Additive Manufacturing experiences massive growth and is considered to be one of the key technologies on the path of digitalization and industry 4.0. The ability of manufacturing parts directly from a CAD file enables mass-customization and on-demand production. Software is the key in design generation and processing of production data.
Artificial intelligence – or, more general, advanced analytics – became increasingly visible last year. While the advent of new competitors in on-demand manufacturing reflected the potential in supply chain management, it created new data pools for advanced analytics. Similarly, manufacturing execution systems evolved to incorporate new partners and data into their solutions.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has gained momentum with several products announced or released. In quality assurance, MATERIALISE launched a Quality & Process Control module on its CO-AM platform and integrated PHASE3D’s new surface inspection technology. OQTON announced Build Quality, which extends its Manufacturing OS and 3DXpert solutions. NEXA AI targeted workflow automation and quality control for NEXA3D’s printers. Furthermore, an anomaly detection module was at the centre of ADDIGURU’s latest release, while NANO DIMENSION’s DeepCube continued the commercialisation of its algorithms. 2023 also saw the exit of SIGMA ADDITIVE’s solutions.
Another application is decision support and automation, from part identification to quoting. CASTOR and SELECTAM released free trial and open-access versions, respectively. 3D Spark closed a EUR 1.2 million seed funding round.
Both AI and simulations are approaches to first-time-right printing. 1000KELVIN achieved the first release of its AI-based AMAIZE product, while HELIO ADDITIVE announced its Series A funding round. Meanwhile, EOS’s SMART FUSION addresses this goal with in-process heat management. Optimal multi-axis toolpaths are the focus of AI BUILD’s AI Sync platform.
Lastly, NANO DIMENSION and AUTHENTISE experimented with large language models to analyse machine data and search the scientific literature.
Market-specific on-demand platforms joined the incumbents to capture the potential in supply chain management. REPLIQUE spun off from BASF’s incubator and closed another funding round while adding a material database. In addition to acquiring EUR 9.4 million in funding, MAKERVERSE attained two ISO certifications. DIMANEX continued rolling out AI-assisted analytics across its supply chain platform. New platforms focussed on specific markets, such as AUTENTICA for car parts, FIELDNOTE and IMMENSA in oil and gas, PELAGUS 3D for maritime applications, or HILOS’s on-demand footwear platform.
Furthermore, MARKFORGED announced Digital Source to enable the printing of manufacturer-certified parts. Similarly, DNV and SIEMENS partnered to build a quality platform, enabling automated and remote process certification.
Manufacturing Execution Systems expanded with additional partners and features. AMFG focussed on automation by incorporating DYNDRITE’s nesting capabilities. Various improvements were at the centre of 3YOURMIND’s latest release. AUTHENTISE released an RFQ responder and Threads, a collaboration tool. Live Suite is DESKTOP METAL’s new workflow solution.
MATERIALISE, OQTON and Stratasys continued to strengthen their products. OQTON partnered with TWIKIT for personalisation and CASTOR for feasibility assessment. Parent 3D SYSTEMS indicated an intention to sell or otherwise dispose of OQTON MOS in the future. Apart from Quality & Process Control, MATERIALISE integrated Magics more deeply with its CO-AM platform. It also announced an integration with DIGIFABSTER’s eCommerce portal. Furthermore, STRATASYS launched GrabCad Pro with a focus on quality assurance. Finally, Hexagon combined its additive solutions into the HXGN Additive Manufacturing Suite suite.
Build preparation, design, and simulation benefited from new and improved solutions. DYNDRITE premiered its LPBF Pro software, making its high-performance approach to build preparation widely available. AMSIS’s Genesis build preparation is now available in its fourth version, while COGNITIVE DESIGN SYSTEMS closed a EUR 2 million funding round.
In design news, TWIKIT released TWIKBOT5, a cloud-based personalisation platform. fixturemate is design automation specialist TRINCKLE’s new solution for the design of jigs and fixtures. Furthermore, BASF partnered with HYPERGANIC for its Ultrasim 3D Lattice Engine. nTOPOLOGY released nTop 4 and rebranded itself to nTOP to reflect the breadth of its design capabilities.
Last, simulation provider ANSYS enhanced its solution, partnered with thermal design specialist DIABATIX, and was acquired by SYNOPSIS. ALTAIR strengthened its portfolio by acquiring OmniQuest. ADDITIVELAB released performance enhancements in its fifth release.
Published: 13 March 2024
Source: AMPOWER / authors as described
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Maximilian Munsch2024-03-15 22:53:222024-03-20 12:44:42Polymer AM market by region 2024
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Maximilian Munsch2024-02-23 15:37:172024-04-03 11:34:17Innovations in AM software 2024