Materialise Presents Innovations to Scale and Integrate Additive Manufacturing Operations

Formnext attendees will be among the first to preview the newest updates to Magics, Materialise’s flagship software solution for data and build preparation. Magics 26 will arrive in Spring 2022, with significant updates such as a CAD-Kernel integration that will help advance end-to-end workflows. 

Magics users will benefit from the best of both worlds with the new update – CAD for part editing, using best-in-class technology and mesh-based operations for platform preparation, using tried-and-true solutions. This will enable users to easily review and edit parts with designers and engineers who are familiar with CAD systems before transitioning to mesh for platform and build preparation.

Storefront, Materialise’s new cloud-based e-commerce solution, will also be on display at Formnext. Storefront integrates with Materialise’s Magics software, automating the intake and sales process of AM factories and facilitating communication with customers. This enables AM factories to provide real-time updates to customers about the status of their print orders and any possible delays.

In many industries, AM is already providing mass customization benefits for parts that require a personalized approach to serial production.

Materialise recently worked together with HeyGears. Previously, designing personalized prosthetic hands based on a scan of the forearm, took hours of work with a high risk of error.

To scale up, HeyGears relied on Materialise’s API development to automate their AM workflow. With the automated AM workflow HeyGears saved more than 95% of the time associated with traditional casting methods.

On November 15, 2021 Materialise agreed to exercise the option to acquire Link3D Inc., an additive workflow and digital manufacturing software company that supports customers in major manufacturing industries to scale and integrate their AM operations across complex supply chains and IT environments. 

The two companies will host a presentation, “Powering the AM Champions – Materialise and Link3D Talk About the Adoption of AM at Large”, on Wednesday, November 17 at 10:20 a.m. CEST.

“In recent years, we have carefully developed our platform strategy”, says Stefaan Motte. “By joining forces with Link3D we can accelerate the realization of this strategy, which will allow our customers to define and run the most optimal, efficient and sustainable production process. Not only for the production of one-offs, but in particular for scaling production in complex and distributed ecosystems.”

At Formnext, Materialise will also showcase its latest technologies for optimizing the AM production process. Materialise’s new Software Development Kit (SDK) for Build Processors offers machine builders a lean and agile way to develop software solutions for their 3D printers. This allows them to speed up product development and match their customer’s needs for connectivity and reliability while getting the best out of their machines.

A recent collaboration between Rosswag and Materialise illustrates the impact of the Materialise Process Tuner. Manufacturing companies and AM users benefit from this software solution whenever they need to develop and qualify printing parameters.

The Materialise Process Tuner streamlines the process parameter development with automated workflows, insights and an embedded database, effectively reducing the manual work associated with introducing new machines and materials into production lines. Fine-tuning their AM process helps organizations improve efficiency and meet application specific requirements.

At Formnext, Materialise presents diverse applications using additive manufacturing for serial production and the latest addition to its material portfolio.

The new material is C465 Stainless Steel, an age-hardenable alloy, ideal for producing high-performance metal parts. Well-suited to demanding environments, C465 offers excellent strength and toughness, and high corrosion resistance. These properties are desirable for end-use parts in the aerospace, medical, and maritime industries. Applications include hand tools, plastic injection molds, oil and gas drilling machines, and other industrial equipment.

The showcases on the booth include 3D printed metal parts for a high-end racing bike and an eVTOL aircraft. To achieve weight savings and cost-efficient serial production for its new racing bike, Dogma F, Pinarello teamed up with Materialise.

Using a customized production workflow including labeling and quality inspection, Materialise manufactured 20,000 parts, where each batch of 2,000 parts went from order to delivery in three weeks. LIFT Aircraft relied on Materialise’s D&E and manufacturing services to accelerate the development of their eVTOL and to source end-use parts. Working together, LIFT Aircraft and Materialise engineers were able to reduce the weight of a key titanium part by 40%. In total, LIFT Aircraft’s eVTOL contains over 100 3D-printed parts.

Materialise will be exhibiting at the Formnext Conference from November 16-19, 2021 in Hall 12.1, Booth E139.

About Materialise

Materialise incorporates three decades of 3D printing experience into a range of software solutions and 3D printing services, which together form the backbone of the 3D printing industry. Materialise’s open and flexible solutions enable players in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, art and design, and consumer goods, to build innovative 3D printing applications that aim to make the world a better and healthier place. Headquartered in Belgium, with branches worldwide, Materialise combines the largest group of software developers in the industry with one of the largest 3D printing facilities in the world. For additional information, please visit: www.materialise.com.