Ahead of RAPID + TCT next week, digital supply chain software provider, Identify3D has announced a collaboration with SLM Solutions to deliver end-to-end data protection coupled with contractual and manufacturing licensing for its metal 3D printing systems.
The technology enables SLM Solutions to secure digital IP, enforce production rules and provide traceability in the digital supply chain through integration of Identify3D Enforce with SLM's MCS machine control software.
"We are very happy about our collaboration with SLM Solutions as the technological leader in metal-based additive manufacturing and the delivery of this proof of concept is a key step to enable decentralized manufacturing, one of the key element of Industry 4.0," says Stephan Thomas, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Identify3D.
The proof of concept ensures secure part delivery to the SLM 125, SLM 280, SLM 500, and SLM 800 machines with control over production quantities over a defined period of time with selected parameters. The two are also in talks regarding further integration of Identify3D solutions into SLM Solutions products.
Henner Schöneborn, member of the Management Board of SLM Solutions Group AG added: "With the solutions of Identify3D we can offer our customers a secure way to manufacture from digital design according to very specific manufacturing requirements at machine level. This is much needed to accelerate the adoption of Additive Manufacturing for serial production of end parts."
Also this week, Identify3D has announced its integration with Siemens NX CAD software and Siemens Sinumerik CNC motion control to allow manufacturers to protect product data, certify authentication of users and machines, enforce manufacturing requirements and allow for timed expiration of all digital part designs.
The 'Identify3D Protect' plug-in for Siemens' NX software for computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) creates a secure container while 'Identify3D Manage' enables distribution and licensing policies for the usage of the data within the container. Through integration into Siemens' Sinumerik 840D sl CNC controller 'Identify3D Enforce' allows applications and devices to access the data based on the licensing policy defined for the container.
Siemens' NX users will be able to select a manufacturing policy, licensing quantity, and expiration date for the manufacture of part(s) in secure technical packages which can be licensed and delivered to manufacturers to ensure specifications and repeatability.
"Digitalization is changing everything," says Roger Hart, head of R&D at Siemens Industry, Inc. Hart continues, "Manufacturing is pressed to embrace Industry 4.0, IoT, and cloud technologies. Safe distribution of digital manufacturing data is paramount to success, which is why Siemens and Identify3D are combining to protect digital manufacturing content from part concept and design all the way through to manufacturing. Digital content remains fully protected whether distribution is through public clouds, private clouds or even old school thumb drives."
Identify3D previously announced its partnership with Siemens and demoed its prototype at the EMO fair in September of 2017. The solution is now fully available, integrated in Sinumerik 840D sl software version 4.7 SP2 and newer and available as plug-in for NX 11. The NX AM integration is, or will be, also available with select Additive Manufacturing machine manufacturers, including EOS, SLM Solutions and Renishaw.
Identify3D will exhibit at RAPID + TCT on 24-26th April at Forth Worth Convention Centre, TX. To attend, register here.
