industries. In these areas and in other artistic applications, ArtCAM Pro allows users to increase productivity, improve quality and deliver new designs more quickly, by combining their craft skills and creativity with the power and precision of computer-aided manufacturing.

The main enhancement for the new version of ArtCAM Pro is the ability to create support structures for 3D Printing. Users can generate intelligent support structures, either manually or automatically, and can also use batch assembly for the printing of multiple items. 3D Printing offers ArtCAM users an alternative route to machining for the production of complex models.

ArtCAM users that design with vectors will benefit from two new options. Firstly, snap hints now appear to help in locating hard-to-find snap points within vectors when creating designs. Secondly, the thickness of vectors can be changed, in either the 2D or 3D view, making it easier to visualize the design.

Accuracy will also be helped by the addition of rulers in the 3D view to make it easier to create precise artwork and to position elements of the piece.

The ability to overlap and intersect reliefs has been enhanced with a new option to interactively blend the reliefs. This allows relief clipart to be pulled up or pushed down in the Z axis to give a better blend with another 3D design.

The range of modelling tools that operate in real time has been extended to include the ability to create smooth domed shapes or domes with a center line ridge, and the option to make intricate weaves. Real-time operation makes it easier to create exactly the effect that is required and shortens design times.

The tools for assembly modelling have been improved by making it easier and quicker to drag or rotate elements of the assembly into position. It has also been made simpler to undo any changes.

The creation of complex designs by grouping relief layers together has also been made easier. For example, it is easier to combine the front and back of a miniature or a sculpture. In addition, relief slicing can now output the slices as DXF files, making laser cutting of tall items easier.

The main machining enhancement in the new release is significantly faster machining simulations thanks to a new algorithm that uses the specialist processor in modern graphics cards to calculate multiple operations simultaneously. This gives major benefits over standard multi-threading.

Another area of improvement is corner machining, where fillets can be added to vectors to allow more accurate machining of slots. In a related development, loops can be added for creating corners with knife cutting. Finally, two new options are available in the 3D offset strategy. Firstly, it is now possible to spiral from the outside in or from the center outwards. The strategy can reduce tool wear and give better surface finish. Secondly, on-surface links can be used. This reduces the number of plunge and retract moves and so saves machining time. For more information, www.artcam.com/pro.

Delcam ArtCAM Express 2015 R2 Supports 3D Printing

BIRMINGHAM, UK, Sep 22, 2015 - Delcam has made a number of enhancements to its ArtCAM Express software, including changes to make modelling easier and to speed up machining simulation. The price of this entry-level version of the company’s ArtCAM artistic CADCAM system, which is designed for hobbyists and users new to CNC machining, remains at US$149, £99 or 125 Euros.

ArtCAM Express 2015 R2 offers 2D drawing, over 600 free pieces of relief clipart, and 2D and standard 3D machining functions. It provides an ideal introduction to computer-based manufacturing for companies and hobbyists involved in engraving, routing and signmaking, or other areas of decorative metalworking and woodworking. A range of modules are available to add extra design and machining functionality.

Two options have been added in the 2015 R2 release of ArtCAM Express to help users to design with vectors. Firstly, snap hints now appear to help in spotting hard-to-find snap points within vectors when creating designs. Secondly, the thickness of vectors can be changed, in either the 2D or 3D view, making it easier to visualise the design.

Accuracy will also be helped by the addition of rulers in the 3D view to make it easier to create precise artwork and to position elements of the piece.

A combine/replace mode was added in ArtCAM Express 2015 for customers creating 3D designs from imported models or the relief clipart included with the software. The ability to overlap and intersect reliefs has been enhanced with a new option to interactively blend the reliefs. This allows relief clipart to be pulled up or pushed down in the Z axis to give a better blend with an overlapping 3D design.

The main machining enhancement in the 2015 R2 release is significantly faster machining simulations thanks to a new algorithm that uses the specialist processor in the computer’s graphics card to calculate thousands of operations simultaneously. This is a significant improvement over standard multi-threading. Another area of improvement is corner machining, where fillets can be added to vectors to allow more accurate machining of slots. In a related development, loops can be added for creating corners with knife cutting.

A further change to ArtCAM Express is the ability to export reliefs for 3D Printing as well as to machine them. Before, this was only possible with other members of the ArtCAM range. As well as the updates to the main ArtCAM Express program, the optional ‘Vector Tools’ module has been enhanced with better layer management. Firstly, multi-coloured vectors can be imported from DXF files as a single vector layer or as separate layers. Similarly, several layers can be exported simultaneously. Secondly, working on complex models with multiple layers can be simplified by merging any layers not being used and placing them in the project tree.

Full details on the new release and the opportunity to download an evaluation version, visit www.artcam.com/express.

Delcam to Preview PartBuilder for Additive Manufacturing at TCT

BIRMINGHAM, UK, Aug 26, 2015 - Delcam will preview its new set of pre-processing software tools for manufacture by 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing at the TCT Show to be held at the NEC, Birmingham, on 30th September and 1st October. The PartBuilder software, which is currently under development at Delcam’s Birmingham headquarters, will provides quick and easy methods to prepare for production CAD files from both native and neutral formats.

PartBuilder covers four main steps in model preparation:

1. Checking the quality of the CAD model and repairing any problems it might have
2. Positioning the part in the optimum orientation for layer-by-layer manufacture
3. Addition of any fixtures, supports and other geometry that might be required to ensure reliable manufacture and easier post-processing
4. Exporting the complete data in a suitable file format for manufacture

At the start of the process, PartBuilder undertakes an analysis of the imported CAD model to verify the quality of the incoming design and so give the best possible chance of successful manufacture. Common problems in either solid models or mesh files, such as gaps or overlaps in the data, can be identified and repaired to give a water-tight CAD file that will generate an accurate and successful part.

The CAD model is then positioned within the machine envelope, either for manufacture as a single item or as part of a group of components that will be built simultaneously. Orienting the model on the build platform must consider a number of factors, including production time and cost, fixturing quality, heat effects and any critical areas of the part. PartBuilder allows the user to accept the optimized suggestions made automatically by the software or to try a variety of manually selected orientations.

Fixturing can then be created in PartBuilder that may be required for a number of reasons, the most important being the need to support the mass of the part during the build. Fixtures are also used to transfer heat away from the part so that thermal and mechanical stresses are minimized.

PartBuilder is able to analyze the model to identify critical areas that need fixtures to ensure geometric stability during the build and adequate heat management, and to generate the geometry required. As with the part orientation, the user has the ability to edit the suggested results manually if required.

The positioning of the fixtures also needs to take account of their removal after the build, both to ease their removal and to minimize any witness marks or scars that may be left on the part.

In addition to fixtures, other geometry types may need to be added, such as spigots to grip the part during polishing and other finishing operations, or datum tabs to provide a known location for finish machining programs.

The final stage is the export the complete model from PartBuilder in a suitable data file format for the 3D Printer or AM equipment. PartBuilder can output models in a growing range of manufacturers’ proprietary file formats, including CLI data for EOS machines and MTT data for Renishaw equipment, as well as STL mesh data that can be processed directly by most additive machines’ own software. For more information, visit http://www.delcam.com.