ROCK HILL, S.C., Nov. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- At Formnext 2019,
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) is showcasing its new,
application-specific production solutions for the Healthcare,
Aerospace, and Automotive industries. The company has the unique
ability to architect solutions specific to customers' needs through
a combination of its breakthrough materials, hardware platforms,
software, and professional services - creating a path forward to
integrating additive into traditional production environments. As a
result, manufacturers are able to achieve design freedom, increase
agility, scale production, and improve overall total cost of
operation.
"In 2016, I shared my vision and strategy for how 3D Systems
would make 3D production real. It would require customer
collaboration and innovation, with the experience and expertise of
our people as a driving force," said Vyomesh Joshi, president and chief executive
officer, 3D Systems. "Today, we're executing on that strategy to
position 3D Systems as the premier production solutions company in
the industry. In fact, we have already surpassed 175 million
production parts created by our customers, and we are on our way to
200 million parts created in 2019 using 3D Systems'
solutions."
3D Systems' customers realizing the benefits of the company's
production solutions span a range of industries including
Healthcare, Dental, Aerospace, Automotive, and Durable Goods.
Some examples include:
- Align Technologies incorporates 3D Systems' technology to help
produce more than 430,000 Invisalign aligners per day – the single
highest volume additive workflow in the world.
- NuVasive – an orthopedic device company – that capitalized on
3D Systems' production solutions to move from design to market of
Modulus® (now a full implant line) in just over one
year.
- Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering team at the University of
Delft partnered with 3D Systems to develop an innovative rocket
exit nozzle as a single part, 3D printed in titanium. Firing tests
of the completed nozzle proved to be successful, placing them one
step closer to achieving their mission of sending a rocket into
space.
Production Solutions Accelerating Adoption of Additive
Manufacturing
3D Systems partners with customers to help them progress through
their additive manufacturing journey and accelerate the adoption of
additive within their existing production environments. This
process begins with the customer's application in mind; designing
the best possible solution to achieve their needs and successfully
address challenges.
3D Systems encourages customers to begin their additive
manufacturing journey by engaging with one of its Customer
Innovation Centers (CIC). There, a customized production workflow
solution will be designed to accelerate the development of advanced
applications by providing customers with access to bespoke
solutions, domain expertise, and state-of-the-art technology.
The process begins with the company's software as the core to the
overall solution. Customers will be able to scan and digitize
solutions – if digital files do not exist – and then prepare their
CAD file to optimize it for 3D printing. This preparation step
includes importing part data, orienting the part on the build
plate, optimizing the geometry and creating optimal supports to
ensure the final part matches the design intent. From this point,
the part is created using 3D Systems' additive manufacturing
hardware platforms. After printing, it is post-processed and 3D
Systems' software comes into play again to inspect the part.
At 3D Systems' booth (Hall 12.1, Booths D03, D11, D19) at
Formnext 2019, the company will demonstrate four production
solutions designed specifically for the Healthcare, Aerospace, and
Automotive industries, and are intended to serve as an example of
the work done with customers:
- Automotive: 3D Systems production solutions are
helping automotive manufacturers develop lighter weight parts to
drive down manufacturing costs, design and produce innovative
assemblies that reduce part counts, provide greater strength and
efficiency, and create realistic prototypes that can remove months
from the product development process. In its booth, the company
will showcase workflows for an in-door bracket and a washer fitting
which includes integrated channels for a temperature sensor cable
and zip tie. The workflow for the in-door bracket includes:
-
- Geomagic® Design X™ (digitize), 3D
Sprint® (prepare), ProJet® MJP 2500
(prototype), ProX® SLS 6100 (produce),
Geomagic® Control X™ (inspect), and 3D Connect
(manage).
For the washer fitting the
workflow includes:
-
- Geomagic® Design X™ (digitize), 3D
Sprint® (prepare), Figure 4 Standalone (prototype),
Figure 4 Modular (produce), Figure 4 UV Cure Unit 350
(post-process), Geomagic® Control X™ (inspect), and 3D
Connect (manage).
- Aerospace: Aerospace and defense customers are able to
realize unprecedented manufacturing productivity improvements such
as: increased speed and reliability of quality assurance and
validation processes; lowered fuel costs through lightweighting and
parts consolidation; increased manufacturing productivity through
innovative 3D printed casting patterns, 3D data recovery,
injection-mold design, and direct metal printing of airworthy
parts. The aerospace workflow includes additive and subtractive
technologies from 3D Systems, and partner GF Machining Solutions,
that result in an end-use Titanium bracket. This integrated
workflow includes:
-
- 3DXpert® (design & prepare), DMP Flex 350
(print), DMP Inspection and Geomagic Control X (inspect),
Cimatron® and 3DXpert (CNC prep), and partner GF
Machining Solutions' HSM 200 U LP (machine), and CUT AM 500
(separate).
- Healthcare: 3D Systems partners with surgeons,
healthcare professionals, and medical device manufacturers to offer
a range of precision healthcare solutions, including 3D printed
anatomical models, virtual surgical planning, patient-specific
surgical guides, instrumentation and implants. As part of the
healthcare workflow, the company will produce a spinal cage implant
to demonstrate how these customers can improve productivity, lower
cost, and enhance the overall patient experience. The unique
workflow developed to produce the spinal cage integrates:
-
- 3DXpert (design & prepare), DMP Flex 350 (print), Geomagic
Control X (inspect), Cimatron® and 3DXpert (CNC prep),
and partner GF Machining Solutions' HSM 200 U LP (machine).
