One of the world's biggest 3D printing service providers, Sculpteo, has a lot to shout about at CES 2017.
Firstly, the Clement Moreau-fronted company will be showcasing Carbon's CLIP Technology at the TCT Group sponsored 3D Printing Marketplace in Sands Expo. Sculpteo were an early-adopter of the additive manufacturing technology and thanks to its vast application base has provided vital feedback to the Silicon Valley OEM.
Secondly, the company has used the event to launch what it sees as a vital service to improve the adoption of metal 3D printing. Agile Metal Technology software helps users optimise parts before being sent to one of the service bureau's SLM or DSLM machines, provided by SLM Solutions and EOS.
The company has, like competitor Shapeways, offered a metal 3D printing service for a substantial amount of time but previously has used an indirect metal printing process such as lost-wax casting in order to make parts in silver and brass. Using the two new metal 3D printing technologies Sculpteo is able to offer Aluminium (SLM technique), Titanium (DMLS) and Stainless Steel (DMLS) with a range of finishes.
“Metal 3D printing offers the possibility of building new parts with complex geometries that are not possible with traditional methods, however getting metal additive manufacturing right is a serious challenge,” said Clement Moreau, CEO of Sculpteo. “As the complexity of additive manufacturing grows, it is difficult to get the necessary information to make the project go smoothly. Experts and specific software exist, but they are extremely expensive, and add to production time.”
Sculpteo Agile Metal Technology is comprised of six modules:
- Business Case is the first tool of the suite, and will be unveiled at CES. Business Case is a self-learning AI that evaluates whether a CAD file is optimised for metal additive manufacturing. Business Case helps evaluate appropriate materials and delivers an approach for cost and time budget for metal AM. Business Case is a decision support and planning tool that takes basic inputs from the user and provides an evaluation of whether AM is an appropriate process for producing the part, and calculates possible risks.
- Design Optimiser provides a deeper analysis of the design compatibility for metal AM, and assess the best way to handle thermic constraints. The tool detects features posing issues, suggests design modifications, evaluates the best printing orientation for the part.
- Lattice Generator helps meet cost and weight reduction goals by recommending a best structural configuration while allowing the user the option to choose a preferred lattice cell design.
- Support Optimizer displays the supports necessary to meet the requirement of the part (tolerance, yield assessment). Expert users will be able to add inputs and restrictions based on the support generated by the Agile Metal Technology platform.
- Post-Processor analyses the post-processing features and required metrology to meet the project requirements, and evaluate how timeline and budget can be met.
- Batch Controller is a replica of the Sculpteo batch control tool for metal 3D printing technologies.
