Materialise, a leading figure in additive manufacturing software, has unveiled its latest offering, e-Stage for Metal+, aimed at refining data and build preparation for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) systems. It was announced during the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) show in Chicago.
LPBF stands as a pivotal segment in the additive manufacturing domain, commanding over half of the industry’s revenue. Despite its prominence, LPBF poses intricate challenges, notably in build preparation. Materialise’s own independent survey has identified knowledge gaps and production costs as barriers to wider adoption of 3D printing technologies.
e-Stage for Metal+ harnesses physics-based modeling to automate support structure generation, addressing issues such as support removal, powder extraction, and build plate machining. By strategically placing needle-thin and cone supports, the software optimizes stability and heat distribution during printing, reducing post-processing efforts.
“Metal AM users tend to overload parts with support structures during manual data preparation,” said Ian O’Loughlin, Metal Practice Lead at Materialise.
“They want to avoid defects and the costs associated with reprinting the parts. That’s why intelligent tools like e-Stage for Metal+ are crucial. Automating support structure generation at the sweet spot of printability and required supports saves time, material, and post-processing costs.”
The software’s introduction marks a significant stride towards making metal additive manufacturing more economically viable and user-friendly. It simplifies the intricate process, allowing for seamless integration with various machines and swift optimization of support generation.
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