On Demand Manufacturing Services Provide Supply Chain
Flexibility
Whether a customer is just beginning their additive
manufacturing journey, or they need additional production support,
3D Systems' On Demand manufacturing services facilitate supply
chain flexibility. Leveraging the same production solutions
available direct to customers, 3D Systems On Demand can provide
single part production, or hundreds of parts, within days. By
selecting 3D Systems as a production partner, customers gain access
to a global network of industry-leading facilities and nearly four
decades of experience in 3D printing and advanced manufacturing
solutions.
At Formnext 2019, 3D Systems On Demand will showcase examples of
the additive and subtractive manufacturing services offered.
Visitors are encouraged to come consult with the On Demand experts
to learn how to best leverage services for rapid prototyping,
functional prototyping, appearance models and low-volume
production.
Innovative Features Added to Company's Digital Factory
Software
With 3D Systems' extensive software portfolio operating as the
backbone of each workflow, the company is continually innovating to
enrich its products. At Formnext 2019, 3D Systems is announcing its
latest software release – 3DXpert 15, the company's all-in-one
integrated software for metals additive manufacturing. 3DXpert is
renowned as a vital part of 3D Systems' metal solutions, helping to
accelerate the transition from design to post-processing. The
enhancements available in this new version of 3DXpert include:
automatic support generation, extremely fast slicing for
high-volume lattice structures, and automated print analysis and
validation. These features enable a seamless transition from rapid
prototyping to production applications including the ability to
optimize design structure, shorten design-to-manufacturing lead
time and minimize manufacturing costs. 3DXpert 15 is planned
for general availability in January 2020.
Integrated Additive and Subtractive Production
Solutions
Manufacturers that have earned a reputation as industry leaders
have already embraced how additive manufacturing can complement
their traditional workflows for competitive advantage. In
August 2018, 3D Systems and GF
Machining Solutions announced a strategic partnership designed to
help more manufacturers take advantage of the transformative power
of additive. This unique partnership combines 3D Systems'
innovation and expertise in additive manufacturing with GF
Machining Solutions' renowned leadership in precision machining,
enabling manufacturers to seamlessly combine additive and
subtractive technologies to more efficiently produce complex metal
parts within tight tolerances, and reduce TCO. The companies will
have a joint presence in Hall 12.1, Booth D11/D19 where they will
showcase these integrated workflows for Healthcare and Aerospace.
Their co-branded metal 3D printing solutions – DMP Flex 350 and DMP
Factory 500 – will be featured that are designed to enhance metal
parts production and redefine manufacturing environments. These
solutions enable scalable metal additive manufacturing and are
ideal for applications such as: fuel applications, RF applications
and airfoil components, spinal cages, mold inserts with conformal
cooling for injection molding and die casting.
GF Machining Solutions is also announcing its new high-speed
wire cutter - the AgieCharmilles CUT AM 500. The new wire EDM
machine combines high-speed operation with the ability to cut even
the smallest, most fragile metal parts from the build plate without
damaging the parts or causing any contamination or alteration of
the material. Being able to redefine this post-processing step is
essential to reducing time-to-market and decreasing costs. In
addition, GF Machining Solutions will showcase the Mikron HSM
200U LP high-speed milling machine. Users of this machine will
benefit from the combination of direct drives on linear axes as
well as rotating and swiveling axes.
3D Systems' Show Activities
3D Systems will hold several events at this year's show.
- On Tuesday, November 19 at
9:30 am, 3D Systems' President and
Chief Executive Officer Vyomesh
Joshi will host a press conference in the company's booth
D03 in hall 12.1.
- On Wednesday, November 20,
Eric Wind, international senior
consultant, Geomagic EMEA, software, 3D Systems will deliver a
presentation titled "3D Systems Redefines Metrology for 3D Printed
Part Production with Enhancements to Geomagic Control X" at
2:15 pm at the TCT Introducing Stage,
Hall 12.1. This session is very timely as the latest release of
this software, Geomagic Control X 2020, is now generally
available.
For more information about 3D Systems' presence at Formnext
2019, please visit the company's website.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release that are not statements
of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of the company to be
materially different from historical results or from any future
results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be
identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may,"
"will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the
negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs,
assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as
to the company's beliefs and expectations as to future events and
trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to
uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the
company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking
Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company's periodic filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other
factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those
reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although
management believes that the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking
statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of
future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to
be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or
results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included
are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems
undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking
statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result
of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or
otherwise.
About 3D Systems
More than 30 years ago, 3D Systems brought the innovation of 3D
printing to the manufacturing industry. Today, as the leading AM
solutions company, it empowers manufacturers to create products and
business models never before possible through transformed
workflows. This is achieved with the Company's best-of-breed
digital manufacturing ecosystem - comprised of plastic and metal 3D
printers, print materials, on-demand manufacturing services and a
portfolio of end-to-end manufacturing software. Each solution is
powered by the expertise of the company's application engineers who
collaborate with customers to transform manufacturing environments.
3D Systems' solutions address a variety of advanced applications
for prototyping through production in markets such as aerospace,
automotive, medical, dental and consumer goods. More information on
the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.
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